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Managing Parkinson’s Disease with Physical Therapy
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement, balance, and coordination. While the diagnosis can be daunting, integrating physical therapy into your treatment plan can significantly improve quality of life and help manage symptoms. Here, we’ll explore how physical therapy can aid in managing Parkinson’s disease, highlighting key approaches and benefits. Understanding Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, leading to symptoms such as: These symptoms can affect daily activities, but physical therapy offers targeted interventions to address these challenges. The Role of Physical Therapy Physical therapy focuses on restoring mobility, improving strength, and enhancing overall function. Here’s how…
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Occupational Therapy is a New Service Coming to Our Practically Perfect Community!
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Hypermobility and Pelvic Health: What is hypermobility and how does it affect the pelvic floor?
Hypermobility and Pelvic Health We had a wonderful Doctor of Physical Therapy Student from Stockton University with us this summer, and she chose to write us an informative blog about Hypermobility and Pelvic Health as her student in-service to share with our community. Jackie graduated in May of 2024 and has been finishing her last clinical rotation with us at Practically Perfect Physical therapy learning everything about pelvic health, pediatric, and our other specialized patient populations. Jackie writes… Most people know that joints can get stiff or tight which can cause pain, decreased ability to move, or lead you feeling like you need a nice long stretch. But what happens…
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Spoon Theory… A Spoonful of Sugar Doesn’t Always Cut It with Chronic Illness!
When I was younger, I was obsessed with the comedian, Dane Cook. Don’t judge me, I was once young and fancy free. He had this skit about a kid who becomes obsessed with snorting Nestle Quik, the chocolate powder. Anyway, one of the jokes from this skit was the kid saying “I can’t kick the ball today, I just can’t!” He was saying it because he was hooked on the cocaine-like addictiveness of the chocolate Nestle Quik drink but it stuck with me. In case you think I’m insane – check out the skit here. On days when I was not really ready to take on the day, I started…
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Advocating for Yourself in Today’s Healthcare System: Some Recommendations from Your Pelvic Floor Therapist
I just want to go ahead and preface this with the fact that there may be some health triggers in this post and also that I have been diagnosed with a form of cancer that is usually very treatable with a good prognosis and I have not been struggling with cancer as long as many people are. I do not want to present this like I am an expert after I’ve had cancer for a whole 5 minutes. However, after this recent experience, I definitely have seen some interesting themes and areas of potential improvement in our healthcare system and it was time to update the Practically Perfect community as…
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What is a manual therapy? What is a certified manual therapist? What does “CIMT” mean??
Written by Jessica Soltys, PT, MPT, CIMT As a long time physical therapist and certified integrated manual therapist (CIMT), I often get asked “what is a manual therapist?” That got me thinking about what would be the easiest way to explain this concept and niche of therapy to my patients. Let’s start with what to expect with your visits. As a CIMT, we utilize a “test-treat-retest” model. At the beginning of your session, I will take a detailed history and run you through tests, as well as assess body movements. Don’t worry, I will explain each test and walk you through what is needed to perform it. Once manual therapy…
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“Sit Happens: Conquering Coccyx Pain with the Power of Physical Therapy”
This blog was written by our wonderful Stockton physical therapy, Cassidy Hogan. SPT. Welcome to a blog about pains in the butt, well, coccyx pain. Many people know the coccyx by the name “tailbone”. Coccyx pain, also known as coccydynia, is more than just a passing discomfort, it’s an unwelcome companion that disrupts the ebb and flow of everyday activities. From the seemingly simple act of sitting, to the complex dance of standing and moving around, each moment becomes a strategic negotiation with pain. Tasks that once seemed so simple like working at a desk, exercising, going to the bathroom, having sex, or lounging comfortably all transform into daily challenges.…
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When Life Hands Your Thyroid Cancer…Get a Lemon Colored Thyroid Stuffy?
I had big plans for 2024. This was the year to choose peace, love and happiness. 2022 and 2023 brought a lot of change to my life and I was looking forward to continuing to find a healthier version of myself. If you’ve been here for a while, you may remember my blog called “Lumps and Lymph and Tests, Oh My” where I shared about having some issues with random lymph nodes in my armpits. As part of that follow-up care, I had to continue to see my endocrinologist and the breast specialist every 6 months for the next 3 years as per the protocol, getting regular mammograms and thyroid…
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What is play…and why won’t Practically Perfect PT stop talking about it?
Nicole Sturgill, PT, DPT, and Pediatric Program Coordination for Practically Perfect Physical Therapy brings us today’s blog. Nicole writes: What is play? What does it mean to have play skills? How can play possibly be important? Let’s dive into this topic together! Play is one of the most essential activities babies do. Through play, babies explore their environment and make sense of new and different information. They figure out how toys work and how their body works through play. Watching a baby discover their hands for the first time is one of the most fascinating events to witness as they figure out what this little body they are in is…
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Fitness, General Information, Male Pelvic Health, Pediatric, Pelvic Health, Perinatal/ Postpartum, Pregnancy
You’ll never convince me it’s normal to pee in your pants!
