As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I get this question a lot. Although diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) can affect anyone, I see it most often in clients who are pregnant or have been pregnant. Unfortunately, I hear so many women telling me that their health care provider told them the only way to treat a DRA is through surgery. I’m here to bust that myth.

So you had a baby and are now having bouts of incontinence. Or maybe you’ve always had pain during sexual intercourse but didn’t realize this was abnormal. Or you’ve had chronic low back pain that hasn't resolved from traditional PT. Pelvic floor dysfunction affects people of all ages and genders and can have a significant impact on the quality of your life. Typically it leads to issues that are uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing.

A pelvic floor internal exam is a type of physical examination that is performed by a pelvic floor physical therapist to assess the function and health of your pelvic floor muscles. This exam is conducted in a private, comfortable setting and is performed with your informed consent. Typically it involves insertion of a gloved finger into the vagina or rectum to feel the strength, tone, and coordination of the pelvic floor muscles.

As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I have specialized training in the evaluation and treatment of conditions related to the pelvic region. I work with people of all genders to address a variety of issues, including: urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction...

You have probably heard some people say, “Oh it is normal to leak after having a baby, that is just what happens.” While it is common to experience leaking, this shouldn't become your new normal. As a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic health, I am trained to help new moms overcome incontinence. I also work with moms who have been dealing with bladder issues for many years.

You crossed the finish line of your pregnancy journey! Three trimesters of hormone changes and muscles adapting to the changes of load while the baby gradually grows. But what about the "fourth trimester" or postpartum period? Typically our instructions are to rest and let the body recover for 6 weeks after having a baby. However, what if we included gentle exercises as part of that rest and recovery?

You may or may not have heard that you can see a physical therapist for prenatal care. The big question is, what can a pelvic floor physical therapist do for the prenatal population? A lot actually! Pelvic floor PT is not exclusive to the pelvic floor region during pregnancy. Below is a list of some of the things that a pelvic floor physical therapist can treat for an individual who is pregnant that are non-specific to the pelvic floor.

Easy answer: as soon as you want! Generally we wait 6 weeks postpartum to begin pelvic floor physical therapy. However, this applies to assessing and treating the pelvic floor muscles only. There are other regions of the body (hips, spine, shoulders, etc.) that are affected during pregnancy and the birthing process which can affect your posture, strength, stability and mobility.

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.