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Pelvic Pain 101: Definition + Resource List

In Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   “Can you please define to us what exactly is pelvic pain when sitting. Over the bladder? In the groin? On the labia? Rectum? Sit bone? Like period cramps? What is the most common definition?  I’d love for this to be a post or a question for all.  I keep wondering …

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PHRC is going back to Nairobi, Kenya!

In pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic floor physical therapy continuing education, pelvic floor physical therapy mentoring, Pelvic Health by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack   PHRC is going back to Nairobi, Kenya!   The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center is returning to Nairobi, Kenya to teach a pelvic health course to a second cohort of physical therapists in October 2022. We taught the first cohort of physical therapists in February 2020 and unfortunately COVID has delayed our …

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IPPS Post-Conference Specialty Course

In pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic floor physical therapy continuing education, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain 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 …

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Are Oral Birth Control Pills a Cause Of Or Solution For Pelvic Pain?

In Female Pelvic Pain, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain, Vulvodynia by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC West Los Angeles A frequent question from social media:    “I have Vestibulodynia and painful bladder syndrome. I am almost symptom free except for near or during my period. My hormone levels are fine. My urologist prescribed testosterone cream because he found atrophy. At the same time I have another doctor telling me that …

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Pudendal Neuralgia Frequently Asked Questions- Answered

In Female Pudendal Neuralgia, Male Pudendal Neuralgia, Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack Over the last couple of years PHRC has shared many YouTube videos and educational material on Instagram educating our viewers and readers about pelvic health. We have received an overwhelming response to several of our posts discussing pudendal neuralgia. Listed below are some of the most common questions we’ve received and our answers. …

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How Denise Reduced Prolapse Symptoms with Therapeutic Yoga at PHRC

In pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Pelvic Pain by Melissa PatrickLeave a Comment

By Melissa Patrick, PT, DPT, RYT Denise  is an active 61 year old woman who enjoys spending time outside walking her dog, going to Zumba class and practicing yoga. When I met Denise, I could tell that she was energetic and lively but that her primary complaints of vaginal pressure were putting a damper on her lifestyle. I am happy …

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Solutions for Menopausal Women with GSM and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

In Menopause by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT , Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Most people have not heard of term “Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause” (GSM). One key reason is that the term did not exist until 2014, when leadership societies recognized that menopausal women were suffering from many more symptoms than just ‘vaginal atrophy’ and vaginal dryness. The expanded GSM term more …

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How Alexandra Recovered from Pudendal Neuralgia at PHRC

In Female Pudendal Neuralgia, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles Why do my sitz bones hurt with sitting, but not when sitting on the toilet? Alexandria’s Success Story with Highs and Lows throughout the Healing Process    The History of Alexandria’s Pain and How She Found PHRC   Alexandria is a 62-year-old female who showed up to PHRC with eight out …

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Pain in your tailbone? You are not alone: Michelle’s Success Story

In Pain, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain, Pregnancy and Postpartum Pelvic Health by pelv_adminLeave a Comment

By Jennifer Keesee, PT, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village   Michelle is a 39 year old patient who was referred to PHRC by her pain management specialist for evaluation and treatment of tailbone pain, known as Coccydynia. Her symptoms started one year after giving birth to her second child, and had continued off and on for about three years. Michelle did …

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Myofascial Trigger Points: Facts & General Information

In Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Let’s talk Myofascial Trigger Point (MTrPs) Facts: MTrPs are contracted fibers with a muscle. MTrPs are painful when compressed. Active MTrPs cause pain and/or dysfunction whereas latent MTrPs do not currently cause pain and/or dysfunction but have the potential to. MTrPs can cause pain locally (at the spot of the …

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Myofascial Trigger Points – Frequently Asked Questions & Their Answers

In Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Over the last few week’s, we have received various inquiries about Myofascial Trigger Points. Why do they occur? What are they? How can we fix them? This week we do a deep dive and answer our most frequently asked questions!   Q: Never heard of this ! What is this …

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Physical Therapy Rehab After Gender Affirming Surgeries

In Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain, Transgender Health by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack   Although still out of reach for many, gender affirming surgical procedures are becoming more accessible as more surgeons are offering these services and more insurance providers are covering some of the costs associated with these procedures. As more people undergo these surgical procedures the need for rehabilitative services post operatively has increased. …

