Dawn is debuting a new course, Pediatric Postural Development, with Herman & Wallace on September 29, 2024.

Most physical and occupational therapists learn about one diaphragm in school: the respiratory diaphragm. But did you know that Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine recognizes 5 different diaphragms within the body? They include tentorium cerebelli, tongue, thoracic outlet, respiratory diaphragm, and pelvic floor. (1)

The intricate myofascial connections between all these diaphragms are fascinating! But as a pediatric pelvic floor therapist, what’s the significance of these connections when you look at kids’ functional mobility and strength?

The pelvic floor and respiratory diaphragm are the two main structures that we’ll be discussing today. You’ll learn how they develop during infancy and childhood and how their functional relationship affects your assessment and treatment for kids with bowel and bladder dysfunction.

Development Of The Pelvis, Spine, And Diaphragm During Infancy

Pelvic Structure At Birth

Pelvic structure and spinal curvatures develop based on the activities of infants and young children. The educational role that you have as a pediatric therapist is significant during a child’s first years of life, especially for children with congenital or developmental delays. Doing your best to help them achieve these developmental goals will greatly affect their life in later years.

At birth, the pelvis of the baby is funnel shaped and the respiratory diaphragm is oblique. You can observe a neonate with a wide rib cage, which only allows for a short descent of the ribs. You can hear evidence of this as a newborn’s cry is very short. At this time, their pelvic floor has no posture.

Cervical Lordosis

The first curve to develop in an infant is cervical lordosis. Neck control improves as the head is challenged against gravity. In an upright position, the neck is challenged to maintain a neutral position. In prone, the neck is challenged to extend and re-enforces a lordotic curve.

Tummy time is important to begin at a young age. Not only do kids develop neck and core strength, but extending the neck in a prone establishes proper cervical lordosis for later in life.

Thoracic Kyphosis And Ribcage

Thoracic kyphosis develops when a child begins sitting. Again, thinking about sitting from a trunk control perspective is important, but establishing proper kyphotic alignment should not be overlooked. A mild degree of kyphosis is normal, but congenital deformities can exaggerate children’s kyphosis and increase the difficulty of achieving good sitting posture.

Independent sitting is an important milestone itself and further affects: (2)

• object perception
• language development
• spatial memory
• visual processing
• overall cognition

When treating infants, let’s remember to teach how important the skill of independent sitting is. We will discuss this further in the last section and how it relates to pelvic floor function.

As an infant increases their activity in the quadruped position, the diaphragm angle gets steeper inside the ribcage. This angle also increases through weight-bearing positions and with the development of the scapular stabilizers around the ribcage.

Lumbar Lordosis And Sacrum

Standing influences lumbar lordosis. Once again, standing challenges core stability and develops strength. But also recognize how standing helps the child establish proper lordotic lumbar posture.

Furthermore, in standing, the diaphragm orientation changes. The diaphragm becomes more parallel to the pelvic floor. As the diaphragm establishes a more horizontal orientation with standing and walking, the muscular tone increases as it responds to the vertical pressure and pull of the viscera.

This upright position also develops the pelvic floor to counteract the pressure of the viscera being pulled down by gravity. Counternutation of the sacrum protects the pelvic floor from full visceral pressures.

Let’s take a look at the functional relationship as the diaphragm and pelvic floor develop.

Functional Relationship Of Diaphragm And Pelvic Floor During Childhood

When the diaphragm and pelvic floor are developed in their horizontal orientations, they begin moving together during breathing. When inhaling, the diaphragm and pelvic floor descend as the ribcage and abdominal cavity expand. When exhaling, the diaphragm and pelvic floor ascend. The continued alternating movement mobilizes the viscera and creates a lymphatic pump.

This relationship between the diaphragm and pelvic floor is why it’s so important to look at breathing mechanics in kids. Ribcage mechanics and good diaphragm strength and tone affect the mobilization of the viscera, including the stomach and intestines. This is especially relevant when treating kids with constipation.

If you watch constipated children breathe, you will notice that they often breathe more anteriorly through their bellies instead of up and down. You will also notice minimal or no expansion of the ribcages.

Additionally, when the viscera descend, this cues the pelvic floor to activate and continue developing. Around ages 2-3, the pelvic floor develops enough stretch to react to bowel and bladder function. This is the age when children typically develop urinary continence.

Although therapists usually use the term pelvic “floor”, it’s important for you to consider this as a “diaphragm”. The pelvic “diaphragm” is a dynamic partition that serves to adjust pressures and pump fluids within the body.

Lymphatics throughout the trunk, head, and limbs are all regulated by the pumping of the body’s five diaphragms. The diaphragms work together to regulate pressures, pulling fluids and toxins into the lymph system to detoxify the body. The colon has a great lymphatic network, so this is especially important in kids with bowel issues.

Now you understand how the respiratory diaphragm and pelvic floor influence function in typically developing children. What about kids with impaired functional mobility or impaired gross motor delays? Let’s dive into these considerations.

Pediatric Postural Impairments And Gross Motor Developmental Delays

Children with physical developmental delays will have delayed pelvic floor control as well. As you learned earlier in this blog, establishing control in positions including prone, sitting, quadruped, and standing, develops a baby’s spinal curvatures.

If children have conditions such as spina bifida or cerebral palsy, those developmental positions may be delayed or sometimes never reached.

Improper spinal curvature early in life will affect a child’s ability to attain or maintain postural positions required for voiding and defecation. This will also delay the development of the relationship between the diaphragm and pelvic floor control.

Start looking at these milestones not only from your perspective of postural control and gross motor function but also to help improve their bowel and bladder function:

• holding head up in prone
• sitting independently
• quadruped reaching and crawling
• standing independently
• walking

If a child never stands or walks, they will struggle to develop diaphragm and pelvic floor control because gravity will not challenge this system. Spending time in upright positions by using assistive devices such as standers or walkers will help develop respiratory capacity and pelvic floor control.

When you have this treatment outlook, you can help parents shift their perspectives too. Parents of children with disabilities are often overwhelmed and tired. Help them to understand the benefits of continued work in practicing and attaining developmental postural and motor skills.

The new course, Pediatric Postural Development debuts on September 29, 2024 and focuses on the role of the pelvic floor, diaphragm, and core. This one-day course is designed to help therapists understand the development of the diaphragm and pelvic floor muscles (PFM) as they relate to core function and continence in children. Learn how to connect the ribcage, the diaphragm, and the pelvic floor for proper core activation, as well as receive instruction in anatomy and development of the diaphragm and its relationship to the pelvic floor/core. The information presented in the course applies to children who have been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, ASD, Hypotonia, and more.

References:

1. Bordoni B. The Five Diaphragms in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine: Myofascial Relationships, Part 1. Cureus. 2020 Apr 23;12(4):e7794. doi: 10.7759/cureus.7794. PMID: 32461863; PMCID: PMC7243635.
2. Kretch, K. S., Marcinowski, E. C., Hsu, Y., Koziol, N. A., Harbourne, R. T., Lobo, M. A., & Dusing, S. C. (2023). Opportunities for learning and social interaction in infant sitting: Effects of sitting support, sitting skill, and gross motor delay. Developmental Science, 26(3), e13318. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13318

Special thanks to Dawn for allowing The Pelvic Rehab Report to reprint her article, originally published on her website at kidsbowelbladder.com.