I like to masquerade as a super chill person. I wish I were. I’d like the calm and happy facade I present to the world to be 100% true. Honestly, these days I am fulfilled, passionate, and joyful about life, but like T Swift says, “Would it be enough if I could never be your peace?” My ability to remain placid is frequently disrupted by bullshit I hear from society. So welcome to another of my “hot takes.” If you’re here, I’m assuming you’ve enjoyed some of the past ones, or you’re rubbernecking the shit show waiting to see when I’m canceled by the internet. For those of you who…
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Why I Won’t Encourage My Daughter to Save Herself for Marriage
Before you start judging me based on the title, read this entire blog. I grew up in a Catholic household with very Catholic grandparents and parents that were not particularly religious but held on to some of the traditions they grew up with. I went to Catholic school from kindergarten until 6th grade and went to church intermittently throughout the year and always on holidays. Throughout that time, my parents were very open about bodies and there was definitely no shame in being comfortable within your own skin walking around the house or while using the bathroom when I grew up. We never talk specifically about their sex life, but…
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Baby Wearing: What is It and How Do I Do It Well?
As we transition into the snuggly weather of fall, we wanted to share this blog written by our team member and baby wearing expert, Dr. Emily Fitzpatrick. Emily writes: Baby wearing is something that prior to my pregnancy I had not given much thought to. I was aware of its existence, saw parents with babies strapped onto them, but it wasn’t until I was pregnant that I started to really pay more attention to this concept. The idea of carrying my daughter this way was very appealing to me. I felt that it would be an easy way to keep her comforted while I “did all the things,” from housework…
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Tips for Working on It When Your Marriage Isn’t Working From a Divorcee
Get help early. Don’t wait until you’re drowning. I once heard the analogy of utilizing a personal trainer to learn a gym routine. If you’ve never exercised, you wouldn’t walk into a gym thinking you’d be an expert, not need any training, and be able to adeptly figure it out as you go, right? But with marriage or even long term relationships, we don’t encourage getting help and guidance early on. Instead, couples wait an average of 6 years into unhappiness before seeking help. I want you to search your feelings (like a Jedi) for a moment and think which would be an easier fix if you’re stuck on the…
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Guest Blog: Being a Hands On Therapist Through Therapy and Massage
Hello Practically Perfect friends! If you know our practice, you know we’re very hands on. We may not be like other physical therapy clinics you’ve visited in that we see our patients one on one and use our manual skills to help our clients with things like limited mobility and pain. Jessica’ Soltys is a Stockton University graduate. Jessica is a very experienced therapist working in multiple settings in multiple roles. She is a busy working wife and mom of three. She has been such a lovely addition to our practice with her years of knowledge and talent. If you have not made it in to see Jessica, put it…
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A Letter from Your Fascia
HI! I would like to shine a little limelight on myself and introduce myself properly. My name is Fascia. Not to start a pity party or anything, but I often feel like the redheaded stepchild in the healthcare/medical world, as in: I am often OVERLOOKED, rarely TREATED, and frankly often IGNORED especially when it comes to healing a human body. Yeah, I am that gunk they told medical students to throw away in cadaver anatomy class so they could get a clear view of muscles, organs, bones, nerves, and blood vessels. Those anatomy professors totally forgot or ignored the fact that in a living human body, I am well hydrated…
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15 Things You Should Know About Our Practice
As we approach our one year birthday, I thought it would be appropriate to write a blog about 15 things that you should know about Practically Perfect Physical Therapy as a practice and small business. These may be things you did not know, noticed but did not think were intentional, or will notice moving forward. I feel like people may think they know what physical therapy is, but they are not always 100% accurate. “Oh, you massage necks, right?” “You watch people exercise all day.” Some people may be familiar with pelvic floor physical therapy and some still think we’re involved in witchcraft and voodoo magic. Our practice is very…
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Guest Blog: Dry Needling in the Physical Therapy Tool Box
Practically Perfect Physical Therapy aims to provide its clients with a variety of effective, evidence-based treatment approaches. Today, we are joined with a local practitioner who has her own practice that focuses on the athlete and active person to improve function and decrease pain. Here is what she has to tell us! *** Hello!! My name is Christina Juliano. I am a physical therapist and dry needling specialist. I have 15 years experience treating as a physical therapist, and over 100 hours of training in the field of dry needling. I am dual certified in dry needling, with certifications from Intricate Art Spine and Body Solutions and Evidence in Motion. …
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Pelvic Floor Habit Check: “This seems to be working, but is it?”
