Bowel movements are a part of our normal routine, but painful bowel movements don’t have to be. A common cause of painful bowel elimination is anal fissures. These tiny tears in the anal canal are quite common and have a significant impact on quality of life. Among patients studied in a 2014 cohort, prevelance of...
Receive a diagnosis of prostatitis for your pelvic pain or urinary dysfunction? Only 8-10% of cases of prostatitis are due to a bacterial infection. If antibiotics didn’t work in relieving symptoms, you may be in the category of ‘chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome’ (CPPS). What are the symptoms of chronic prostatitis? Bladder symptoms: urgency, frequency,...
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...
As pelvic physical therapists in Boulder County, functional constipation has been something treated in our clinics via various techniques. A new randomized controlled trial has shown one commonly performed intervention to be an effective first-line treatment for functional constipation. Functional constipation is defined by the Rome IV criteria. Rome IV criteria: Must include two or...
Findings in a new study are now more than ever clearly defining the link between the brain and the gut microbiome. The study showed regular laxative use tied to increased risk of dementia. Researchers followed over 500,000 UK residents over 10 years and those that regularly used osmotic laxatives (stool softeners) or a combination of...
1. Testicular pain Yes, men can benefit from pelvic physical therapy. Testicular pain is often not an issue with the testicle itself, but rather a presentation of a pelvic floor dysfunction. This may be due to pelvic floor muscle overactivity. Referral patterns of pelvic floor or even abdominal muscles can be into the testicles and...
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...
By: Dr. Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS If you caught my Instagram Reel “Top 3 Things I’m NOT Falling For Anymore”, you already know it’s time to challenge outdated beliefs holding women back especially when it comes to strength training. But for young female athletes, pregnant women, postpartum warriors, and anyone dealing with pelvic floor...
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, ...
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...