AUTHOR BIO:

Dawn Sandalcidi PT, RCMT, BCB-PMD

Dawn Sandalcidi is a trailblazer and leading expert in the field of pediatric pelvic floor disorders. She graduated from SUNY Upstate Medical Center in 1982 and is actively seeing patients in her clinic Physical Therapy Specialists, Centennial CO.

Dawn is a national and international speaker in the field, and she has gained so much from sharing experiences with her colleagues around the globe. In addition to lecturing internationally on pediatric bowel and bladder disorders, Dawn is also a faculty instructor at the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehab Institute. Additionally, she runs an online teaching and mentoring platform for parents and professionals.

In 2017, Dawn was invited to speak at the World Physical Therapy Conference in South Africa about pediatric pelvic floor dysfunction and incontinence. Dawn is also Board-Certified Biofeedback in Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction (BCB-PMD). She has also been published in the Journals of Urologic Nursing and Section of Women’s Health.

In 2018, Dawn was awarded the Elizabeth Noble Award by the American Physical Therapy Association Section on Women's Health for providing Extraordinary and Exemplary Service to the Field of Physical Therapy for Children.

Ask yourself these 5 questions:

1. Do you understand the importance of conducting medication reviews with all your patients?
2. Can you confidently discuss the medications used in the treatment of pelvic floor, gastrointestinal (GI), and genitourinary conditions?
3. Are you able to describe the common side effects of medications routinely used in pelvic health?
4. Can you analyze the impact medications may have on a patient’s complaints and their treatment plan and outcomes?
5. Are you able to effectively communicate with patients and other healthcare providers about medications?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions or are preparing for an upcoming PRPC or WCS exam, the Pharmacologic Considerations for the Pelvic Health Provider course is designed for you!

The Role of Medication Review in Rehabilitation Therapy
While managing medications is not within the scope of practice for rehabilitation therapists, it is crucial to review patient medications during the initial evaluation and on an ongoing basis. Therapists must assess the impact of medications on treatment and patient outcomes to ensure patient safety.

Why Pharmacology Knowledge Matters!
Aging Population: With an aging population, many patients over the age of 65 are on more than five medications, increasing the risk of side effects, adverse drug reactions, and drug interactions.

Informed Discussions: A solid grasp of pharmacology allows therapists to engage in informed discussions with patients and collaborate effectively with other healthcare providers.

Alternative Approaches: Understanding pharmacology enables therapists to explore recent medications, supplements, or alternative approaches that may minimize side effects, mitigate impacts on quality of life, and enhance function.

Evidence-Based Practices: Keeping current on advancements in pharmacology is essential for delivering effective, evidence-based physical therapy interventions.

Benefits of Pharmacology Understanding in Rehabilitation
Safe and Effective Treatment: A thorough understanding of pharmacology helps provide safe and effective treatment.

Optimized Rehab Strategies: Knowledge of pharmacology allows therapists to optimize rehabilitation strategies.

Patient Empowerment: Educating patients about their medications empowers them to make informed decisions.

Recognizing Red Flags: Identifying potential red flags related to medication use.

Improved Collaboration: Pharmacology knowledge improves collaboration with other healthcare providers.

Course Offering
Join Kristina Koch for the virtual course Pharmacologic Considerations for the Pelvic Health Provider on August 17th to deepen your understanding and stay up-to-date on the medications used in treating pelvic floor and women's and men's health dysfunctions. This course will provide you with the essential knowledge to confidently manage medication-related aspects of patient care, ensuring better outcomes and enhanced patient safety.

AUTHOR BIO
Kristina Koch, PT, DPT, MS, Board Certified Specialist in Women's Health PT (2013-2023), CLT

Kristina received her Master of Science in Physical Therapy in 1996 from Springfield College in Massachusetts. In 2001, while living in the Los Angeles area, Kristina started specializing in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction including bowel/bladder issues and pelvic pain, and in 2021, she went on to earn her doctorate of physical therapy from The College of St. Scholastica. During her time in Los Angeles, she was fortunate to work with and, be mentored by fellow Herman and Wallace faculty member, Jenni Gabelsburg, DPT, WCS, MSc, MTC. Kristina is a Board Certified Specialist in Women's Health Physical Therapist (2013-2023) by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She then received her lymphatic therapist certification (CLT) in 2015.

Kristina has successfully helped establish women’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy programs in San Diego, California, and Colorado Springs, CO where she currently works in private practice. Kristina treats men, women, children, trans and gender non-binary individuals in her practice. In addition, Kristina serves as a guest lecturer for graduate physical therapy students at Regis University in Denver, CO, and provides educational lectures to medical providers and local community groups. Outside of work, Kristina enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, skiing, running, and hiking.

Sacroiliac joint pain can be a challenging condition to treat. One of the clinical pearls that I feel changed my practice for the better is the palpation and direct treatment of the dorsal sacral ligament. At a course many years ago, I listened to Diane Lee describing Andry Vleeming's work addressing the potential role of the long dorsal sacral ligament (LDL) in pelvic pain. His valuable research was conducted on women who had complaints of peripartum pain, and it has been my experience that the information is easily extrapolated to other patient populations.

Vleeming and colleagues describe the long dorsal sacroiliac ligament anatomy as attaching to the lateral crest of the 3rd and 4th sacral segments (and sometimes to the 5th segment), and as having connections to the aponeurosis of the erector spine group, the thoracolumbar fascia, and the sacrotuberous ligament. Functionally, nutation in the sacroiliac joint will slacken the ligamentous tension in the LDL and counternutation will tension the ligament. This structure can be palpated directly caudal to the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS).

The referenced study examined women who had tenderness in the LDL and were also diagnosed with peripartum pelvic pain. Patients included in the study had pain in the lumbopelvic region, pain beginning with pregnancy or within 3 weeks of childbirth, were not pregnant at the time of the study, and were between the ages of 20-40. In patients with peripartum pelvic pain, 76% of the women reported tenderness in the LDL- this number increased to 86% when only patients scoring positively on the active straight leg raise test and posterior pelvic pain provocation (PPPP) test were included.

The study proposes that strain in the LDL may occur from a counter-stated sacrum and/or an anterior pelvic tilt position. In my clinical experience and as instructed to many pelvic health therapists by expert clinicians such as Diane Lee, balancing the pelvic structures, activating stabilizing muscles of the inner core (pelvic floor, multifidi, transverses abdominis), and addressing soft tissue dysfunction in the ligament frequently resolve long-standing localized pain in the sacroiliac joint area. The authors of the study conclude that "…knowledge of the anatomy and function of the LDL and the simple use of a pain provocation test…could help gain a better understanding of peripartum pelvic pain." They also reported that combining tests such as the ASLR, the PPPP test, and the long dorsal sacral ligament palpation test "seems promising" in the differentiation of patients categorized as having pelvic pain versus lumbar pain.

