Meet Sarah, a new mom grappling with the challenges of her evolving sex life. Like many new parents, she finds herself facing painful intercourse and a decrease in sexual desire just three months after welcoming her baby. Unfortunately, this struggle is not uncommon. Up to 88% of new parents report sexual well-being issues, yet less...
Endometriosis is a challenging and often debilitating condition where endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus, leading to severe pelvic pain and discomfort. People suffering from endometriosis often face not just physical pain but also emotional and psychological stress. While traditional treatments focus on hormonal therapies and surgery, a growing body of research suggests that physical...
A recent article published in February 2024 explores the correlation between urinary incontinence and the need for total hip and knee arthroplasty surgeries. The study, conducted by Jacob S. Budin and colleagues, investigates whether urinary incontinence acts as an independent risk factor for these surgeries. The researchers analyzed data from patients who underwent arthroplasty procedures...
There has been a significant rise in female participation in crossfit over the past decade, thus increasing the chance that a portion of athletes will at some point experience pregnancy. In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics we frequently treat patients looking to stay active during and after their pregnancies. Traditionally, high...
A common question we discuss in our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics regards Kegels. First and foremost, Kegels are not always appropriate and are definitely not always enough in treating pelvic floor dysfunctions! Gone are the days of doing only Kegels on a table in a room. For all the reasons Kegels...
A new study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in October 2023 shows aerobic activity can be just as effective as medication for erectile dysfunction. The systematic review evaluated the effects of aerobic activity on erectile function and found men who participated in aerobic activity, such as cycling, running or walking, had better erectile...
Is low back pain delaying your ability to get back to postpartum exercise? Your pelvic girdle and pelvic floor muscles may need some attention! One complaint we often hear as pelvic floor physical therapists working with our postpartum population is the inability to get back to mat exercise because of pain when lying flat on...
Yes, men have a pelvic floor too! At Mend in Boulder and Lafayette, our pelvic health specialists treat all male pelvic health concerns. Some signs of a male pelvic health dysfunction could include: Frequent urination Strong urge to urinate Delayed start of stream or disrupted stream Erectile dysfunction Chronic constipation Pain in genitals or rectum...
While the evidence has been clear that moderate intensity exercise is safe and beneficial in pregnancy, little has been researched on the safety of high intensity (>90% heart rate max) exercise in pregnancy. A new study in May 2023 has shed some new light on the matter and found vigorous exercise to be safe for...
Vaginal dilators are tools that help stretch and expand the vaginal introitus (or opening) and surrounding tissues. Dilators come in many shapes, sizes, and material types but all utilize the underlying strategy of desensitizing and stretching the tissue gradually and progressively. Most often dilators are prescribed for conditions that cause pain with vaginal penetration. Common...