Did you ever get into the habit of doing something in a certain way for a certain situation and then continue to do it that way, even when it was not necessary? Some examples that come to mind: I find people fall into the same patterns when it comes to pelvic floor things. Today’s blog will dive into some pelvic floor habits people have. We will talk about what they are and some variations. We will dive into why people usually have developed these habits. We will also evaluate if they are worth keeping or replacing. Urinary Incontinence Pads or Underwear In a society that has labeled and accepted peeing…
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Cesarean Section: Birth is Birth, Safe is Safe, Surgery is Surgery
April is Cesarean Delivery Awareness Month. If you are wondering, “What is a Cesarean Delivery?” A Cesarean section, also known as C-section or Cesarean delivery, is the surgical procedure by which one or more babies are delivered through an incision in the birthing parent’s abdomen. It is often performed because vaginal delivery would put the baby or birthing parent at risk. A Cesarean can be planned, unplanned or emergent. I’m super sweet and easy-going until someone says something I do not like or agree with. If you want to see me get spicy real quick, starting a conversation about Cesarean sections is a really good way to go. My first…
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Guest Blog: The Little Milky Way Talks About Breastfeeding Facts and Myths
A few years ago I wrote this little “quickie” blog “Lactation and Your Pelvic Floor.” I will probably go back and revamp that one, but feel free to check it out. MY lactation journey started after a 38 hour labor and rough delivery with my daughter. Society made me feel that because I needed an unplanned c-section, I was not able to deliver her “naturally.” As a 25 year old, not having any of the skills, knowledge, or life experience I do now, I felt “less than.” I resolved to make breastfeeding work and to feed my baby the way “nature intended.” My breastfeeding journey was not one of rainbows,…
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What the What is an OhNut? What People Really Want for the Valentine’s Day
If you want to read more about penile rings (a.k.a. cock rings), check out my previous blog, “If You Like It Then You Should Have Put a Ring On It.” This blog goes into the various different types and indications of using these tools in the bedroom. What is one of the favorite tools in my pelvic floor tool box? An OhNut. By definition, an OhNut is a soft compressible buffer made from 4 rings. It can be used together or individually to adjust when penetration feels too deep, without sacrificing sensation for you or your partner. Recently, the company came out with a new bonus ring that also has…
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Being Alive at 35: Why a Boudoir Photoshoot Should Be On Your Bucket List
Being alive at 35 was interesting. I started writing this blog at that age, and picked it up now, a couple months into 36. Sometimes, I have to marinate in things before I’m ready to send them into the world. This season of life, I’m embracing a few things and learning about some new areas. I dove into body positivity, doing things even if they are scary, checking things off my bucket list, and trying to learn to radically love myself. I’ve always loved lingerie and photoshoots, so I decided to leap and do a boudoir photoshoot. The first one I did found me a good 40 pounds heavier than…
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Guest Blog with a Placenta and Postpartum Support Specialist
Hello Practically Perfect Friends! Today we are going to have a guest blog checking in with us. Her name is Tiff D’Amico, who is a Placenta and Postpartum Support Specialist. When Tiff reached out, I was so happy to be able to offer the Practically Perfect audience a new, holistic approach to the postpartum period. I had my baby 10 years ago. I am the first to say that the services, support, and opportunities for pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum care were a lot less. I know that compared to prior generations, that was even more true. I remember the first time I saw a Nose Frida and was like,…
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Hanging on the Telephone: Communication During Intimacy
“I had to interrupt and stop this conversation Your voice across the line gives me a strange sensation I’d like to talk when I can show you my affection Oh, I can’t control myself Don’t leave me hanging on the telephone Hang up and run to me.” You may not be as old as me, getting the reference to the Blondie song, but when a friend asked for a blog about communication, this was my first thought. Why? Well my brain is full of tap dancing penguins. Let’s follow my train of thoughts. Someone tells me they are having trouble in the bedroom. I think of all of the physiological…
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What is Sleep Training and Why Might it Be Helpful to my Family?
My dear friend Katie Roeder, is possibly one of my favorite and most frequent referrals for my new parents and baby clients. Why? She helps babies and kids sleep! This allows parents and their children to get the rest they need for their activities of daily living, including playtime, bathing, getting stuff done, peeing, pooping and even, maybe some intimacy for the parents!!! Check out her website and social media! Katie says… If you’re having trouble with your little one’s sleep and you’ve contemplated sleep training, you’re in the right place. You probably have a lot of questions, like: “Is my baby old enough to sleep train?”“Which method is best…
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So Many Ways to Pee Your Pants: Let Me Count The Ways
This is the blog post that explores jokes like “I laughed so hard pee ran down my leg” and other assorted bullshit. There are quite a few ways a person can pee themselves. I am going to start this blog off with a beautiful gallery of some of the “fun” memes that are rolling around there on the internet. Being in pelvic health, people LOVE to send me these memes. And yes, they are cute, they are funny, and they are also a HUGE problem. Because society and some members of the medical community have decided that leaking urine is part of life for some individuals. The biggest groups are…
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What Does A Pelvic Floor Evaluation Look Like?
Going to a therapist for pelvic floor therapy can be really scary. Like really, really scary. I have had people tell me things like they have delayed going for YEARS. I have known people to spend thousands of dollars on incontinence pads -those things are NOT cheap- instead of coming in to see a pelvic floor specialist. I hear stories over and over about people avoiding certain activities like laughing, exercising, or playing with their children to avoid leaking urine. I have had patients come in after not being intimate with their partners for years. The sex was just too painful, but the thought of doing anything about it was…
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“What Should My Baby Be Doing and When?”
