Wellness and Education Classes
As a physical therapist, I am committed to the education of my patients and the community regarding the benefits of physical therapy and wellness. Since beginning my work in the areas of women’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy, peers and colleagues have encouraged me to give lectures on topics related to pelvic floor dysfunction, bowel and bladder management, and pregnancy wellness. In the clinic, at least one new patient a week will remark, “ I can’t believe I have never heard about pelvic floor physical therapy”, or “ I wish I would have learned about this sooner”. For the last 15 years, I have been presenting two to three lectures a year: peer-oriented continuing education, community-based wellness, medical grand rounds, fitness facility interactive sessions, and educational classes for specialty populations.
With Success Physical Therapy, I am following my passion to provide ongoing, weekly educational opportunities for the Tucson community of patients and providers on the basic topics that I cover every week with each patient that is seen for pelvic health concerns. Classes are a combination of evidence-based practice information, informal case studies, and anecdotal commentary to encourage open communication regarding pelvic health and wellness. Each class will consist of a 60-minute lecture followed by 20-30 minute question and answer period, making each class unique for the attendees. I welcome feedback after each class, either verbal or written; to create classes based the needs of the Tucson community.
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”― Albert Einstein
Class #1: Prenatal Healthy Back | Pelvis
What you need to know
“Oh, that’s normal”… Pregnant women are often told that their back pain, sciatica, and other muscle/joint pains are “normal” during pregnancy.
Pregnancy related back and pelvic pain could begin as soon as 8 weeks into the pregnancy due to ligamentous laxity. While pregnancy-related discomforts of pregnancy are common, debilitating musculoskeletal back or pelvic pains are not normal, and can often be reduced or eliminated with physical therapy. Unfortunately, many highly skilled physical therapists have limited training in pregnancy related interventions, and are less comfortable treating pregnant patients.
Topics include:
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Musculoskeletal changes related to pregnancy and how they relate to back pain
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Postural awareness to reduce back pain
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Practical advice on use of proper biomechanics during everyday activities that cause pain
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Discussion of the exercise basics during pregnancy
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Pros and cons of pelvic floor exercises (kegels).
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Instruction of basic massage techniques to decrease pregnancy related back pain and sciatica, so please feel free to bring your support partner
- To find dates and times for classes please look at our Calendar
Class #2: Postpartum
Now What??
Did you know that if you lived in France, you would automatically receive a physiotherapy (physical therapy) consult at approximately 6 weeks postpartum? The physiotherapist would examine your pelvic floor muscles, assess for diastasis rectus abdominus (a separation in the abdominal muscle wall), and inspect your C-section or episiotomy scars if present. The physiotherapist teaches you how to find and reconnect with the core abdominal muscles, and use proper body mechanics with all things related to baby care. If you needed further assistance, you would be seen for additional visits. While some might think postpartum physical therapy is extravagant, the goal is to support women via education as opposed to “fixing things later”. Benefits for postpartum women include decreased core-weakness related back pain, resolution of urinary leakage, and prevention pelvic organ prolapse. My goal is to offer postpartum physical therapy education classes as a standard of care for women in Tucson.
Topics include:
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Postpartum Back and Pelvic Pain
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Caring for Your Pelvic Floor Muscles
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Postpartum Fatigue, Exhaustion, Baby Blues and Depression
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Postpartum Posture and Body Mechanics
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Get Your Belly Back
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Cesarean Scar Management
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Postpartum Sexual Healing
- To find dates and times for classes please look at our Calendar
Class #3: Healthy Bowel | Bladder Function
What is Normal?
Talking about “poop and pee” may make some people uncomfortable, but pelvic floor physical therapists are well versed in discussing bowel and bladder function. This class offers education on proper toileting habits and behavior modification for healthier bowel and bladder.
Topics include:
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Normal bowel and bladder bathroom habits
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How many hours should a healthy bladder be able to “hold it”?
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How many times is “normal” to get up at night?
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How much urine should be able to be “stored” or held in the bladder?
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How many glasses of water should you drink per day?
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Is it ever “normal” to leak urine?
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What is the normal number of bowel movements per week?
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It is okay to strain to have a bowel movement?
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Which non-invasive technique is helpful to “get things moving”?
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Pros and cons of pelvic floor muscle exercises (kegels), and how to perform them correctly
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Urinary and bowel urgency, urge control: what to do when you “gotta go, gotta go”
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How posture is related to optimal pelvic floor muscle function
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Abdominal Massage for Increased Bowel Motility
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Toileting Position and the Bristol Stool Form Scale
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Fiber Facts
- To find dates and times for classes please look at our Calendar
Class #4: Pre/post-op Prostate Surgery
For men with prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia, contemplating prostate surgery can be a stressful time. Patients have multiple concerns, including whether they will experience post-surgical pain or urinary leakage. In my clinical experience, patients experience varying levels of post procedural discomfort, and widely varied levels of urinary leakage. Based on reports from my patients, available resources on management of post prostate surgery related urinary leakage are suboptimal.
Pelvic floor physical therapists are able to offer pre-operative education to best prepare for surgery. In addition, we are trained to assess post-surgical pelvic floor dysfunction and discuss patients’ often less than ideal toileting habits. With pre-op and post-surgical education in a classroom format, men will be able to better optimize their surgical outcomes.
Topics include:
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Pros and cons of pelvic floor muscle exercises (kegels), and how to perform them correctly
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Urinary and bowel urgency, urge control: what to do when you “gotta go, gotta go”
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Tips to resolve post-urinary dribbles and leaks that occur with sneezing, coughing, laughing, and exercise
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How posture is related to optimal pelvic floor muscle function
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How does my bowel function affect urinary leakage?
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Abdominal Massage for Increased Bowel Motility
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Toileting Position and the Bristol Stool Form Scale
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Fiber Facts
- To find dates and times for classes please look at our Calendar
Class #5: Pre/post-op Women’s Abdominal | Pelvic Surgery
Coming soon: class will be similar to prostate surgery information, see calendar for details
Class #6: Pediatric Voiding Dysfunction | Parent Education
Coming soon: see calendar for details