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Clinical Manifestations of Endometriosis

In Endometriosis by Jandra Mueller

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   Endometriosis is well known for its significant menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea), and often silent infertility. It has long been thought that this disease is a ‘women’s’ disease or menstrual disease allowing for a long history of hysterectomies and hormone suppression aimed at suppressing menstruation.    Sampson’s theory of retrograde menstruation has been perpetuated …

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As The Pelvis Turns: Top Blogs of 2023

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Emily TranLeave a Comment

By PHRC Admin Team   As we find ourselves on the cusp of a new year, it’s time to take a nostalgic walk down memory lane and revisit the top blogs of 2023. This year has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with insightful discussions, enlightening discoveries, and inspiring stories from all across the globe. So, let’s wrap up the year …

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Success Story: Exploring the Clinical Presentation of CPPS

In Interstitial Cystitis by Emily Tran1 Comment

By Lauren Rogne, PT, DPT, PHRC San Francisco     The case of the mysterious pelvic pain – Exploring the clinical presentation of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) Background Ben is a 35 year old with sudden onset of urinary tract-like infection symptoms, including urinary frequency, urgency, pain and burning. He visited his doctor, and his urinalysis came back negative …

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National Breast Cancer Month: Raising Awareness

In Female Pelvic Pain by Emily Tran1 Comment

By PHRC Admin Team   October is National Breast Cancer Month, a time to raise awareness about this deadly disease that affects millions of people across the globe. Approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common form of cancer among women in the United States .   This month …

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Why Everyone In Menopause Deserves Pelvic Floor PT

In Menopause/Perimenopause, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, Pelvic Health by Stephanie Prendergast4 Comments

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles Our muscles are hormonally sensitive structures and weaken over time as we experience hormonal decline. In addition, the prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction rises and the combination of these two scenarios can cause people a fair amount of grief. A recent study showed 95.3% of people with lumbopelvic pain also had …

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Embracing Sexual Health Awareness: Chronic Pain & Intimacy

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Emily TranLeave a Comment

By Emily Tran, PHRC Westlake Village   September marks Sexual Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of sexual health and well-being. One often overlooked aspect of sexual health is the impact of chronic pain on intimacy. Millions of people worldwide suffer from chronic pain, and it can significantly affect their relationships and sex lives. In …

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Misconceptions About Pelvic Health And The Truth About Them

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Emily TranLeave a Comment

By Emily Tran, PHRC Westlake Village   When it comes to overall health, there is one area that is often overlooked or under-discussed: pelvic health. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the importance of taking care of their pelvic floor muscles, and they pay little attention to the myriad of issues that can arise from poor pelvic health. To help …

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Trauma-Informed Care Approaches for a Pelvic Floor PT

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by pelv_admin5 Comments

By admin   According to the Center for Health Care Strategies, “a trauma-informed approach to care acknowledges that health care organizations and care teams need to have a complete picture of a patient’s life situation — past and present — in order to provide effective health care services with a healing orientation.” In the image we have listed a few …

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Fusobacterium and Endometriosis: New Insights or Media Frenzy?

In Endometriosis by Jandra MuellerLeave a Comment

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   The recent study titled “Fusobacterium infection facilitates the development of endometriosis through the phenotypic transition of endometrial fibroblasts” by Muraoka et al. has generated significant attention and frenzy in the media.  The media coverage of this article has been intense, with headlines highlighting the potential breakthrough in understanding the pathogenesis of endometriosis, …

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Biomechanical Evaluation for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction & PF Functions

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   To start, there are various functions we can thank our pelvic floor, but let’s get into the MAIN functions: Part of core muscles The pelvic floor supports your core muscles: transversus abdominis, rectus abdominis, and the external oblique muscles. The PFM tends to act reflexively when we’re using our core …

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What to Expect at a Prepartum/Postpartum Evaluation

In Pregnancy/Postpartum by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles During prepartum/postpartum evaluations, a physical therapist will take an extensive medical history. Following the history, the PT will perform a thorough external and internal musculoskeletal exam.   Your evaluation should include: Musculoskeletal: An assessment of structure, muscles, tissue, joints and manual evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles. We can identify problematic …

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A Kenyan Pelvic Health Physical Therapy School Scholarship 

In Digital Health by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MSPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack The Jackson Clinics Foundation was formed in 2012 to fund educational efforts in East Africa. To date the foundation has sent over 100 faculty members from their clinics and from around the country to teach in east and central Africa. Some of the best and brightest physical therapists in the United States have …

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Navigating Mental Health: Strategies for Managing Your Mental Well-Being

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Emily TranLeave a Comment

By Emily Tran, PHRC Admin, Westlake Village   Pelvic pain can be a source of significant stress and anxiety for individuals. Living with chronic pelvic pain can often lead to feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and even depression. It’s important to recognize the impact pelvic pain can have on mental health. Here are a few ways mental health can affect pelvic …

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Iliopsoas Dysfunction: Anatomy, Symptoms and Treatments

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Stephanie Prendergast and Elizabeth RummerLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles and Elizabeth Akincilar, MSPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack   Optimal pelvic health and biomechanics involves the iliopsoas muscle. When this muscle is not functioning properly pelvic, hip and and back pain can become a problem. The psoas muscle portion originates from T12/L1. It is a powerful hip flexor and it helps to …

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The Right Way To Poop and Improve Bowel Movements

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, DPT, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month, so we felt it was most appropriate to discuss bowel mechanisms and the ‘right way’ to poop.   According to a study by Shahid (et al in 2012), “constipation affects up to 28% of Americans.” More Americans suffer from constipation than die …

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Obturator Internus: Anatomy, Dysfunction and Symptoms

In pudendal neuralgia by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, DPT, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles The Obturator Internus (OI) muscle is an external rotator and an abductor of the hip. It is also a pelvic floor muscle, with half of the muscle belly sitting right next to our Levator Ani muscles. The muscle also forms part of Alcokc’s Canal, which houses the perineal branch of …