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Hard Flaccid: Causes, Treatments, and Symptoms

In Male Pelvic Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack Although our knowledge is limited with regards to hard-flaccid syndrome, based upon the minimal medical literature dedicated to this syndrome and our own experience at PHRC, hard-flaccid syndrome most commonly occurs secondary to the following:   When the PFM, particularly the urogenital diaphragm, or superficial PFM, become too tight or hypertonic, they can …

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How PFPT Helped Following a Prostatectomy: Peter’s Story

In Male Pelvic Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Melinda FontaineLeave a Comment

By Peter and Melinda Fontaine, DPT, PHRC Walnut Creek Pelvic Physical Therapy (PPT) has been a wonderfully life changing experience for me following prostate cancer treatment. It has been a nearly three year journey, and I cannot speak highly enough of the benefits of my kind, caring, and immensely skilled PPT therapist. What are these benefits? In short, marked improvement …

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Success Story: How PFPT Helped Following Peter’s Prostatectomy

In Male Pelvic Pain, Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Melinda FontaineLeave a Comment

By Melinda Fontaine, DPT, PHRC Walnut Creek Peter was a 63 year old experiencing urinary urgency and leakage three months after having his prostate surgically removed for prostate cancer. Luckily, his surgeon referred him to a pelvic floor physical therapist. He was using at least two incontinence pads per day, but was mostly dry at night. He had a strong …

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Penile Pain: Frequently Asked Questions and Their Answers

In Male Pelvic Pain, Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack   Over the last couple of years PHRC has shared many YouTube videos and educational material on Instagram educating our viewers and readers about pelvic health. We have received an overwhelming response to several of our posts discussing male pelvic pain, in particular penile pain. Listed below are some of the most common …

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Busting Menopause Myths: How the Women’s Health Initiative Changed Women’s Health Overnight

In Menopause, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, , Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   It is common knowledge amongst medical professionals and researchers that it takes an average of 17 years for research evidence to reach clinical practice. In 2002 an event occurred that changed healthcare overnight for menopausal women, affecting over 50 million people at the time. Twenty years later, tremendous confusion …

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Postpartum Urinary Incontinence is Common: Here’s How We Can Help

In Pelvic Health, Pregnancy and Postpartum Pelvic Health, Stress Urinary Incontinence by Lauren OpatrnyLeave a Comment

By Lauren Opatrny, PT, DPT, PHRC Berkeley & San Francisco *all names have been changed to maintain patient privacy   Background   Rachel* is a 32 year old experiencing urinary incontinence after giving birth to her baby in December 2020. When she was eight months postpartum and still experiencing incontinence, her doctor referred her to pelvic physical therapy. Six weeks …

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

In pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain, Uncategorized by Emily TranLeave a Comment

By Emily Schwerdtfeger, PHRC Westlake Village   May is Mental Health Awareness Month; we wanted to talk about pelvic pain and mental health!   When it comes to pelvic pain, it can have a major effect on both your physical and mental health. Did you know about 20% or one in five people experience a mental health disorder at some …

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Success Story: Pelvic Floor PT Helped Charli Resolve Postpartum Pain

In Female Pelvic Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain, Pregnancy and Postpartum Pelvic Health by Jillian RamosLeave a Comment

By Jillian Cerda Ramos, PT, DPT, MFDc   *all names have been changed to maintain patient privacy   Introduction Pregnancy is truly a life-changing event in more ways than one: bringing a baby into this world is no easy feat, and neither is the recovery process! Just like how each pregnancy is so different, each postpartum experience can be so …

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How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Helped Megan Eliminate Rectal Pain and Bowel Dysfunction

In Female Pelvic Pain, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Pelvic Pain by Kim BuonomoLeave a Comment

By Kim Buonomo, DPT, PHRC Lexington   Introduction Megan (mid-50 year old cisgender female) started seeing me in September 2021. She had a history of bowel dysfunction since giving birth to her daughter in the late 1990’s. She described her symptoms as a pattern of alternating constipation and diarrhea, associated with bloating, hemorrhoids and abdominal discomfort. She thought for a …