What we do with the pelvis and how it works at all ages and stages of life MATTERS!!
People (usually not those seeking pelvic health solutions) frequently ask me why I make such a big deal about pelvic health, caring for people during and after pregnancy, and at all stages of life? After all, I am asked, “You are a PT and you work with all parts of the body, right?” Yes!! It’s all connected and I do work with “all of you”.
But…pelvic health is so important to overall function, mobility, strength, safety (yes….falls happen when people are dashing to the bathroom) and feeling WELL!
From Wallace, Miller and Mishra, 2019:
“Pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) has robust evidence-based support as a first-line, minimally invasive option to treat pelvic floor dysfunction, including pelvic organ prolapse (POP), fecal or urinary incontinence, peripartum and postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction and chronic pelvic pain”
First-line, minimally invasive option to treat! That is powerful!
From the above Cochrane review:
- Women receiving Pelvic Floor PT were 8 times more likely to report cessation of symptoms or improvement than women in the placebo, sham, or no-treatment groups.
- Women who underwent Pelvic Floor PT had fewer leakage episodes in 24 hours than women without treatment.
- Patients who performed Pelvic Floor PT during pregnancy compared with those who had no Pelvic Floor PT had a lower risk of urinary incontinence in late pregnancy and a lower risk of urinary incontinence 3–6 months postpartum.
AND, we also know that it is possible to reduce the occurrence of pelvic floor injury during childbirth. There are many components to consider to do so, and working with a Pelvic Floor PT with knowledge about childbirth AND a PT who considers each person, their anatomy, health history and needs individually is a first step! (DeLancey et al Pelvic Floor Injury During Vaginal Birth is Life-altering and Preventable: what can we do about it? Elsevier 2023
Wow! Yes, this is why I make a big deal about pelvic health at all ages! Clinically, we see the results at Embody Physiotherapy by working with you individually, looking at all of you, and by addressing your wants and needs for movement, continence, life, pain….function!
Rebecca Meehan PT WCS PYT first began studying pelvic health in 1994, adding it to her orthopedic PT background, and has been developing her skill and knowledge level ever since that time, earning her Women’s Clinical Specialty in 2013. She loves continuing to learn and implement techniques to help her patients and clients meet their “wants” to move and live well! You can reach Rebecca at rebecca@embody-pt.com