To learn more about sacroiliac joint anatomy and function, diagnosis, and treatment then sign up for Steve DIschiavi's upcoming remote course Sacroiliac Joint Current Concepts scheduled for August 4, 2024.

Reference:

1. Vleeming A, de Vries HJ, Mens JM, van Wingerden JP. Possible role of the long dorsal sacroiliac ligament in women with peripartum pelvic pain. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2002 May;81(5):430-6. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0412.2002.810510.x. PMID: 12027817.

The HW admin team has been hard at work filling speaker spots, building breakout sessions, and creating fun new experience ideas for the upcoming 2025 conference.

If you're into pelvic health then this is the conference for you. HWConnect was created to provide a top-tier networking event for pelvic rehabilitation practitioners that focuses on providing a safe environment for professional development, exposure to new products, and sharing inspiration for all things pelvic health.

HWConnect features keynote speakers, breakouts, labs, and educational sessions. Topics range from pediatrics with Dawn Sandalcidi to gender-affirming care with Ken McGee. HWConnect is all about connection - the name says it all. Network. Learn. Grow. Repeat.

Registering is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Complete online registration.
2. Book travel and lodging. HWConnect will be held at the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center and HW has special pricing set up for attendees.
3. Show up, and don't forget to stop by and say hello to all of your favorite HW team members!

Need More Information?

• Keynote Speakers are the indomitable Dawn Sandalcidi, PT, RCMT, BCB-PMD (she/her), Nancy Norton, RN (she/her), and Leticia Nieto Psy.D., LMFT (she/her).
• Speakers include Ken McGee, PT, DPT (they/he), Dr. Cindy Mosbrucker (she/her), Meryl Alappattu, PT, PhD (she/her), and Carole High Gross, PT, DPT, PRPC (she/her).
• Breakout sessions, workshops, and labs include yoga, meditation, rehabilitative ultrasound imaging, squat analysis, and MORE - all led by your favorite HW faculty including Dustienne Miller, Nari Clemons, and Allison Ariail.
• HW proudly welcomes second-time conference sponsor CMT.
• Vendor Hall featuring exhibitors including Intimate Rose, Slippery Stuff, and Raise the Pelvic Floor.
• Non-profit booths feature the Kenya Scholarship Foundation and Open Arms Perinatal Services. Read this past blog to learn more about the Kenya Scholarship Foundation.
• Special Podcast Guests feature Callie and Rachel from Pelvic Service Announcement (PSA) and Courtney from Raise the Pelvic Floor.

For more information and a full lineup check out the HWConnect 2025 page!

Already Coming to HWConnect?

Herman & Wallace would love your help spreading the word about HWConnect 2025 and the chance to connect with the amazing people in our community. Check out this page where you can review and share all the programming we’ve booked thus far. https://hermanwallace.com/connect-2025

We look forward to seeing you at HWConnect 2025!

Anyone working in pelvic health knows all too well that the symptoms of female pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD)  — from bladder leaks and pain with vaginal penetration to anal pain and fecal incontinence —  are vastly underreported. Most providers do not screen for pelvic health symptoms and patients are either reluctant to bring them up or assume that they’re ‘just the way it is’ if you own a uterus (and especially if you’ve had kids).

Just how underreported are pelvic health symptoms? That’s one of the questions that the 2024 Origin Pelvic Health Study sought to answer. The consumer-facing study consisted of a 10-minute, double-blinded, online, quantitative survey conducted by the market research firm Ipsos, with a base sample of 612 U.S. women, ages 18-59.

Study participants were asked whether they had experienced bladder, bowel, and sexual symptoms in the past year, how those symptoms had impacted their lives, and whether they had gotten care for their symptoms. Additional questions were asked of those who had given birth within the past five years or who were in peri/menopause to both explore how these major life events impact pelvic health symptoms and reveal gaps in related care and education.

As a clinical reviewer of the study and an APTA Pelvic Health grant recipient working on my own research, I’m excited that companies like Origin are collecting this valuable data, which not only garners media attention that can be hard for pelvic health researchers to attain (the Origin study was written up in Vogue), it can help inspire and steer our research in important new directions.

The study includes too many eye-opening statistics to list here, but below are 3 high-level takeaways:

1. The majority of U.S. women ages 18-59 are dealing with multiple pelvic health symptoms.

PFD has most recently been found to impact 1 in 3 women, based on a 2022 study that examined the medical records of 25,425 women seeking primary care. ICD-10 codes were used to determine presence of PFD, including urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, bowel, dysfunction, and difficult defecation. Other pelvic floor-related conditions like vulvovaginal pain or orgasm difficulty were not included.

In contrast, the Origin study included a long list of pelvic health symptoms described in terms women often use themselves, with the goal to expose just how common these symptoms really are. What they found was that most women had one or more symptoms, and only a tiny minority had received care for them.

75% of U.S. women between the ages of 19 and 58 have dealt with two or more pelvic health symptoms within the past year. The average number of pelvic symptoms reported was 5.

Some of the symptoms experienced most often in the past year by U.S. women ages 18-59:

Bladder sypmtoms:

• 48% report bladder leaks when they cough, sneeze or exercise
• 38% report peeing more than once every 2 hours
• 37% report feeling like they had to pee again right after going
• 33% report feeling like they could barely hold their pee
• 27% report feeling like they couldn’t fully empty their bladder

Bowel symptoms:

• 52% report straining to have a bowel movement
• 48% report feeling like they can’t fully empty their bowels
• 29% report pain with having a bowel movement 
• 21% resort leaking gas or poop

Sexual symptoms:

• 33% report inability to orgasm
• 25% report unsatisfying orgasm
• 22% report pain with sex
• 18% report delayed orgasm

Interestingly, the study also found that Millennial women were more likely to report a host of symptoms in the past year, compared to Gen X.

2. Pregnant and postpartum patients are left in the dark when it comes to preparing for and recovering from the immense physical strain of childbirth.

As major health organizations seek to improve the current dire state of postpartum care, mentions of pelvic health and pelvic floor physical therapy are often limited to recommendations that postpartum patients be evaluated for urinary and fecal incontinence and referred to pelvic floor PT as needed.

Those of you who are women’s health specialists who focus on prenatal and postpartum PT, know that we have so much more to offer. The Origin Study highlighted the need for the exact guidance and expertise that pelvic floor PTs can provide.

Among women who had given birth with in the past 5 years:

• 85% report receiving no guidance on reducing their risk of tearing during childbirth.
• 65% report receiving no guidance on how to effectively push out a baby.
• 50% report receiving no guidance on how to manage pregnancy pain.
• 86% report receiving no guidance on how to heal their pelvic floor after childbirth.
• 83% report receiving no guidance on how to heal their abdominals after pregnancy and childbirth.
• 71% said they received no guidance on how to exercise safely before or after childbirth.

In addition, 44% of women who had a baby in the past 5 years say providers did not help them understand what is or isn’t normal in terms of their pelvic health systems. And 23% said they felt “not at all supported” by their medical providers during their postpartum recovery.

