At our Boulder pelvic physical therapy clinic, we often see the cause of a pelvic floor dysfunction being tension, not weakness, of pelvic floor muscles. This applies not just to those that identify as female, but those identifying as males as well. Muscles that are holding more tension than they should, cannot properly function. So...
Ready to run after having a baby but need a better plan on how much and how to progress your running? Read on to find a template at the end. The 6-week postpartum doctor’s visit is when women are often “cleared” for activity and are often advised to start slowly and gradually building exercise volume...
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is the descent or tissue laxity of the front (bladder), back (rectum), or top (cervical) aspect of the vaginal wall. With less support from connective tissue and muscles of the pelvis, the bladder, uterus, or rectum can press on the vaginal wall contributing to increased pelvic pressure or bulge sensation. The...
If you deal with pelvic floor tension, you or a physical therapist has likely discovered tight adductors as well. Due to shared fascial connections and synergies between the muscle groups, the pelvic floor and adductors are closely related in regards to tension held within them. Pelvic floor tension can affect adductor tension and vice versa,...
Pubic symphysis pain, commonly known as symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), affects around 30% of pregnant individuals. SPD manifests with symptoms such as localized tenderness, discomfort during specific movements like turning in bed or getting in and out of a car, and shooting pain in various areas like the lower abdomen, back, pelvis, perineum, and thighs. ...
Breathing has become an industry in this country. Books, apps, and countless health articles revolve around the various styles of breathing, all boasting the mental and physical benefits that can be unlocked with different techniques. As pelvic health physical therapists in Boulder County, we often assess a patient’s breathing pattern during our first evaluation and...
The brain, bladder, and pelvic floor are a system that need to work in harmony together. An issue with any of those regions in the system will affect the others regions and can lead to bladder dysfunction. Dysfunction may appear as: leaking before you make it to the toilet (urge incontinence), leaking during activity or...
Fewer than 15% of pregnant women get the recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week. There is a lot of fear out there regarding if and what exercise is safe during pregnancy. You can run! You can lift (even heavy)! You can do abdominal exercises! You can do hanging exercises! You can and...
One of the most frequently asked questions we get as pelvic floor specialists from our female patients is “is it normal that I have pain with sex?” While it is common, it is not and does not have to be accepted as “normal.” According to statistics from the American College of Gynecology (ACOG), 75% of...
It is a misconception that postpartum recovery and postpartum exercise cannot begin until after your 6 week follow up with your OB. While postpartum recovery occurs in phases, there are some exercises you can begin right away to accelerate your recovery and prevent future dysfunction. The following exercises are applicable whether birth was a vaginal...