View Post

Good News! Interstitial Cystitis is treatable! A Much Needed Q&A

In Interstitial Cystitis by Stephanie Prendergast1 Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC West Los Angeles   What is Interstitial Cystitis? IC is a pelvic pain syndrome characterized by irritated bladder symptoms. This condition is associated with painful sex, pelvic floor dysfunction, vestibulodynia, endometriosis, and gut dysbiosis. What are the symptoms? Symptoms include bladder pain, urinary urgency, urinary frequency, pain worsened with bladder filling, nocturia, and dysuria. The …

View Post

How Pelvic Floor PT Helps Children with Constipation & Incontinence

In Pediatric Pelvic Health by Shannon PacellaLeave a Comment

By Shannon Pacella, DPT, PHRC Lexington Did You Know… Bedwetting affects 15%-22% of children, and of those children, 10%-25% have urinary leakage during the day.1  One of the primary causes of bedwetting and daytime wetting is constipation.1 10%-25% of children who bed wet also have difficulty controlling their bowels.1 Awareness of bladder sensation and control of bladder begins between one …

View Post

Success Story: How Jennifer Beat Endometriosis

In Endometriosis by Jandra Mueller1 Comment

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas Jennifer was referred to PHRC by her urogynecologist who diagnosed her with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). For more information on this condition, check out Melinda’s webinar on IC/PBS.  She was diagnosed with IC in 2012/2013 because she had been experiencing significant cramping in her bladder, as well as urinary urgency and frequency. …

View Post

How to Tackle Pelvic Pain, Joseph’s Success Story

In Male Pelvic Pain by pelv_admin1 Comment

As physical therapists, we often refer to our patients’ last day with us as Graduation Day. I always enjoy Graduation Day because it means the patient has accomplished their goals; their symptoms have reduced, they are able to function without limitations, and they are leaving as happier, healthier individuals. To put it plainly, they don’t need me anymore. It is …

View Post

Gotta Go Right Now: Urinary Urgency Explained

In Bladder Dysfunction by Melinda FontaineLeave a Comment

By: Melinda Fontaine, DPT, PHRC Walnut Creek You know that feeling when you just drank the equivalent to a big gulp and you haven’t had a bathroom break in over four hours. That sensation of your body telling you to get to the bathroom ASAP is called “urgency.” In case you wonder if urgency and the frequent need to urinate …

View Post

Young Men Get Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. Here’s How Chris Recovered with Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy!

In Male Pelvic Pain by pelv_admin3 Comments

By: Rachel Daof, DPT   People often ask me what symptoms men present with that land them in pelvic floor physical therapy.  The truth is, men suffer from similar issues as women when it involves their pelvic floor: bowel, bladder, sexual dysfunction, and/or pain in the pelvic region. Furthermore, it’s not only the elder male population that can experience these …

View Post

Thrive with Age: Menopause Solutions

In Menopause/Perimenopause by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

“It’s NOT all downhill from here! When you learn how to find balance in your life and in your hormones, it’s really possible to feel vital through perimenopause, menopause and beyond.” DR. AMY DAY, FOUNDER, THE WOMEN’S VITALITY CENTER IN BERKELEY, CA Too many women are silently struggling through bothersome symptoms of perimenopause and menopause on their own. Women often …

View Post

Happy New Year!

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Stephanie Prendergast2 Comments

By: Stephanie Prendergast, PHRC Cofounder January is often the time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the future. So, in that spirit, we thought it would be fun to dedicate this post to a few top Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center events of 2018….and a peak forward to 2019. In no particular order, here’s what happened …

View Post

Posture Revisited: Sitting and the Pelvic Floor

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by pelv_admin5 Comments

Photo via Joe Loong via Flickr In previous entries, Britt beautifully took us through all things posture (Posture and the Pelvis Part One and Part Deux). Here are some important takeaways from her posts to consider as we explore how sitting may affect your pelvic floor:   The diaphragm, trunk (back extensors, transversus abdominis, obliques, etc.) and pelvic floor muscles are …

View Post

What’s new in research and clinical care for “Prostatitis” aka male Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS)?

In Interstitial Cystitis by Stephanie Prendergast5 Comments

By Stephanie Prendergast, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   If you are a man suffering from what feels like ‘prostatitis’, this blog and our upcoming informational event is for you.   Did you know?…   10% of men experience prostatitis-like symptoms at some point in their lives. 97% of these men do not have a prostate or bladder infection yet are …

View Post

The Most Proven IC Treatment: Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

In Interstitial Cystitis by Stephanie Prendergast4 Comments

  By Guest Blogger Nicole Cozean, PT, DPT, WCS and author of The Interstitial Cystitis Solution   Pelvic floor physical therapy is the most proven treatment for interstitial cystitis. It’s the only therapy given an evidence grade of ‘A’ by the American Urological Association and recommended in the first line of medical treatment. But patients often wonder how does treating …

View Post

Beating Interstitial Cystitis

In Interstitial Cystitis by Stephanie Prendergast4 Comments

  By Stephanie Prendergast   “Thousands of people with Interstitial Cystitis live healthy, pain-free lives and so can you.” – The Interstitial Cystitis Solution, Nicole Cozean PT, DPT, WCS   In honor of Bladder Health Month this week’s blog is dedicated to Interstitial Cystitis/ Painful Bladder Syndrome. IC/PBS is a treatable pelvic pain syndrome affecting roughly 3 million men and 9 …

View Post

Male Pelvic Pain and Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis: A Story of Hope and Determination

In Male Pelvic Pain by Shannon Pacella6 Comments

  By Shannon Pacella, DPT, PHRC Lexington   Unfortunately, the majority of the men we see at PHRC have been through quite a journey with their pelvic pain, before finding pelvic floor physical therapy. I want to share a recent success story about one of my male patients, Ben (his name has been changed for anonymity). My hope by sharing …

View Post

Diaphragmatic breathing, pelvic pain, peeing and pooping

In Bladder Dysfunction by pelv_admin5 Comments

    Diaphragmatic breathing aka deep belly breathing – how is that an exercise? Many of my patients are surprised when I prescribe and emphasize diaphragmatic breathing in their home exercise programs. Historically, they have associated physical therapy and/or exercise with strengthening, stretching or the need to get the heart rate up. However, with the pelvic floor muscles, especially for …

View Post

Jagged Little Pill: Part Two

In Female Pelvic Pain by Joshua Gonzalez, MD7 Comments

  By Joshua Gonzalez, MD   After reading my last post, Jagged Little Pill, many of you who have had similar suspected OCP-related problems may be thinking there’s no hope.  Trust me, you are not doomed if you’ve ever taken an oral birth control and you have symptoms of vulvodynia.  My goal this week is to reassure you that you’re …

View Post

Jagged Little Pill: How Oral Contraceptives Wreak Havoc on the Female Body

In Female Pelvic Pain by Joshua Gonzalez, MD9 Comments

By Joshua Gonzalez, MD   The advent of oral birth control pills in the 1960s was heralded as a huge victory for women’s rights.  Finally, women could take control of their bodies and their fertility.  Since then, oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) have become ubiquitous in reproductive aged women with nearly 10 million women today using The Pill as their primary …