Questions from You to Me: Breathing
How does breathing and the diaphragm affect the pelvic floor? Our abdominal cavity has only so much room, so as our diaphragm draws down to take in a breath, we…
The What and Why of a Women’s Health Physical Therapy Evaluation
by guest blogger, Michelle Herbst, MPT, DPT Physical Therapists are skilled allied health care providers who evaluate and treat illnesses and injuries specific to the musculoskeletal system. A Women’s Health…
A Closer Look at Our Transversus Abdominus
The transversus abdominus muscle (TA) plays a very important role in pelvic floor (PF) rehabilitation and function, yet most explanations for controlling continence don’t mention any exercises other than Kegels….
Resolution to Take Control of Our Continence
Since January is the month for resolutions, let’s resolve to take back control of our continence. What will it take? As with all resolutions – it will take commitment and…
Do I Have a Prolapse?
How do you know if you have a prolapse? Some urogynocologists go as far as to say that every woman will experience some degree of prolapse in their lives. A…
Getting Back into Daily Activities and Exercise
I just finished a morning run and I was thinking about how running has helped to strengthen my pelvic floor. These were thoughts I needed and wanted to share with…
Getting Rid of the Belly “Pooch”
So often I get asked: “How do I lose this belly pooch up front?” Women will tell me that they have lost all of their weight after pregnancy, but they just…
To Kegel or Not To Kegel…
The Kegel exercise is the cornerstone of pelvic floor (PF) rehabilitation for incontinence and prolapse. Some have called Kegels a worthless activity or a waste of time. Nothing could be…
Is my leaking just a function of my weak bladder?
The answer to this question is a resounding “NO!” The bladder is made up of smooth muscle, over which we don’t have voluntary control. Muscles that we can voluntarily contract…
Weighing your options and knowing your risks
When you begin to experience incontinence or prolapse symptoms, there are several treatment options to consider. These options range from non-invasive exercise programs aimed at strengthening the pelvic floor muscles…