3. Pelvic floor PT continues to be underutilized, resulting in unnecessary pain and suffering for women of all ages.

It’s unlikely to surprise you that, of the Origin study participants who reported pelvic health symptoms within the past year, 96% had not received medical care for their symptoms. Of study respondents who had given birth within the past 5 years, 92% said they had not seen a pelvic floor PT to support their recovery after their most recent delivery.

Without proper screening by providers and referrals to pelvic floor PT, women will continue to suffer in silence, confused about what is and isn’t normal when it comes to their pelvic health.

The Origin study reiterates what pelvic health specialists and their patients already know — pelvic health symptoms significantly disrupt women’s lives. 64% of study respondents who report pelvic health symptoms in the past year say that these symptoms negatively impact their lives. And that number is even higher among women who have given birth within the past 5 years, at 79%.

Despite how discouraging it can be to read through these statistics, it’s important to get loud about them and continue to demand better. I’m grateful to my colleagues at Origin for making research part of their mission and am excited to see this data is used to fuel more research, draw more attention to pelvic health, and drive positive change in our healthcare system.

AUTHOR BIO:

Jessica Swartz, PT, DPT, CCI

Jessica Swartz, PT, DPT, CCI, is a physical therapist at Origin, a leading provider of pelvic floor and whole-body physical therapy with a special focus on pregnancy and postpartum. She is also working on her PhD in Public Health with an emphasis on Health Behavior in the Joint Doctoral Program of Public Health at UC San Diego/San Diego State University, where the focus of her research is developing ways to use physical therapy as a tool to improve women’s and maternal health outcomes and address health disparities.

Surface EMG is the only modality that can isolate the active component of tone and is, therefore, a very valuable tool in the assessment of patients with altered tone conditions. However, it is the most misunderstood modality in pelvic health therapy. Rarely do practitioners see a topic so argued in pelvic rehabilitation as surface EMG biofeedback. Some practitioners boldly state they are for or against it on their social media accounts and clinic pages. Therapists are not questioning the use of biofeedback with neurologic or orthopedic applications, so why is it such a polarizing topic in pelvic health? The Pelvic Rehab Report sits down with faculty members Tiffany Lee and Jane Kaufman to discuss the tool they love. These two instructors have over 50 years of combined experience using biofeedback and have been teaching biofeedback board certification courses together for the past 16 years.

Biofeedback provides visual and auditory feedback of muscle activity and is a non-invasive technique that allows patients to adjust muscle function, strength, and behaviors to improve pelvic floor function. The small electrical signal (EMG) provides information about an unconscious process and is presented visually on a computer screen, giving the patient immediate knowledge of muscle function and enabling the patient to learn how to alter the physiological process through verbal and visual cues. Jane Kaufman explains “Many patients gain knowledge and awareness of the pelvic floor muscle through tactile feedback, but the visual representation helps patients hone in on body awareness and connect all the dots." Muscle evaluation through digital exam offers strength but does not appropriately address electrical activity such as resting tone and the ability to recruit or release tone in the muscle. The use of biofeedback addresses the specificity of muscle contraction and release, offering an additional view of muscle function.

In a 2020 research study by Pilkar et al., clinicians reported sEMG barriers of use, which included limited time and resources, clinically inapplicable sEMG system features, and the majority of clinicians' lack of training and/or confidence in the utilization of sEMG technology. This research also noted technical challenges, including the limited transfer of ever-evolving sEMG research into off-the-shelf EMG systems, nonuser-friendly intuitive interfaces, and the need for a multidisciplinary approach to accurately handling and interpreting data.

One barrier may be the price of a biofeedback unit. Tiffany Lee recommends using a 2-channel sEMG biofeedback hand-held unit with the software on a laptop or computer. In fact, to become board-certified in pelvic floor biofeedback, the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) requires a 2-channel EMG system with software. If you use a hand-held one-channel unit, the patient will have difficulty seeing the muscle activity and the coordination between the abdominals and pelvic floor. This prevents meaningful treatment as the patient cannot understand or interpret the LED bars on the machine (and often, the therapist cannot understand either). In truth, the benefits outweigh the cost of the equipment. You can cover the unit's cost and software to visualize muscle function and tone within a few treatments. Training is another issue; you need proper training in the modality to start utilizing biofeedback in your clinical setting. Most therapists have never been adequately trained. If they take a course where the instructor doesn’t believe in the benefits of biofeedback, they feel negatively toward a modality they have never personally explored. Biofeedback relies on a skilled clinician to interact with the patient, give verbal cues, ensure that the proper muscles are contracting and relaxing, and must be used in conjunction with their other skills and knowledge.

Think of sEMG biofeedback as one tool in your toolbox. Tiffany shares, "In a study by Aysun Ozlu MD et al., the authors conclude that biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training, in addition to a home exercise program, improves stress urinary incontinence rates more than a home exercise program alone." She continues, "Biofeedback is a powerful tool that can benefit your patient population and add to your skill set.

The acceptance of sEMG biofeedback in rehabilitation requires a unit (with software and sensors), training, and a multidisciplinary approach. Used correctly, it can positively impact patient performance and care in the clinic. Keep in mind that sEMG is a non-invasive technique. It has already shown great promise in neurorehabilitation and has been a widely utilized tool to assess neuromuscular outcomes in research. Jane Kaufman concludes, "Biofeedback treatment/training using the proper instrumentation provides the precise information necessary to change behaviors." This allows the patient to recognize that ‘yes, they are in charge of this muscle and that they can achieve success in overpowering the symptoms.’ Biofeedback routinely allows patients to understand that they are empowered to heal themselves with the tools you offer. They are in charge of their bodies and the outcome of treatment. It is also an important tool to use with patients who have experienced trauma and who are not ready to participate in manual therapy, and it is valuable for the pediatric population as well. Tiffany adds, “This modality can bring new business to your clinic. My local GI and colorectal providers often refer up to 5 new patients a week to my practice.

There is a long history of scientific evidence supporting the use of sEMG biofeedback in managing incontinence or pain symptoms. As a noninvasive, cost-effective, and powerful treatment modality, healthcare providers should consider this tool when managing pelvic floor dysfunction patients. Providers should be educated in the proper use of this valuable modality to gain the most out of the skills and knowledge that can be achieved through this intervention. For more information regarding courses and certification, please visit www.pelvicfloorbiofeedback.com.

Tiffany asked several PTs and OTs who have been to the board certification courses what they love about biofeedback. Here are a few answers

• “Biofeedback empowers my patients and gives them the confidence that they are actually doing their exercises and relaxing correctly! I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from patients, and it’s such a great tool to have as a pelvic floor therapist.”
• “My patients really love it, and they ask for it. I especially see the value for dyssynergia work on bearing down and learning eccentric abdominals and relaxed pelvic floor muscles. For men, I work on relaxing in standing and toileting postures if they can’t empty their bladder.”
• “Ultimately, the treatment needs to be meaningful to the patient. Biofeedback can complement other treatments. Their needs come before ours. We should offer all of our patients the ability to control their own muscles and SEE how to do it.”
• “After ONE session with a 5-year-old with constipation, mom called me in sheer excitement, screaming over the phone that he pooped on the potty!!! Something he has NEVER done before. Biofeedback helped him find and coordinate the potty muscles and tummy muscles, and this made a huge difference for him!”
• “Becoming certified in biofeedback has only been positive for me. My patients feel that the initial sEMG evaluation sets the stage for my care plan, and my discharge reassessment is a tangible reflection of their progress. Not to mention its strength as a marketing tool.”

