View Post

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 …

View Post

September Marks Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month

In Female Pelvic Pain by Emily TranLeave a Comment

By Emily Tran, PHRC Westlake Village   September marks Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, an important time to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and preventive measures for several types of gynecologic cancers.   Gynecologic cancers refer to several different types of cancer that affect women’s reproductive organs, including cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancer. While these cancers …

View Post

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 …

View Post

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, …

View Post

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 …

View Post

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 …

View Post

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 …

View Post

2023: Year of the Rabbit, A (2022) Year in Review

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Welcome 2023, goodbye 2022! It’s been another year full of changes for Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center. With the start of the new year, we would like to acknowledge all of the changes that have occurred both virtually and in person.   Last year….. PHRC Pasadena opened in January 2022, …

View Post

IPPS Post-Conference Specialty Course

In Digital Health by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Amy Stein, MPT, DPT, BCB-PFD, IF & Karen Brandon, DSc, PT, WCS This year we are excited to present a post-conference course dedicated to physical therapy clinical skills and treatment planning for complex endometriosis cases. This workshop is in-person and virtual.  We are so excited to have an all-star group of presenters, an expert panel, and case dissection round tables where …

View Post

How Pelvic Floor PT Can Help Gynecological Cancer Survivors?

In Female Pelvic Pain by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MSPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack Receiving a gynecological cancer diagnosis is wrought with emotions: fear, grief, confusion, anger, among others. Additionally, the number of medical providers that one will encounter throughout the treatment process is many. One of the important members of your interdisciplinary cancer care team is a pelvic floor physical therapist.    The five gynecological cancers …

View Post

Connective Tissue Restrictions: Causes, Consequences and Treatments

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Connective tissue (CT) restrictions are defined as a dense thickening of subcutaneous tissue that’s painful upon pinch-rolling examination. Connective tissue restrictions can contribute to urinary and bowel symptoms and pelvic pain. As this post will explain, CT restrictions can be a cause and consequence of multiple pelvic floor symptoms and syndromes. …

View Post

A Peripartum Product Guide for Pregnant Friends by a Pelvic Floor PT

In Pregnancy/Postpartum by pelv_adminLeave a Comment

What does a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist gift her pregnant friends at their baby showers?   By Molly Bachmann PT, DPT, PHRC San Francisco   Working in the medical field places one in a unique position when it comes to relationships with family and friends. Frequently I’ll receive questions about aches and pains, emails asking for advice, etc. Working in …

View Post

PHRC is accepting new patients in Pasadena, California!

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC West Los Angeles The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center is excited to announce that we are now accepting new patients in our newest location in Pasadena! Let’s be real, Los Angeles traffic is no joke. Since we opened in West LA in 2014 we have been honored to help patients from all over the greater …

View Post

Pudendal Neuralgia Resources [UPDATED]

In pudendal neuralgia by Emily TranLeave a Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC West Los Angeles Did you know that June is Men’s Health Awareness Month? To follow up that month, we wanted to update the resources we have for Pudendal Neuralgia. Below you will find the latest and greatest information both in blog and video format! We compiled information from guest speakers, Do’s and Don’ts, yoga …

View Post

Is Your Vagina Healthy? How to Tell Healthy from Unhealthy

In Female Pelvic Pain by Jandra Mueller2 Comments

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas Here is the situation, you have irritation down there, you go to your doctor, she performs her exam and tests, she swabs you, then you get the call… your cultures came back negative. Here is what your GYN may have missed. Many women experiencing pelvic pain, urinary, and sexual dysfunction often have pelvic …

View Post

How Pelvic Floor PT Helps Men’s Health & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

In Male Pelvic Pain by Melinda FontaineLeave a Comment

By Melinda Fontaine, DPT, PHRC Walnut Creek Did You Know….   Pelvic floor exercises are equally effective as sildenafil (Viagra) in treating erectile dysfunction. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help incontinence, erectile dysfunction, post void dribbling, overactive bladder, premature ejaculation, and pelvic floor tension myalgia. Erectile dysfunction is associated with twice as much absenteeism, decreases in work productivity, and decreases …