By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS Pickleball is everywhere right now, and for good reason. It’s social, low-impact (most of the time) and genuinely fun. If you were a regular player before getting pregnant, you’re probably wondering whether you need to hang up your paddle for nine months. The short answer? You likely don’t have...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS Many people think pelvic floor dysfunction only involves weakness. However, for many individuals dealing with pelvic pain, painful intercourse, urinary urgency, constipation, or tailbone pain, the pelvic floor muscles may actually be too tight. One tool that can help address this tension is a pelvic wand. When used appropriately, ...
One common symptom treated in pelvic floor physical therapy in our Boulder and Lafayette clinics is urinary urgency and frequency. These symptoms can be due to a number of musculoskeletal or nervous system dysfunctions: hypertonic pelvic floor or abdominal muscles, irritated pudendal or genitofemoral nerves, a high sympathetic nervous system state, learned behavior, etc. Patients...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS If you’ve ever been told to “strengthen your core” but still struggle with abdominal pressure, bloating, pelvic heaviness, or urinary leakage, it’s possible that traditional core exercises are missing the mark. That’s because one of the most important muscles in your core is one you can’t see, but when...
If you’ve just given birth and noticed vaginal bleeding or discharge that doesn’t quite look like a regular period, you’re likely experiencing lochia. It’s completely normal, and understanding what each stage looks like — and how your body responds to physical activity during recovery — is one of the most practical things you can know in the postpartum period.
As many as 50% of people with chronic constipation have pelvic floor dysfunction. This dysfunction is commonly diagnosed as “pelvic floor dyssynergia,” which is a fancy way of saying the pelvic floor muscles are not coordinating correctly to have a bowel movement. When the muscles aren’t coordinated correctly, there is disruption in the signals our...
Bladder and bowel dysfunction in children is a common and multifactorial functional problem. It is one of the most common reasons for referral to pediatric urology, accounting for up to 40% of visits. This increasingly common issue is a potential cause for physical and psychosocial burden for both children and families. Early diagnosis and treatment...
As more research about the novel coronavirus COVID-19 is developed, it is important to consider the effects of the disease on the pelvic floor and associated body systems and functions. The implications are both direct, i.e. affecting the cells of the bladder and small intestine, and indirect by disrupting function in the pulmonary system, in...
In the United States, about 13% of women aged 15-49 year old will experience infertility. Infertility is described as the inability to get pregnant after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. For those experiencing infertility, it can be a long, emotionally and financially taxing journey. Each woman’s journey is unique which can make it hard to...
What is the pelvic floor doing while I climb? Should I do kegels? Can I climb while pregnant? “In the end, climbing was one of the only things my body felt good doing for the entirety of my pregnancy, and I climbed throughout, enjoying my final pregnant climbing session just 12 hours before going into...