Jane Kaufman adds “Biofeedback in treatment has been a game changer. Using this tool as a foundation for treatment in my clinic allowed my practice to grow, thrive, and achieve great acclaim in our region and beyond. It is not unusual for patients to travel several hours to seek treatment because of the empowering effect the biofeedback visual had on their understanding of their dysfunction.”

Biofeedback for Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction is scheduled for July 28^th and December 7^th, 2024, and provides a safe space for clinicians to learn and practice this valuable tool. Registrants will need equipment to participate in this online course and will learn about the benefits of using this modality in their clinical practice.

In this course, Tiffany and Jane guide participants through learning to administer biofeedback assessments, analyze and interpret sEMG signals, conduct treatment sessions, and role-play patient instruction/education for each diagnosis presented during the many hands-on lab experiences.

References:

1. Use of Surface EMG in Clinical Rehabilitation of Individuals With SCI: Barriers and Future Considerations Rakesh Pilkar, Kamyar Momeni, Arvind Ramanujam, Manikandan Ravi, Erica Garbarini, Gail F. Forrest. Front Neurol. 2020; 11: 578559. Published online 2020 Dec 18. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.578559 PMCID: PMC7780850
2. Comparison of the efficacy of perineal and intravaginal biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle exercises in women with urodynamic stress urinary incontinence. Aysun Ozlu MD, Neemettin Yildiz MD, Ozer Oztekin MD. Neurourol Urodyn. 2017 Nov;36(8):2132-2141. Epub 2017 Mar 27. doi: 10.1002/nau.23257 PMID: 28345778.
3. Cram, J. R., & Kasman, G. S. (2011). The basics of surface electromyography. In E. Criswell (Ed.). Cram’s introduction to surface electromyography (2nd ed., pp. 3–7.) Jones and Bartlett.
4. Kaufman, J., Stanton, K., & Lee, T. E. (2021). Pelvic Floor Biofeedback for the Treatment of Urinary Incontinence and Fecal Incontinence. Biofeedback, 49(3), 71-76.
5. Shelly, Beth & Kaufman, Jane (2023). Foundations of Pelvic Floor Muscle Assessment Using Surface Electromyography. APTA Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy.

AUTHOR BIOS

Tiffany Lee, OTR, OTD, MA, BCB-PMD, PRPC

Tiffany Lee holds a BS in OT from UTMB Galveston (1996), an MA in Health Services Management, and a post-professional OTD from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. In 2004, she received her board certification in Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction from the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance. She is a Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehab Institute faculty member and teaches biofeedback courses. She has been treating pelvic health patients for 25 out of her 30-year career. Her private practice in San Marcos, Texas, is exclusively dedicated to treating urinary and fecal incontinence and pelvic floor disorders. Her continuing education company, Biofeedback Training & Incontinence Solutions, offers clinical consultation and training workshops. She also enjoys mentoring healthcare professionals working toward their BCIA certification.

Jane Kaufman, PT, M.Ed, BCB-PMD

Jane has been practicing PT for more than fifty years. She is a graduate of the Ithaca College Physical Therapy program and earned her master’s degree at the University of Vermont. In her early career, she practiced in outpatient settings, skilled nursing, and acute rehabilitation. Jane’s career began at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and progressed to the University of Vermont Health Network where she supervised the Department of Physical Therapy’s outpatient services. In the late 1990s, Jane became intrigued with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, evolving to a quarter-century career in this highly specialized field.

In 2001 she began her career as a sole practitioner in pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and in 2003 established Phoenix Physical Therapy, PLC with a staff of clinicians specializing in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence, and pelvic pain for all genders and all ages. In 2005, Jane became certified in the use of surface EMG biofeedback for pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (BCB-PMD ) from the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance. She sold her practice in 2022, having established a renowned reputation in Vermont, upstate New York, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Post Phoenix, Jane continues to offer workshops for other healthcare providers in the use of biofeedback for pelvic muscle dysfunction, and mentors healthcare professionals around the world toward certification in this field through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance. Jane teams with Tiffany Lee, OTR, OTD through Biofeedback Training and Incontinence Solutions (www.pelvicfloorbiofeedback.com).

Jane has recently begun a consulting practice helping adults with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction issues and has continued helping children/teens through her new practice, PottyTime Physical Therapy (www.pottytimephysicaltherapy.com). In addition to her practice and teaching, Jane has participated in research through the University of Vermont Health Network on pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. She has authored an article published in the online international journal Biofeedback and was a co-author in the APTA self-study manual for Foundations in Pelvic Floor Muscle Assessment using Surface Electromyography with Dr. Beth Shelley, PT, DPT, WCS, BCB-PMD. She is a Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute faculty member and teaches biofeedback courses through this company. Jane may be reached by email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Did you know that chronic pain affects an estimated 51.6 million adults in the United States alone? That's almost 21% of the population (1). It's a debilitating condition that can disrupt daily life and limit one's ability to function. But what about those with hypermobility? Often individuals with hypermobility are even more susceptible to chronic pain and their treatment may require a unique approach.

There are many variables that make a person more susceptible to developing chronic pain. Some of these include genetics, prior trauma, culture, and health history. Patients with hypermobility are more likely to develop chronic pain and may also need to be treated with a different lens than the rest of the population.

What is Hypermobility
Hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) includes joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) as one of its conditions and is a connective tissue disorder characterized by chronic musculoskeletal pain due to joint hyperextensibility and is a common cause of chronic pain, fatigue, headaches, anxiety, orthostasis, and abdominal pain. Hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) is sometimes considered a milder variant of hypermobile EDS (hEDS) and is seen in up to 3% of the general population, with a prevalence rivaling fibromyalgia, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis (2).

Joint hypermobility implies a range of motion of a joint that exceeds the documented “norm.” Norms for each joint are determined by the specific joint anatomy, the person’s age, sex, and ethnicity. Hypermobility is typically scored using the Beighton scale requiring at least a 5 to be classified as systemically hypermobile. The Beighton score is determined by 9 points awarded for each described condition met. The conditions include (3,4):

• Elbow hyperextension of at least 10 degrees (one for each elbow)
• Knee hyperextension of at least 10 degrees (one for each knee)
• Ability to passively extend the pinky finger to 90 degrees or more (one for each hand)
• Ability to touch the thumb to the forearm with wrist flexion (one for each hand)
• Ability to forward flex the trunk at the hips and place both palms on the floor with knees extended.

Hypermobility as a problematic condition occurs on a spectrum and ranges from Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) to genetic connective tissue disorders such as hypermobile EDS (hEDS). Patients with connective tissue disorders often have other symptoms associated with the syndrome such as fragile blood vessels or cardiac arrhythmias (3). Those with generalized joint hypermobility are less likely to have other associated comorbidities.

