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Pelvic Pain: Time To Do Something About It

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Most of the women that come to see me about their pelvic pain have seen at least five doctors prior to physical therapy. The majority of them have been told somewhere within their search for treatment that they should just relax and have a glass of wine. This is very upsetting to a physical therapist, knowing that this type of pain and dysfunction is musculoskeletal and can be treated with traditional PT techniques. It just happens to be in a very delicate area of the body. This area has muscles that are similar to other areas of our body. They can become very tight, and this tightness can be treated with appropriate techniques. No matter the cause, the muscles will reactively tighten and spasm to protect the pelvic floor region. This tightening and spasming can cause difficulty with penetration, including intercourse and tampon use. Treating pelvic pain has taught me that every pain syndrome is unique. I’ve spent nearly four decades providing pelvic pain treatments so my patients coul...
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Happy Anniversary, Sarah!

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We celebrate this month not only because it's National Physical Therapy Month, but more importantly it's also Sarah Dahl's first anniversary at PT Center for Women! Sarah is truly one of a kind, and this patient perfectly captures Sarah's personality and clinical expertise: "Sarah is so helpful, sweet and knowledgeable! I'm looking forward to having her help me on my healing journey. I highly recommend Sarah for your women's PT needs!" ~ Natalie D Here's a little more about Sarah: Sarah earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2017 from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa and her undergrad from UW-Platteville. She has treated women’s pelvic health issues for the entirety of her career. With a seemingly innate ability to connect, communicate and educate, Sarah talks (quite rapidly, we might add) about her favorite subject: her patients. “My favorite part of PT is getting to know my patients,” she said. “I get to learn about their hopes, goals,...
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MythBusters PT Edition (#1)

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One of the phrases I hear a lot from patients is “No pain, no gain.” They tell me they can push through pain if they need to or that they need to “feel the burn.” Honestly, I get it. I have played sports and trained for races and ended up pushing through pain because I wanted to play or get a certain time. When it comes to physical therapy however, this are myths that need to be busted. Like this one. My goal for patients is to be able to tell the difference between soreness and pain. Some soreness can be good, but we need to allow our bodies to appropriately rest so that soreness does not turn into pain or injury.  I am not saying that there will never be pain. Occasionally pain may be provoked to find out where it is coming from, but overall physical therapy does not need to hurt.    When a patient comes in we look at a multitude of factors to help determine their physical therapy plan.    Strength, flexibility, posture and mobility are all assessed....
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A Sacred Space

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I used to argue with my instructors when they would talk to us about “protecting our energy.” I used to say, “What the patients take is what they will take. I will just make more. I eat right, I sleep right, and I exercise.” I think that mindset got me pretty far in my early days as a physical therapist. But like all the people out there who are lucky enough to say they are lucky enough to have gotten to whatever age they are, I find myself doing what I need to do in order to protect myself while caring for and guiding my patients to a better quality of life. I think therapists call it boundary setting, or something like that . . . I like to read a lot about the world of clinical psychology, because I believe there is a lot of crossover into physical therapy. After all, one cannot separate their head from their body. There’s a superhighway running between the two: brain to body and back again.   Here’s a simple example: when a person stubs their toe really badly, why do t...
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Pelvic Floor Health in Young Female Athletes

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Young female athletes are often celebrated for their strength, agility, and dedication. They push their bodies to the limit, striving for peak performance in their chosen sports. However, beneath the surface of athletic prowess, a silent struggle can sometimes unfold: pelvic floor dysfunction. Often overlooked or misunderstood, these issues can significantly impact an athlete's performance, comfort, and overall well-being. It's time to break the silence and shed light on pelvic floor challenges - issues that are very common but not normal - faced by young female athletes and the treatments I’ve used with them that can help. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support the bladder, bowel, and uterus. They play a crucial role in bladder and bowel control, sexual function, and core stability. In young female athletes, the repetitive high-impact activities, intense training regimens, and even societal pressures can contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction. While it might...
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Recovery Days Are Your Secret Weapon

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  Even if you’re crushing your workouts and hitting personal bests, it’s still important that you rest and recharge. And that means embracing the glorious, sometimes guilt-inducing, recovery day. Think of your body like a finely tuned machine. You wouldn't run your car at full throttle 24/7 without expecting some serious wear and tear, right? The same goes for your muscles, joints, and even your mental game. Pushing yourself relentlessly without scheduled breaks might feel productive in the short term, but it’s a surefire recipe for burnout, injury, and ultimately, plateauing in your progress. Recovery days aren't about being lazy; they're about being strategic. They're an active part of your training plan, allowing your body to repair and rebuild the tiny tears in your muscle fibers that occur during exercise. This repair process is crucial for getting stronger, faster, and more resilient. Skipping recovery is like trying to build a house without letting the founda...
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Exercise and the Pregnant Patient

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  Frequently I get the following question from my pregnant patients: “I’ve never really exercised before, but I need to. Is it okay to start now?” Let’s look at the risks of exercise during pregnancy. “Risks!” you say, “What risks?” Now, before you stop reading this and come to the conclusion that you should not exercise during your pregnancy, I urge you to look at this through my eyes.  As a physical therapist, I am specially trained in exercise prescription. In other words, I teach people how to exercise. Sometimes that involves rehabilitative exercise in order to heal from an injury or surgery, occasionally it includes performance coaching for seasoned athletes, and sometimes it involves teaching someone who has never exercised before how to start. If you fall into the third category of people, this blog is for you!  First of all, let me state the few reasons why women would absolutely not be allowed to exercise during a pregnancy. These are set by the American Co...
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