Just as the name implies, “Beyond the…” there is more to you and your body than just your pelvic floor.
There is more to you than just your back, your hip, your pelvis, etc.
You are a complex being with different genetics, different life experiences, a difference in types of activities that your body has performed or had to endure.
So having multiple treatment approaches is vital to you not only achieving your goals, but helping you obtain the life and body you want, and the life and body you deserve!
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
What is Pelvic Floor PT?
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy has begun to make its way into social media and occasionally in conversation among mothers. Even less often is it referred by all doctors. It’s still in its infancy because so many women still ask me, “What is it?” or “What do you have to do to fix me?”
For most patients, there are several components that might be similiar, but I will be bold to say that therapy should NOT look the same for you, your friend or sister, etc.! You have different bodies that have different stories that require different treatments
Most patients should experience continued evaluation and assessment of multiple regions of the body (neck, hip, back, pelvis, knee, ankle, etc.) throughout the course of their treatment. Some, not all patients have their pelvic floor assessed, internally and/or externally. This should be done with informed consent by the patient- meaning they understand the reason for having this performed and agree to it without feeling coerced or pressured.
Although this is called Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, it is important to know that there can be contributing factors from other areas of the body impacting the pelvic floor, or vice versa. It is important to identify ALL those contributors to the problem and improve them.
The following is a list of common things that could be performed at Beyond the V (with your consent!):
Visceral mobilization
Soft tissue mobilization/Deep tissue mobilization
Dry Needling
Myofascial Release
Scar Tissue Release
Internal Pelvic Floor or Internal Hip Trigger Point Release
Postural Improvements
Strengthening/Lengthening of muscles
Diet/Nutrition Education
Dynamic Cupping
Kinesiology Taping (KT Tape)
Stress Management
What diagnoses do you treat?
The following are a list of diagnoses that are COMMON in Pelvic Floor PT. If you do not see your diagnosis/issue listed, please do not see that as a reason that this will not work for you. Pelvic Floor PT is an incredibly different approach to viewing your body, and I do not necessarily treat your “diagnosis.” I look at your body as one functioning unit and determine where the issues or symptoms are coming from and address those issues. In the end, I feel certain you are more concerned that you don’t have pain, are able to do what you want, when you want, without any limitations, rather than worrying what your issues or symptoms are labeled or called.
- Stress/Urge Incontinence
- Fecal Incontinence
- Constipation
- Pain with Intercourse (Dyspareunia)
- Vaginismus, Vulvodynia, Vulvar Vestibulitis
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse (Rectocele, Cystocele, Enterocele)
- Abdominal, Pelvic, Back, Hip Pain
- Painful Periods
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Fibromyalgia
- Hip Pain
- Pregnancy Pain (abdomen, back, hip, wrist, etc.) or other Issues
- Diastasis Recti
- Postpartum Issues
Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy is a soft and gentle manual therapy technique that can free up tension in the body to remove dysfunction and pain in order to enhance the body’s function and health. Created by Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger from years of of clinical testing and research at Michigan State University.
The technique is light, the weight of a nickel coin or less. The goal is free up restrictions around the surrounding tissues and structures of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord), which can also impact other systems of the body: endocrine, digestion, musculoskeletal, etc.
We live in a fast paced society and your body has to tolerate all the tension and stress that comes with that. This can create dysfunction/restrictions in the tissues around the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and can create a domino effect to other systems of your body.
The good news is that these areas of dysfunction and restriction can be found and addressed with this technique. The touch is so light and is used in multiple areas of the body to treat the tissues that could be impacting the brain, spinal cord and other systems of the body. This can assist the body in healing and allow the body to return to optimal function.
This is not meant to scare you into feeling like you need Craniosacral Therapy every day! It is only said to illustrate that your body is quite the masterpiece!
Many of us may be struggling with issues that have yet to be resolved by other means. Craniosacral Therapy is an option that not many will seek out right away, but after having one or more sessions, the concensus is, “I wish I would have known about this years ago!”
Because of the widespread effect that Craniosacral Therapy can have on the body, it can be used to treat a large variety of issues:
- Neck/Back Pain
- Headaches/Migraines
- Colic
- Autism
- Orthopedic/Musculoskeletal Issues
- Scoliosis
- Concussion
- Learning Disabilities
- Balance and Coordination Issues
- Spinal Cord Issues
- Difficulty with learning or emotional issues
- Fatigue
- Stress and other related issues
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint)
- Fibromyalgia
- Connective Tissue Diagnoses
- PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder)
- Post operative issues
- Immune issues
–adapted from Upledger Institute