An exploration of the importance of learning your baby’s milestones I’ve been stealing babies (with the permission of their parents) since I was a young child myself. My neighbors adopted a baby when I was 8 years old, and I quickly elected myself as their mother’s helper. I’d consider myself pretty experienced in feeding, diapering, entertaining, soothing, and playing with children of any age. Then I became a Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in pediatrics and learned some things. I realize that even if people (ahem, myself) have experience with taking care of babies, they do not necessarily know what their baby SHOULD be doing from a developmental perspective.…
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Don’t We All Have An “Abortion” Story?
There is the potential for a lot of triggers in this post. I am going to put this disclaimer up on top with a warning to you as you proceed that I’m letting you into my life more than I normally would in writing on the internet. Stop reading if you are “pro-life” and find other schools of thought unbearable. Be warned that there are triggers for people with fertility challenges or pregnancy loss. If you are afraid of knowing the stats on some pregnancy-related things, now might be a great time to stop reading. I am writing this post and “letting you in” to my thought processes because these…
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A Slippery Debate: To Shower Sex or Not!
Welcome to my blog post about why TV show and movie shower sex scenes make me mad. I will start this rant off by saying that I have had issues with my pelvic floor and hip mobility since I was young, so part of my struggles with this topic probably stem from personal experience. I have a “high tone” pelvic floor which means my “down there” muscles are very tight. A high tone pelvic floor can cause all sorts of pelvic floor dysfunction. This can include pain with sex, urinary urgency, urinary frequency, frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs), frequent urinary tract infection symptoms (phantom UTIs), and constipation. Intercourse and orgasm…
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Big Dick Energy and Other Assorted Penis Myths
A while ago I posted about “The Tiny Vagina Club” and how society’s idea that a smaller, tighter vagina is more valuable can be really harmful to some vagina owners. Today, I would like to tackle another pet peeve of mine, “Big Dick Energy.” I know I am starting to sound like a salty old lady, but misconceptions in pelvic health help literally no one. “Big Dick Energy” aka BDE was something new to me a few years ago, and since then, I feel like I run into the concept often now. What does “Big Dick Energy” mean? This term popped up recently in the 2010s, and it just means…
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When In Doubt, Refer It Out
A recent anecdotal story on why it is important to pay attention to clinical red flags and refer out to other practitioners for more testing when needed… I have been a therapist for a long time, and I have worked in a lot of settings. I have worked in inpatient therapy, outpatient therapy, medical daycare, within school systems, and in the home. There is not a lot I have not seen. But recently, I had a case that was new, different, and made me glad that Physical Therapy School had ingrained certain fail safes and checkpoints. I had a friend and colleague of my husband reach out with a child…
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Somewhere Over the Rainbow
When I was three years old, I watched a movie that changed my life. Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” rocked my world. My fairy godmother had purchased this movie and “lent” it to me, and I watched most of it on repeat for many years (I knew exactly how long to fast forward through the scary Ursula parts). “The Little Mermaid” soundtrack was one of my first CDs, and to this day, listening to the soundtrack is a positive emotional experience for me. Nothing makes me feel yearning more than “Part of Your World,” makes me feel anxious like “Flotsam and Jetsam” or makes me feel merry like “Jig.” Aside from…
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Vacation Constipation Investigation
The Top 10 Reasons People Get Constipated on Vacation! Did you ever wonder why your bowels can be chugging along regularly and on time while you are living your life at home, but then come to a halting stop when arriving on vacation? This phenomenon is called “travel constipation” or “vacation constipation,” and is defined as irregular bowel movements while on vacation happening within the first few days on your trip. Normal bowel function is typically defined as having a bowel movement three times a day to three times a week. As a pelvic health practitioner, I feel it is important to discuss assessment of stool consistency. A very wise…
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The Tiny Vagina Club
Hi everyone, my name is Mora and I have a tiny vagina. Everyone says, “Hi Mora.” I’ve known I have a tiny vagina problem since I was about 18. Honestly, I had the problem before that but didn’t know. (Click here for the blog that talks about that in detail!) ***** You may be asking yourself… “What is the Tiny Vagina Club?” “How do I get in?” “Do I want to be here?” ***** I’m being a little silly here, but I wanted to talk today about vaginal size because there are so many misconceptions about it. The vagina is an organ that individuals assigned female at birth are born in…
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C-Section Mama Drama 2022
I’m updating this blog that I wrote last year. It started out with me saying… I didn’t plan to have a c-section. I watched “A Baby Story” on TLC since I was young and wanted to squat my baby out like the gypsy soul I am inside. But that was not the birth I got. I didn’t go into labor on my own. I was overdue with a baby that was expected to be LARGE. I was induced at 40 weeks and 6 days. (Nowadays, mothers are sometimes allowed to go overdue by up to 42 weeks, but 10 years ago, this was not the case.) My cervix did not…
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Your Body is Not an Apology Workshop