Hypermobility and Rehab
A patient with hypermobility must have their hypermobility considered in their treatment plan as their tissues, and force tolerance of tissues, differ from the rest of the population. Patients with hypermobility may present with decreased strength overall and require more strength than typical to perform activities. This is likely due to the extensibility of the tendons and ligaments, changing the force a muscle can produce. Patients with hypermobility also often have decreased proprioception, as their tissue laxity cannot provide as much awareness to the brain. These variables can lead to a higher incidence of injury, with dislocation common for those with hEDS (4).

Hypermobility is also correlated with pelvic pain and dysfunction, especially in female patients. They are more prone to pelvic organ prolapse but also may present with pelvic floor muscle overactivity (3) creating a difficult case to treat, especially if they have chronic pain in addition. This patient will often benefit from rehabilitation to address the prolapse, muscle overactivity, and then coordination of core and pelvic stabilizers. Knowing that the patient has hypermobility can be vital to the successful treatment plan for this presentation. When treating patients with hypermobility, they often have decreased functional tolerances for loading, not only at the joints but also systemically. hEDS especially, is highly associated with autonomic dysfunction such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which may affect your treatment plan as well. A portable pulse oximeter and slow positional changes may be helpful in decreasing and monitoring symptoms (3,4).

Pain Patterns and Hypermobility (3)
Pain patterns for the hypermobile patient include all 3 subtypes of pain.

1. Nociceptive Acute Pain
2. Neuropathic Pain
3. Nociplastic Pain

Nociceptive acute pain will occur at localized injury sites with frequent dislocations, strains, and sprains. These recurrent injuries can then lead to chronic musculoskeletal changes of the joint that affect function and gait.

Neuropathic pain can also become problematic for this population. Due to the increased laxity of their vertebrae, they may suffer from higher incidences of spinal cord compression and peripheral nerve compression. It is also becoming more common to evaluate this population with a dermal biopsy for small fiber neuropathy. As the patient experiences continued nociceptive and neuropathic pain inputs over and over, their nervous system may also sensitize causing both peripheral and central sensitization with nociplastic pain.

Nociplastic pain may then transform into widespread generalized pain. As their pain patterns progress, they may start to experience more fear avoidance behaviors and may become deconditioned. Deconditioning in turn can lead to more injuries and continues a recurrent cycle for these patients.

Conclusion
Knowing that patients with hypermobility are more susceptible to chronic pain allows us to treat this population more effectively. As rehab practitioners, we can educate the patient, improve strength, improve stability, improve proprioception, and work to desensitize the nervous system. A sensitive nervous system may be the initial hurdle with the hypermobile patient.

Pain neuroscience education is the first step to educate the patient on how their nervous system functions and to decrease fear they may have around pain. After education, there are several physical interventions we can use for the nervous system including dry needling, spinal mobilization, manual therapy, and exercise.

Ready to Learn More?
Expand your knowledge, experience, and treatment in understanding and applying pain science to the chronic pelvic pain population with Alyson Lowrey and Tara Sullivan in their upcoming course Pain Science for the Chronic Pelvic Pain Population on August 17-18, 2024.

This course is not specific to the patient who is hypermobile. However, there are portions of the course that address this population. This course provides a thorough introduction to pain science concepts including classifications of pain mechanisms, peripheral pain generators, peripheral sensitization, and central sensitization in listed chronic pelvic pain conditions; as well as treatment strategies including therapeutic pain neuroscience education, therapeutic alliance, and the current rehab interventions' influence on central sensitization.

Pain Science for the Chronic Pelvic Pain Population is a remote course that will provide you with the understanding and tools needed to identify and treat patients with chronic pelvic pain from a pain science perspective. Lecture topics include the history of pain, pain physiology, central and peripheral sensitization, sensitization in chronic pelvic pain conditions, therapeutic alliance, pain science and trauma-informed care, therapeutic pain neuroscience education, the influence of rehab interventions on the CNS, and specific case examples for sensitization in CPP.

References:

1. Rikard, S. Michaela, et al. “Chronic pain among adults — United States, 2019–2021.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 72, no. 15, 14 Apr. 2023, pp. 379–385, DOI: https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7215a1.
2.  Kumar, Bharat, and Petar Lenert. “Joint hypermobility syndrome: Recognizing a commonly overlooked cause of chronic pain.” The American Journal of Medicine, vol. 130, no. 6, June 2017, pp. 640–647, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.02.013.
3. Syx D, De Wandele I, Rombaut L, Malfait F. Hypermobility, the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and chronic pain. PubMed. 2017;35 Suppl 107(5):116-122.
4. Scheper M, De Vries JE, Verbunt J, Engelbert RHH. Chronic pain in hypermobility syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hypermobility type): it is a challenge. Journal of Pain Research. August 1, 2015:591-601

AUTHOR BIO

Alyson Lowrey, PT, DPT, OCS

Dr. Lowrey attended the University of New Mexico where she received a BA degree in Psychology in 2011. She then attended the University of New Mexico School of Medicine to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2014. Following graduation from UNM, Alyson completed the HonorHealth Orthopaedic Residency program in 2015 and became a board-certified orthopedic specialist (OCS) in 2016. She is now the director of that residency program and lectures about pain and pelvic dysfunction in the curriculum. Alyson treats the pelvic floor patient population through an orthopedic approach, working closely with pelvic floor specialists. This allows for a wholistic style addressing the entire patient from a functional perspective. Alyson’s clinical interests include the evaluation and treatment of chronic pain, lumbar and cervical spine disorders, foot and ankle disorders, pelvic pain, and clinical instruction. She is certified in dry needling and an APTA-certified clinical instructor, regularly taking students from several PT schools. She participates in Creighton’s and Midwestern University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy programs as adjunct faculty assisting in lab and lecturing in Biomechanics, Kinesiology, and Musculoskeletal courses. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys being active, doing yoga, crafting, and spending time with her husband and cats.

Most of us spend our day sitting and do not think about the position of our ilia, sacrum, or coccyx during the change from standing to sitting. Weight-bearing through a tripod of bilateral ischial tuberosities and a sacrum that should have normalized form closure should be easy and pain-free.

The coccyx typically has minimal weight bearing in sitting, about 10%, just like the fibula, however, it can be a major pain generator, if the biomechanics of the ilia, sacrum, and femoral head positions are not quite right. A lot of patients will state “My pain is worse with sitting” which can mean thoracic pain, low back/sacral pain, and even lower extremity radicular pain.

Scanning the literature for coccyx treatment does not always yield the best results for physical or occupational therapists. Most literature states what the medical interventions can be, and physical therapy is never at the forefront. However, as we are musculoskeletal and neuromuscular specialists, this is no different in our thinking patterns relating to coccyx pain or painful sitting.

During sitting, the coccyx has normal flexion and extension moments that will change or become dysfunctional once mechanics above and below that joint change. A simple ankle sprain from 2 years ago can result in chronic knee and sacroiliac pain that can lead to coccyx pain over time. Even the patient who has long-standing TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and cervical dysfunction, now has a thoracic rotation and your correction of their coccyx deviation cannot maintain correction.

