As a pelvic health and lymphedema physical therapist, I am frustrated with the stereotypes associated with aging and menopause.‍ For example, “Oh, you just pee when you sneeze as you get older,” is not true. Additionally, the notion that as we age, sexual activity and sensuality cease due to lack of interest and body function is also not true.

What is a diastasis? Most people know the diastasis as a separation of the rectus abdominis muscle. While this is not completely wrong, it is also not completely true either. A diastasis is actually a thinning of the linea alba which is a connective tissue sheath that lies in the middle of the abdominal wall and connects the abdominal muscles.

Have you been hearing about the pelvic floor or pelvic health physical therapy, but aren’t sure exactly what the pelvic floor actually is? In this week’s video, Dr. Krystal guides you through a step-by-step process of identifying this group of muscles with visual aid and verbal cues.

I recently started offering pelvic health physical therapy services at our latest Activcore studio in Littleton, Colorado. It is located within a popular OB/GYN practice called Women’s Health Care Associates. This new venture has given me an opportunity to learn more about this amazing group of medical providers in the Denver area.

A diastasis recti (DR) occurs when the rectus abdominis, your 6-pack muscles, separate in the front of the body. This commonly occurs during pregnancy but can also be found in persons with stomach obesity. As the abdomen increases in size, it stretches the front abdominal wall leaving the linea alba (connective tissue between your abdominal muscles) vulnerable to separation.

The evidence for treating musculoskeletal pain has remained consistent over the years. It supports two basic aspects of physical therapy: to move your joints and to understand pain science. So why, early on in my career, was it so hard for me to successfully treat patients in pain? I guess moving without pain is harder than you might think. Just ask the old me that didn’t have access to a “zero-gravity” suspension exercise system.

Did you know that endometriosis affects 1 out of 10 women during their reproductive years (usually between the ages of 15-49), or about 15% of women worldwide (endometriosis.org)? The symptoms of endometriosis are cyclical debilitating painful periods, but can progress to chronic pelvic and abdominal pain, pain with intercourse, potentially leading to infertility.

As a physical therapist who specializes in the pelvic floor, I can assess, diagnose, prevent and prescribe treatment of pelvic floor related conditions. These dysfunctions include urinary incontinence, bladder and bowel dysfunctions, sensory issues and pain around pelvis, pain with sex and other sexual related dysfunctions, pelvic organ prolapse, pregnancy and postpartum recovery and more.

Has anyone taught you how to push your baby out during delivery? Are you experiencing any urinary incontinence, low back pain, pelvic/pubic pain, constipation, etc. and you're pregnant? Come learn the mechanics on how your pelvic floor works, exercises you can be doing during your pregnancy, exercises you can do before your 6 week postpartum check up, and a few other topics you don't want to miss.

If you have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, have undergone treatment, or you are a cancer survivor or thriver, check out this free one-hour Zoom webinar about how breast cancer impacts your pelvic health and how physical therapy can address these impairments.