By Kate Mattleman and Mora Pluchino “You, my love, are not disposable. Besides, your body wants nothing more than to be your buddy through this ride called life, and that means you (and your body) will need a solid set of tools for the road.” Sonya Renee Taylor Sonya Renee Taylor, author of the bestselling book, Your Body is Not An Apology says that “Radical self-love is an action practice.” There are those that profit from our discontentment and our disconnection from what is “divine.” The average person spends 15.5 hours ingesting various forms of media per day. The average woman spends $15,000 on beauty products over her lifetime. Think…
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Low Down on Laxatives
One of the most common things I get to do as a Pelvic Health Therapist is to explain to clients about the medications they are taking to help their GI systems, bowels and poop! Many times medical providers recommend a medication but don’t have the time to explain how it works. It can be really confusing to know what is indicated, how each medication works and what the side effects can be short and long term. The chart below names a few common types of laxatives, their name, purpose along with some common pros and cons. When managing the bowels, it is important to remember that “one size” does not…
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Period Product Breakdown
As a pelvic floor physical therapist I frequently get asked about what products to use for menstruation. There are a ton of products out there and there are different indications, uses and pros/cons for most. I am going to explain then in order of how much “oneness with the vagina” the user must be. The least “invasive” would be a product that the menstruating individual can freely bleed into. This could be either menstrual underwear OR a sanitary napkin/ pad. There are many brands for both of these products. When choosing a brand of menstrual underwear, I would recommend making sure they are for menstruation and NOT incontinence and come…
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Lumps and Lymph and Tests, Oh My!
If you follow me on IG and Facebook, you probably saw my post about having my first Mammogram at 35 years old and having them find a lump. Typical protocol per the CDC is starting mammography at 40 – 49 years of age if the individual is of “average risk” and the patient chooses. The test should be repeated once every two years afterwards. In September, I started having some weird lymphatic swelling of my armpit area. The lymphatic system is a system of organs, tissues and vessels that help to move lymph and helps to clean out waste, toxins and unwanted materials from the body. It is common for…
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Dermatologist for the Downstairs!
When I used to think of the dermatologist, I thought of the two areas I’d seen one for…skin cancer screening and treatment of adult acne. A dermatologist by definition addresses issues with the hair, skin and nails. BUT did you know that some dermatologists specialize in the pelvic floor regions?!? The genital region is only about 1% of a person’s total skin surface area. When there is a problem with the genital skin, it can be really uncomfortable and hard to ignore. There are certain diagnoses that can affect a person’s skin that a pelvic health practitioner may also help diagnose and manage. These include conditions such as Lichen Sclerosis,…
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COPD and the Pelvic Floor
November is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Awareness Month. What does this have to do with the pelvic floor? EVERYTHING if someone has COPD or a chronic cough! Did you read my blog, The Exploding Soda Can: Stress Urinary Incontinence? This blog delves into how the abdominal canister is a pressurize system that needs to work ompitally for us to maintain continence of our pee and poop. If you or a loved one has COPD, then you know that canister is compromised from the chronic cough. That can mean that every cough puts the person as risk to pee in their pants or worse. What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)? The…
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How Diabetes Can Affect Your Pelvic Health
Did you know that medical conditions like diabetes can affect your pelvic floor? There are a few different ways that this can happen! Since this month is American Diabetes Awareness Month, I thought this would be the perfect time to talk about this! Diabetes is defined by the CDC as a chronic and long lasting condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. When you have diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin which means too much sugar is in the bloodstream. This can cause serious long term health complications like kidney disease, heart disease, vision loss and poor healing. There are three main types of Diabetes.…
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Over The Counter Bladder Supports
Do you leak urine when you run, jump, skip, hop? How about with coughing, laughing or sneezing? You may be experiencing Stress Urinary Incontinence which has its own full blog here. Stress Urinary incontinence happens when the force in the abdominal canister is not being transferred evenly, causing pee to leak out. As a Pelvic Health Specialist, I highly recommend specialized physical therapy to help assess your back, rib cage, core and pelvic floor. This can be very helpful in resolving these symptoms. You can click here to find a practitioner near you! But let us hypothetically say that you’ve given Pelvic Floor PT and you’re still experiencing urinary leakage…
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12 Signs of Constipation
The wise Dawn Salicidi PT, RCMT, BCB-PMD is well known for teaching health care practitioners about Pediatric voiding issues including problems of the bladder and bowels. My favorite quote from her course was “constipated until proven otherwise.” When I took this course, 6 years ago, this concept was foreign to me. What does she mean? Constipation can be tricky in all individuals, but especially children. Once our children are potty trained and independent with wiping, we may not be seeing their poop or being as aware of their bowel habits unless something is going wrong. Did you know that a person can poop everyday and still be constipated? A person…
