By Stephanie Stamas
Pelvic floor dysfunction is complicated. If you have pelvic pain or dysfunction, you know this. You know that it takes a long time to figure out what is going on and rarely is it straight forward. It’s often a more of a journey to recovery than a quick fix. As a physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor dysfunction I’ve found that what makes that journey faster is having a multi-disciplinary team of specialized practitioners addressing every aspect of the dysfunction. At the next Pelvic Health 101 lecture, you will get the unique opportunity to hear from three healthcare providers who work closely with patients at Beyond Basic PT discuss how mental health, yoga and acupuncture can be excellent adjunct therapies to help you on your healing journey.
The mind-body relationship is starting to become a hot topic in research and never in the history of pain management has there been more exciting news. Until a little over a decade ago it was thought that the brain was solid and fixed by age 5, and from there the brain deteriorated. Now it is understood that the brain changes constantly based on environment, behavior, thoughts and feelings. This can be good or bad news. The experience of anxiety and pain is the bad news. The good news is that through “retraining” the brain you can reduce/eliminate pain! This is why mental health counseling can be so important on your healing journey.
Yoga as it is practiced in the U.S. can take on many forms and selecting a class/teacher can be overwhelming for those seeking to practice yoga as a therapeutic modality. For individuals with pelvic pain, it is recommended that they practice yoga that allows for a balance between slow, conscious movement to engage and gentle stretching along with an emphasis on the breath. Engaging in a simple customized yoga practice can be beneficial for those seeking to redefine their relationship with their body, specifically allowing them to move beyond their identity as a patient. Come and take some time to pause for breath and simple movement practices that can promote greater ease and comfort for the body and mind.
Acupuncture has always been at the center of pain management. Several problems that manifest as pelvic dysfunction are regularly treated by acupuncture, including incontinence, pelvic pain, IBS and constipation. In some patients, problems in the musculoskeletal system can be the underlying origin of their complaint. When the trigger point is “dry needled†by acupuncture, this mechanically disrupts the nervous system and results in mechanical and physiological changes. In Traditional Chinese Meridian Theory, the genitalia are traversed by a number of channels, thus pain can be accessed from reflex points along these channels. A treatment regime consisting of regular acupuncture in combination with physical therapy is the ideal approach for chronic pelvic floor problems.
Come join us at Beyond Basic Physical Therapy next Tuesday, April 28th at 6:30 for the final seminar in the Pelvic Health 101 Seminar Series. Don’t miss this last opportunity to find the missing link in your step towards recovery. Sign up here.
The mind-body relationship is starting to become a hot topic in research and never in the history of pain management has there been more exciting news. Until a little over a decade ago it was thought that the brain was solid and fixed by age 5, and from there the brain deteriorated. Now it is understood that the brain changes constantly based on environment, behavior, thoughts and feelings. This can be good or bad news. The experience of anxiety and pain is the bad news. The good news is that through “retraining” the brain you can reduce/eliminate pain! This is why mental health counseling can be so important on your healing journey.
Yoga as it is practiced in the U.S. can take on many forms and selecting a class/teacher can be overwhelming for those seeking to practice yoga as a therapeutic modality. For individuals with pelvic pain, it is recommended that they practice yoga that allows for a balance between slow, conscious movement to engage and gentle stretching along with an emphasis on the breath. Engaging in a simple customized yoga practice can be beneficial for those seeking to redefine their relationship with their body, specifically allowing them to move beyond their identity as a patient. Come and take some time to pause for breath and simple movement practices that can promote greater ease and comfort for the body and mind.
Acupuncture has always been at the center of pain management. Several problems that manifest as pelvic dysfunction are regularly treated by acupuncture, including incontinence, pelvic pain, IBS and constipation. In some patients, problems in the musculoskeletal system can be the underlying origin of their complaint. When the trigger point is “dry needled†by acupuncture, this mechanically disrupts the nervous system and results in mechanical and physiological changes. In Traditional Chinese Meridian Theory, the genitalia are traversed by a number of channels, thus pain can be accessed from reflex points along these channels. A treatment regime consisting of regular acupuncture in combination with physical therapy is the ideal approach for chronic pelvic floor problems.
Come join us at Beyond Basic Physical Therapy next Tuesday, April 28th at 6:30 for the final seminar in the Pelvic Health 101 Seminar Series. Don’t miss this last opportunity to find the missing link in your step towards recovery. Sign up here.