By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS Let’s talk about something most women quietly deal with but rarely bring up: leaking when you jump rope. If you’ve ever felt that unexpected drip mid workout, or quietly avoided jump rope altogether, you’re not alone, and it is not just “part of being a woman.” As your physical...
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.
Patients coming to pelvic health physical therapy often have abnormalities with the bladder or bowel habits. And often, if these habits have been around for a while, it is difficult for someone to know what is normal. So what is a ‘normal’ bladder like? Frequency -Voids aka peeing, should occur 5-8 times in 24 hours....
A cross-sectional survey study by Forner et al. 2020, conducted through an online reporting survey of nearly 4,000 women looked at the prevalence of participants who reported pelvic organ prolapse symptoms (14%), defined as sensation of the vagina bulge, and the associated risk factors in women who lifted light (<15kg), moderate (16-50kg), or heavy (>50kg)...
What’s considered “normal” when it comes to bladder health and urination? The following is some basic information I use to screen people for possible bladder dysfunction and help them better identify the habits that may be contributing to their urinary symptoms. It’s important to remember there is no exact set of normal bladder habits, but...
As a pelvic health physical therapist who works with individuals during pregnancy I am often asked, “What is the best position to deliver a baby in?” My answer is typically: “Just like posture, there is no “perfect position”, the best position or posture is one that continues to change and where you feel most comfortable.”...