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Thin Doesn’t Equal Health
Here is my last Keeping It Real. Part 5: Skinny Doesn’t Equal Healthy! People say things like “You’re the perfect size, you must be so healthy.” Body image wise I haven’t always loved my body. It’s one of those “you always want what you don’t have.” I was a skinny, gangly child turning into an athletically built teenager with curves few and far between. My favorite body was my postpartum nursing body, which had big boobs, nice hips and a belly that felt small in comparison. But we don’t get to stay like Betty Boop forever and that ship has sailed. I’m a size 6-8 depending on my exercise and…
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Carrying It Well Doesn’t Mean It Isn’t Heavy
Thanks for joining me for Keeping It Real Part 4: Carrying it Well Doesn’t Mean It Isn’t Heavy! If you learn one thing from me, may it be that anxiety looks different to everyone. People tell me things like “You’re not anxious, you always have it together.” I have literally struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember. I think a lot of times with mental health issues, we think that someone has to be stuck in bed, talking to themselves, living in a houseful of cats, or something drastic like that to have mental illness. I guess since I have struggled with this my whole life, I’m…
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Your Bra and Your Skeleton
When patients tell me they have upper back and neck pain, I frequently ask about their bra fit. Why? Because a long time ago, I was wearing the wrong size bra and MY back and neck hurt. I met a wonderful person who was a Bra Fitter and explained her profession to me. She educated me that breast tissue needs proper support. Without this, there can be pain in the upper neck and back. Being a PT, light bulbs went off for me. Posture is huge. Good posture = a happy body. Poor posture = issues that pop up. Breast tissue can cause an increase in anterior pressure and therefore…
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Coccydynia: Do You Have a Pain in Your A$$?
Have you fallen on your tailbone in the past OR recently? Do you have painful sitting? Do you have trouble sitting on a soft surface? Is it hard to go from sit to stand? Are you have tailbone pain during bowel, bladder or sexual activities? The anatomical name of our tailbone is called the COCCYX. Some people can develop coccyx pain after a fall, past or present or due to a recent change in activity level. Since a lot of people have been working from home since the start of COVID, I have seen a clinical increase in the incidence of coccydynia or pain in the tailbone. Tailbone pain can…
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Lactation and Your Pelvic Floor
Does lactation affect your pelvic floor? HECK. YES. Do you recommend breastfeeding if I am able? YUP. Will lactation hurt my pelvic floor? NO! I want to talk about lactation and your pelvic floor in three different areas. The first is in relation to your abdominal canister . This is the interface and load transfer between your back, belly, diaphragm, rib cage and pelvic floor. While feeding your baby, you’ll have the option of a variety of positions. If you are having issues of pelvic pain, heaviness, urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, you’ll want to work on finding positions that put less stress on these areas. Support for your…
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I Am Not Mommy Poppins!
Welcome to Keeping It Real Part 3: “You are Mommy Poppins – Practically Perfect in Everyway” I’m really flattered by these, but let’s take a real look at this topic. I hear “You’re the best mom” a lot from people who don’t know a whole lot about our child, me or our home life. Nina may be my only child, but she’s like my 80th kid. I’ve been a caretaker since I was very young, caring for baby cousins, neighbors, babysitting and nanny clients’ kiddos followed by patients, friends’ kids, etc. I’ve lost count of how many diapers I’ve changed, how many babies I have sleep trained and how many…
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The Post Partum PT Check Up: Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200
You’ve reached 6 weeks postpartum and your doctor has given you the clearance to return to all of your pre-pregnancy activities. Woohoo. But before you go back to the gym and all your previous sexcapades I’m begging you to go for a Post Partum PT Check Up. Please – do not pass go, do not collect $200 YET! Here are my reasons why… Assessment of your back, belly, diaphragm, rib cage and pelvic floor after growing a human! Have your PT check your whole body including all of these areas that are drastically affected by pregnancy, labor and delivery. Treatment of any pregnancy/ birth/ nursing aches and pains. No one…
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The Gluten Struggle Bus
I have had thyroid and chronic fatigue issues since I was 23 years old. I tried a lot of things including medication, sleep schedules, a regular exercise routine, stress management, etc with little improvement. When I turned 31 and was literally rolling myself out of bed in the morning, I decided to try something new. I saw a Functional Nutritionist who checked my blood, salvia, and urine, as well as analyzed my symptoms and current diet. From all of this information she made a very detailed meal plan for me to follow. And I jumped in and followed it…. for about 8 – 10 months. But it was VERY restrictive…
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Your Sexuality and Aging
Time flies when you’re having fun. It even flies when you’re not. Age is definitely just a number. I know personally and from what I hear others say, how old you feel is more of a mindset. However, sometimes our bodies like to disagree, and this can definitely happen in the area of our sex life and overall sexuality. I frequently talk to patients about how their sex lives have changed due to age, medical issues, relationship issues, children, moving, jobs, stress, and all the other fun things life throws at us. Being a sexual being as we age can be a bit of a challenge. With the right information…
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My Pelvic Health Knowledge Doesn’t Make Me a Sex Goddess
