Pelvic Pain during Pregnancy: What is Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction?
Are you pregnant and having difficulty rolling in bed, getting in and out of your car, climbing stairs, or walking due to pelvic pain? You may be suffering from a common condition called symphysis pubis dysfunction. The pubic symphysis is located at the front of the pelvis where the two sides of the pelvis meet. This is typically a fairly stable joint, but changes in the hormones during pregnancy relax the ligaments and allow for increased movement, which can result in misalignment and more importantly pain. Pubic symphysis dysfunction is thought to affect up to 1 in 4 women during pregnancy. It can range in severity from mild discomfort during daily activities to inability to bear weight on the legs. (more…)
Understanding Fibromyalgia
As a massage therapist, I have worked with a lot of clients over the years with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is one of the most misunderstood and frustrating medical conditions out there today. Many people who suffer from this chronic disease have been misdiagnosed multiple times before someone figures out why they have so much pain. (more…)
Maintaining Healthy Bones as We Age
Our bones continually change throughout our life. Bone is a living, growing tissue, so new bone will be produced to replace the bone that is lost. We can maintain a healthy bone mass when our body can produce the same amount of bone that was removed. When our body fails to keep up with the bone that is being lost, we will have an overall lower bone mass. A lower bone mass may easily lead to fractures, difficulty walking, and an overall lower quality of life. (more…)
Post-Baby Abdominal Blues: Could it be Diastasis Recti?
Let’s be honest. If you have had a baby, you know that there are many things that no one tells you about what can and will happen to your body during and after pregnancy. One thing that is appropriate to discuss here is the development of a diastasis recti. (more…)
Understanding the Female Athlete Triad
As women’s involvement in athletic activity has increased dramatically in the last few decades, so has the incidence of female athlete triad. The incidence of female athlete triad is not well documented but studies have reported that anywhere from 15%-62% of female college athletes are affected. Female athlete triad is a syndrome comprised of disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis or decreased bone mineral density. (more…)
Take Control of Your Bladder
I have been a physical therapist for twelve years and have been treating pelvic floor conditions for the last five years. It never ceases to amaze me how many of my patients have been suffering with pelvic pain, incontinence, or pelvic organ prolapse for many years and have not been educated on the benefits of physical therapy in the rehabilitation of these conditions. Many of these patients can achieve resolution of their symptoms in a relatively short period of time with physical therapy treatment. (more…)
