OUR BLOG

Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition that many women may not hear about until they experience symptoms or receive a diagnosis during a routine pelvic exam–and men during a routine physical exam. While it only affects a small percentage of men and women, it’s important to understand what it is, what causes it, and how it can be treated—especially as we age or after childbirth.

Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a very rare condition, affecting about 1% of women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB). People with PGAD experience sudden and uncontrollable physical sensations that feel like sexual arousal. However, these sensations happen without sexual desire and are not relieved by orgasm. Although PGAD has been studied mostly in women and AFAB individuals, it can also occur in men and people assigned male at birth.

Men (and those with male anatomy), have you ever typed into Google: “It feels like there’s a golf ball in my rectum”... “There’s so much pressure in my butt”... “Something feels stuck near my tailbone”...“My tailbone hurts every time I sit”...“I can’t drive for long without pain.” If so, you’re not alone—and what you’re experiencing could be related to one of several possible conditions.

Everywhere I look these days, I see women my age walking with weighted vests. I decided I wanted to get a better understanding of this latest trend. Since this is a new phenomena, there is not a lot of research to support it, but there are trials underway to see if walking with a weighted vest will increase bone density.

If you’re a woman navigating menopause, you’ve likely heard conflicting information about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — especially if you’ve heard the name "Women's Health Initiative" (WHI) tossed around. Decades ago, the WHI study led many to believe that HRT was unsafe, with concerns about heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer. Many women and even practitioners still believe that HRT is unsafe. 

Trauma and chronic stress—whether emotional, physical, or psychological—have long been recognized as key contributors to a variety of health conditions. One area often overlooked, however, is the pelvic floor. Many people are surprised to learn that stress can significantly impact pelvic health, especially when left unresolved over time.‍ Whether you’re dealing with digestive irregularities, urinary urgency, pain with sitting, or unexplained pelvic discomfort, understanding how the nervous system, diaphragm, and pelvic floor work together is essential.

How can PT’s support women through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond? Physical therapists are educators and education is a key component of supporting women through Menopause. Learning how to optimize our bodies and minds to move into this transition in a strong and healthy way can help make the difference between smooth sailing or a bumpy path.

Regional interdependence is a term that I first learned while taking a course called Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) back in 2011. It was a term that I was unfamiliar with, despite my many years of practicing as a physical therapist at the time. It helped me understand that the origin of pain in the body may or may not come from the area of pain. Sometimes you have to be sort of like a detective by tracing back when and where the problem actually originated.

As an orthopedic and pelvic health physical therapist, I often get asked: “Why does my shoulder have anything to do with my pelvic floor?” The short answer is that everything is connected, especially when it comes to postural support, breath mechanics, and core stability. And one often-overlooked muscle that plays a pivotal role in this full-body connection is the serratus anterior.

If you’ve ever worked with a physical therapist for back pain, hip issues, or even stress incontinence, you’ve probably heard us talk about your core. But as someone who works at the intersection of orthopedics and pelvic health, I want to zoom in on two (often-overlooked but absolutely vital) players in your core system: the diaphragm and the pelvic floor. These two structures live at opposite ends of your torso, but they function as a team.