Welcome to my “Keeping It Real Part Two” where we will discuss how my knowledge of pelvic floor things doesn’t make me a sex goddess. Soooooo…..let’s talk about people’s assumptions about my marriage and my sex life based on my job and professional specialty. “You must be the perfect wife.” I get this one a lot from my male patients because of my ability to empathize and understand their pelvic floor struggle. I crush those thoughts real quick. I remind my patients that if they have not talked to their partner, they have not given them the chance to be supportive. I remind them that a happy spouse makes a…
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Pelvic Health: Nothing to Sneeze At
There are some things we as a society avoid talking about. I’m willing to bet the top of that list involves things that happen in the bathroom and bedroom. This blog is going to go there, so either move on to something safer or be brave and keep reading. Everyone is born with a pelvic floor, whether they have a penis or vagina. The pelvic floor is comprised of muscles and ligaments that help support our organs like the bladder, bowels and uterus. Those same muscles help control bowel and bladder functions and enhance sexual pleasure. For both males and females, balance is the key to maintaining a healthy pelvic…
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Why I don’t love “W” Sitting…
When I went looking through the stock photos I was a little surprised that the 8th picture down showed a little girl “W” sitting. What is “W” sitting? “W” sitting is when a child sits spreading the hips with the bottom on the floor, the knees bent, and the feet behind, making a “W” shape with his/her legs when you’re looking at them from the top. It is different from a kneeling position where the knees, hips and leg bones are all stacked on top of eachother. Child most frequently “W” sit because it gives them a wider base of support and keeps their center of gravity lower giving them…
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“Get Your Body Moving!”
I’ve been seeing a lot of requests for cold weather ideas for our kids to get some exercise during these winter months of social distancing due to COVID. Here are some activities to help keep your child (and you) get a little workout during this time spent at home. Enjoy our top 5 ways to get moving! 1) Get Outside! Although we must stay separate from others, this doesn’t mean we have to stay indoors. Get outside. Ride a bike around the neighborhood. Walk the dog. Take a hike. Plan out your spring garden. Enjoy your swing set. Draw with chalk in the driveway or on the patio. Blow bubbles…
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“Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore”
Since I deal with some sexually based issues, I often hear when a couple is having issues. I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist and am always quick to refer patients to therapy. However, there are some great resources for couples who want to do their own work and reading. Some of my favorite self help books to recommend and why! “Come As You Are” by Emily Nagowski Ph.D This book is an eye opening look into sexual function. It is geared more to females than to males, but has principles that apply to both. If you are a person who is intimate with women, this is still a…
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“Pour Some Sugar On Me” with the name of LUBE!”
Let’s talk about a touchy subject – lubrication!!! Did you know that the “wetness” of a vagina does not indicate arousal? A woman could be totally into the sexual experience and not super lubricated. Or she could be damp but NOT want to be intimate. The best guide to how aroused a woman is to ASK her! But natural lubrication levels change throughout life. Some physiological factors that affect lubrication can include hormonal birth control, pregnancy, breast feeding, menopause, stress, illness, thyroid issues, clogged glands, recent infection and cancer treatment to name just a few. There are also emotional pieces to lubrication and arousal that are very important. The lubrication…
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“You Need to Calm Down” – Urinary Urge Incontinence
A few weeks ago, we talked about one type of incontinence called Stress Urinary Incontinence. This week, we will be talking about Urge Urinary Incontinence. This is defined as urinary leakage (leaking of pee) related to the urge to urinate. Basically, you feel the urge to pee and can’t make it to the potty in time. It can be a few drops of leakage or a full emptying of the bladder! Sometimes with Urinary Urge Incontinence comes Urinary Frequency, which is that “got to pee all the time” person. Think of those commercials with the jingle “gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now.” These are my folks who know…
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“If You Like It Then You Should Have Put a Ring On It”
Not long after starting my own mini-business I signed up to be a vendor for OhNut because it is a product I love, frequently recommend and wanted to have on hand for my clients. My husband’s take on it was that I spent $400 on “cock rings.” I felt like Lucy Ricardo with some ‘splainin to do. It’s now become a household joke. I figure, if my husband, who is married crazy old to me, needs some education on what a c-ring is (my preferred nickname for these devices), then maybe others do too. I feel like the term “cock ring” brings up a lot of “stuff” for people. People…
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The Exploding Soda Can: Stress Urinary Incontinence
**I must preface this with urinary leakage may be COMMON, but is not NORMAL. Please contact a Pelvic Floor PT for help if you experience leakage!!** Before I became a pelvic floor physical therapist, I thought that stress urinary incontinence was due to emotional, psychological stress. After taking Pelvic Floor 1, I realized how sadly mistaken I was. So for the other folks who don’t know what stress urinary incontinence, here we go! The definition: urinary leakage related to a stress to the system such as physical movement or activity. So a person is experiencing stress urinary incontinence if they cough, sneeze, laugh, yell, jump, run, etc and leak urine!…
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Where’s Your Poop?