Coccydynia and Painful Sitting is a course that provides a spark for your orthopedic mindset and encourages clinicians to evaluate the coccyx more holistically.

• What are the joints doing?
• How does it change from sitting to standing?
• Standing to sitting?
• What is the difference from sitting upright to slump activities?

Working through the basics and the obvious with failed results takes you to the next step of critical thinking within this course. How does the patient present? What seems to be lacking and how to correct them biomechanically to achieve pain-free sitting? Related coccyx musculature and nerve dysfunction can seem like the easiest to treat, but what happens when those techniques fail?

In Coccydynia and Painful Sitting, we look at the entire body, from the cranium to the feet, to determine the driver of coccyx pain and dysfunction. A better understanding of ilial motion, with accompanied spring tests (Hesch Method) normalizing spinal mechanics and lower extremity function is highlighted in this course. Internal vaginal and rectal release of pelvic floor muscles can lead to normalized coccyx muscle tension that is supported via coccyx taping.

To learn more, join Lila Abatte in her next Coccydynia remote course scheduled for July 13, 2024.

AUTHOR BIO

Lila Abbate, PT, DPT, OCS, WCS, PRPC

Lila Abbate, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, WCS, PRPC is the Director/Owner of New Dimensions Physical Therapy with locations in Roslyn, Long Island, and the Noho Section of New York City. Dr. Abbate graduated from Touro College in Dix Hills, NY with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Sciences and a Master of Arts (MA) in Physical Therapy in 1997. She completed her Advanced Masters in Manual Orthopedic Physical Therapy (MS) at Touro College, Bayshore, NY in 2003 and continued to pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) at Touro in 2005. Dr. Abbate is a Board-Certified Specialist by the American Physical Therapy Association in Orthopedics (OCS) 2004 and Women’s Health (WCS) 2011. She obtained the Certified Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner (PRPC) from the Herman & Wallace Institute in 2014. She is a Diane Lee/LJ Lee, Integrated Systems Model (ISM) graduate and completed the New York series in 2012.

Dr. Abbate has been an educator for most of her physical therapy career. She has experience as a full-time faculty at Touro College, Manhattan Campus from 2002 to 2006 teaching the biomechanical approach to orthopedic dysfunction and therapeutic exercise as well as massage/soft tissue work that highlighted trigger point work, scar management, and myofascial release.

She is currently on faculty as a Lecturer at Columbia University teaching the private practice section Business & Management course (since 2016) along with the Pelvic Health elective (since 2012). She teaches nationally and internationally with the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute teaching advanced courses of her own intellectual property: Orthopedic Assessment for the Pelvic Health Therapist, Bowel Pathology Function, Dysfunction and the Pelvic Floor, Coccydynia & Painful Sitting: Orthopedic Implications. She was a co-writer for the Pudendal Neuralgia course and teaches the Pelvic Function Series and the Pregnancy and Postpartum Rehabilitation courses. She has written two book chapters in 2016: Pelvic Pain Management by Valvoska and Healing in Urology: Clinical Guidebook to Herbal and Alternative Therapies by Chughtai.

She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the National Vulvodynia Association, the American Urogynecology Association, and the International Pelvic Pain Society. Dr. Abbate is also a Senior Physical Therapy consultant for SI Bone, a sacroiliac joint instrumentation company.

This specialty kind of fell into my lap after years of “kicking and screaming,” well, not really, just saying no a lot.

In March of 2018, I attended a continuing education course at Springfield College with a student of mine at the time (who had just completed his final clinical affiliation for split outpatient ortho and acute care in a small community hospital in Connecticut) on pelvic floor therapy. Each year I looked at the offerings for clinical instructors and nothing really excited me, but this time was different. When it was time to choose I sat down with my student and asked him what he was going to and we chose to go to the pelvic health course as he was going into outpatient orthopedics and knew he might come in contact with pregnant or postpartum patients that might need the education on pelvic health. I was excited to learn more about the pelvic floor and what that really entailed. Every time this pelvic floor physical therapist spoke about patients and the conditions she treated and how they exuded confidence going on vacation, going to an event, or even being more intimate with their partners I thought “This might be for me.” I was intrigued and excited to learn, for probably the first time, in at least 2 years.

The next day I was approached by my manager about starting a pelvic health program at our local hospital together as a team; and when I say approached, I mean there was a note on my desk that read “Please see me” and she signed her first initial. My first instinct was, “Oh no, what did I do now?” I had been skeptical for approximately 2 years as the topic came up about every other month at our staff meetings, however, without a doubt or skip in my breath I said “Sure, why not?!” At this point, I thought what do I have to lose? I was getting reimbursed to take these continuing education classes, I was getting to travel, and I was learning alongside a colleague. I went home that night and told my parents what I was going to do and they thought I was joking. My friends and boyfriend said, “You’re going to do what?” Within 1 week we were signed up for our first pelvic floor series courses through Herman & Wallace starting with Pelvic Floor 1 (now Pelvic Function 1) in Virginia Beach, VA. I began seeing patients within 3 months of taking PF1 after developing the history sheet and marketing with local OBGYN/midwife offices. Fast forward to August 2018, we took PF2A and in October 2018, I took PF2B, both in Boston, MA.

As a new pelvic floor therapist, the initial diagnoses included urinary dysfunction, prolapse, pelvic pain, and the postpartum population. Over time and taking more courses I began to treat more complex pelvic pain diagnoses. This allowed me to use more of my manual therapy skills and some more medical skills as these types of patients required an in-depth treatment approach. I took Capstone in October 2019 in Houston, TX and then we all know what happened next. After meeting patient after patient who experienced medical gaslighting, experienced pain for decades, and had run out of doctors to see, I decided to take a deeper dive into chronic and complex pelvic pain diagnoses, ie: vaginismus, vulvodynia, vestibulodynia, endometriosis, adenomyosis and so much more. I love treating each and every patient who comes through the door and into my treatment room, however, I hold a special place in my heart for those who have been told that there is no other treatment for them, or they’ve exhausted all of their outcomes. Since 2018, I haven’t met a patient I haven’t been able to help, even a little bit.

Prior to treating any pelvic floor diagnoses, I took 2-3 doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students each year, some of them shared with another acute care PT. I couldn’t fathom not taking students as I was diving into this much-needed area of physical therapy. I took my first pelvic floor-focused student in January 2020. I developed my own system as there wasn’t any standard of practice that I could find amongst other pelvic floor therapists regarding clinical education. I developed a system that taught a very basic PF1 if the student had not taken it yet that included learning the muscles, nerves, basic diagnoses, treatments, and integration into function. In order to teach a student how to do an internal vaginal assessment, I first conduct an internal assessment on the student, and then I have them perform one on me. When I tell other therapists what my structure and strategy are in order to get students ready for seeing their own caseload I always get a look of “Oh really?” and an eyebrow raise. At the end of the day, how do I know they will be competent enough to perform an internal vaginal assessment on a patient if I don’t know if their pressure is adequate or if they are palpating the correct structures?

I was starting to take more courses and follow more and more groups on social media. I always felt like an outlier as I never felt like I had to force a student who was interested in pelvic health to take PF1 unless they knew downright they wanted to go straight into pelvic health prior to starting their affiliation. They signed up for this affiliation and there is an agreement that I guide them and enhance their learning. We practice until they feel confident and competent and then choose a patient who is willing and gives consent to the student performing the internal vaginal assessment, of course with me in the room, until I feel the student is 100% independent. Since 2020 I have taken 6 DPT students who were interested in pelvic health, with another one scheduled for October 2024. I am beyond happy to say that each student has taken a job with a pelvic health focus after completing their clinical affiliation with me so I have to think I’m doing all the right things!

In January 2021, I was approached by the teaching assistant (TA) coordinator for Herman & Wallace as they were in desperate need of a TA in Danbury, CT for PF1 and I thought “What the heck? I do this day in a day out, I’d be a great TA” and jumped on that opportunity. Through my opportunities as a TA, I have been able to learn from so many amazing pelvic floor therapists all over the country, guide new therapists in their pelvic floor journey, and embark on this new journey for myself as a leader in pelvic health. I have been so lucky to have been able to TA so many courses local to my home in Connecticut over the last 3 years, which has allowed me to form professional connections and network with local to CT physical and occupational therapists, as well as the ability take over a dozen additional courses through H&W ranging from Bowel Pathology & Function to Pharmacology for the Pelvic Floor Therapist to Dry Needling without having to pay out of my own pocket. I am halfway into year 4 of my TA journey with H&W, became a lead TA in October 2023, and I truly look forward to each, and every, course I choose to TA. I love this journey I have created for myself and I am so passionate to share it with anyone and everyone willing to listen.

I am proud of the pelvic floor therapist I’ve blossomed into over the last 6 years. I honestly couldn’t have done any of this without the support of my family, boyfriend, friends, and coworkers who have listened to me talk endlessly about all of the different avenues the pelvic floor can be affected and how to begin to address those issues. My story into the pelvic health world is not like anyone else’s and that’s what makes each and every one of our journeys unique!

AUTHOR BIO

Alyssa Itzkowitz, PT, DPT, PCES, PRPC

Alyssa is always taking new clients at Rockville General Hospital located in Vernon, CT. Ahe treats all genders and ages 15+ (anything younger than that is on a case-by-case basis). Evaluations are 90 minutes and follow-up treatment sessions are based on the needs of the patient and are either 30 or 60 minutes.

You can find our contact information on our hospital website: www.echn.org/services/rehabilitation or email Alyssa to discuss scheduling further: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

So many physiological changes occur to the body during pregnancy, it is no wonder that during pregnancy people have back and lower extremity aches and pains. It is common to experience hormonal changes, weight gain, and reduced abdominal strength during this time, not to mention the anterior shift in their center of mass.

These physiological changes result in altered spinal and pelvic alignment, and increased joint laxity. Also, many individuals report increases in size of their feet and a tendency to have flatter arches during and after pregnancy. Alignment changes may influence pain, and altered alignment could change the physical stresses placed upon different tissues of the body, which that specific tissue was not adapted to, therefore, causing pain or injury to that tissue.

A study published in 2016, in the Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy¹, investigated if there may be a relationship between anthropometric changes of the foot that occur with pregnancy and pregnancy-related musculoskeletal pain of the lower extremity. The study included 15 primigravid women and 14 weight-matched controls. This study was a repeated-measurements design study, where the investigators measured foot length, foot width, arch height index, arch rigidity index (ARI), arch drop (AD), rear foot angle, and pelvic obliquity during the second and third trimesters and post-partum. The subjects were surveyed on pain in the lower back, hips/buttocks, and foot/ankle.

The author’s findings were that measures of arch flexibility (ARI and AD) correlated with pain in the lower back and the foot and ankle and that medial longitudinal arch flexibility may be related to pain in the lower back and foot. The more flexible arches were associated with more pain in the study participants. They reported the participants in their study did not have very high pain levels in general and recommended further studies to compare pregnant individuals who experience severe pain with those who do not while comparing their alignment factors.

This article is a good reminder for physical therapists to consider the changes that occur to the foot including changes in arch height, arch flexibility, and foot size, and how that influences the pelvis and lower extremity for prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy.

Educating our pregnant patients on shoe wear seems even more important now. Making recommendations, unique to each patient based on their objective data, foot type, and arch flexibility status seems like an appropriate addition to a well-rounded treatment plan.

Doesn’t it seem prudent to wear shoes that provide some arch support to hopefully reduce musculoskeletal pain associated with pregnancy changes?

I have observed some patients who are pregnant arrive at their physical therapy appointment wearing unsupportive flip-flops and other poor shoe-wear choices. I understand there are barriers for pregnant patients, I remember from when I was pregnant that reaching your feet to put shoes on can be very difficult, and sometimes your feet are swelling so it may be near impossible to physically get shoes on your feet. You might even need a new pair of shoes, as your shoes may no longer fit.

However, an article such as this one seems like something I could easily share with a patient to help persuade them of the importance of good shoe wear or at least proper arch support. Being able to discuss a recent scientific study with a patient can be powerful and motivating to a patient.

Additionally, an article such as this reminds a practitioner of specific objective data to monitor such as arch height and flexibility as it changes throughout the patient’s pregnancy.

• How does the patient’s changing arch height and flexibility influence their specific pelvic, hip, knee, and ankle alignment?
• How does swelling play a part in the patients’ foot anthropometrics day to day, trimester to trimester?
• Ask more questions about their daily activities, are they ‘barefoot and pregnant’?
• Could something as simple as having them wear appropriate, arch-supportive shoes while in the home reduce their lower extremity or back pain?"

Join us at the next Pregnancy Rehabilitation course scheduled for July 20-21 to learn more about pregnancy-related topics.

Reference:

1. Harrison, K. D., Mancinelli, C., Thomas, K., Meszaros, P., & McCrory, J. L. (2016). The Relationship Between Lower Extremity Alignment and Low Back, Hip, and Foot Pain During Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Study of Primigravid Women Versus Nulliparous Controls. Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy, 40(3), 139-146.

AUTHOR BIO

Rachel Kilgore, DPT, OCS, COMT, PRPC, PPCES

Rachel Kilgore, DPT, OCS, COMT, PRPC, PPCES graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in exercise science and a minor in nutrition in 2004 where she also captained the collegiate soccer team. Rachel completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) at University of Washington in 2007. She has worked in out patient orthopedics and pelvic health since 2007. She furthered her physical therapy training earning Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT), Physical Therapy Board-Certified Specialist in Orthopedics (OCS), and Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC). She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Section of Orthopedics and Section of Women’s Health, and the Physical Therapy Association of Washington (PTWA).

Currently, Rachel practices in Seattle at Flow Rehab in the Freemont Neighborhood with Holly Tanner and Jake Bartholomy. Her patient care focuses on orthopedics, female athletes, and women’s health conditions for bladder & bowel dysfunctions, pelvic, pain, pregnancy and post-partum issues.