When I started learning about pelvic floor things professionally I thought I would be like “The Vagina Whisperer.” Instead, I joke I’ve become a Poop Queen. Why, do you ask, am I obsessed with poop? The way your internal organs fit into your body, if your bowels are super constipated or unhappily crampy, this can lead to a variety of not so fun bladder symptoms. If you don’t make the bowels happy and functional, they irritate your bladder. Since your bladder is best described as an angry two year old, we can assume an irritated bladder is a frequent or leaky bladder. How do we know if it is a…
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C-Section Mama Drama
I didn’t plan to have a c-section. I watched “A Baby Story” on TLC since I was young and wanted to squat my baby out like the gypsy soul I am inside. But that was not the birth I got. I didn’t go into labor on my own. I was overdue with a baby that was expected to be LARGE. I was induced at 40 weeks and 6 days. My cervix did not respond to the first 2 medical attempts at starting labor. The 3rd attempt at induction led my cervix to dilate about 50% of what it needed to and then quit. After 36+ hours of labor, my uterus…
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Driving Yourself to Practically Perfect Desire
Last week we talked about the types of desire based on the information in Emily Nagoski’s book “Come As You Are.” I cannot emphasize reading this book enough if you are a person who identifies as a woman or an individual who is intimate with a woman. A lot of my clients have told me they don’t have time to read the book, so I’ve been trying to do little tidbits of information to help share the information and get people more invested in reading this pelvic health work of art. All of the information in this blog will have come from Dr. Nagoski’s book. The first things she talks…
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Low Sex Drive Driving Your Crazy?
I have been reading this amazing book called “Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life” by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D. This book was so valuable to me both as a woman who has struggled with issues related to sex and as a practitioner that helps people who struggle with issues related to intimacy. I deal primarily with folks who have physical barriers to intimacy, but there is a whole emotional component that frequently comes to light. This book really hits on the point that what happens in our sex life mostly comes from what is going on in our brain! I could share a…
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Oh, Oh, Its Magic…The Benefits of Orgasm
I’m sure some folks saw this post’s title and kept scrolling, but for those of you who are here…thanks for being brave and welcome to the fun! Being a Pelvic Health specialist, I spend a good majority of my week working on sexual function. Part of that involves helping clients learn to reach orgasm, at home, whether by themselves or with a partner. Some people have no difficulty reaching orgasm, and that is a wonderful thing. But at least 50% plus of individuals experience some sort of sexual dysfunction in their lifetimes, whether they are male or female. I hear women all the time feeling shame for not being able…
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Guest Blog: Perinatal Mental Health
Because I have a thyroid issue, my doctor warned me that I would be more at risk for post-partum depression. Her exact sentiments were “this will probably happen to you, so let your partner know the signs and symptoms so he can intervene.” After I recovered from the trials of labor and delivery, I felt better than I ever had emotionally. I felt like Wonder Woman. I was so content and happy, my dreams of motherhood having been met. I was the opposite of depressed. I loved my post partum curves and my little family. I don’t say any of this to minimalize some women who don’t feel these things.…
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Guest Blog: The Mommy’s Mind on her Infertility Journey
Today, we are joined by Diana Gleason for a glimpse into one momma’s struggle to become a mother. Diana Gleason is a wife, infertility warrior and mom of twins! Former professional dancer turned accounting professional by day and maternal mental health advocate always. She currently serves as president of South Jersey Mothers of Multiples, a support group encompassing 140 women in southern New Jersey who mother twins, triplets or more. Diana writes: “I received my infertility diagnosis at age of 24… How It Started: I went to see my OBGYN for an annual routine exam and I told her that I had been experiencing some weird symptoms recently. My periods…
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Gross Motor Skills and Your Child
Have you heard your child’s pediatrician talk about “gross motor skills?” Did it make you wonder what they were talking about? Gross motor skills are the large movements that involve the bigger muscles of the body in the core, arms and legs and are generally large, whole body movements. We start working on our gross motor skills as newborns and continue into our teenage and adult years. Some examples are holding up the head, rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, walking, running, galloping, hopping, skipping and jumping. More complex gross motor skills include figuring out dance moves, yoga class, gymnastics flips, riding a bike, swimming, playing games like soccer, baseball, football, etc.…
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How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help Women
My dream is for all women to have an evaluation with a Pelvic Health PT to learn a good pelvic floor strengthening program. Our Pelvic Floor is literally the foundation of our abdominal area and deserves its own workout routine. It does not take long, but can make a world of difference in the teens, child bearing years, during menopause and beyond. I urge all the expectant and new mothers to take some time to do something for the health and wellness of the pelvic floor during pregnancy. There is so much time spent on making sure that the mother and baby get through pregnancy and delivery safely that the…
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Can I Be See for That? Short answer is YES!!!
For those who have been Practically Perfect Physical Therapy’s patients in the past, you know exactly what the team can treat – pelvic pain, urgency, frequency, incontinence of bowel and/or bladder, pain with sex, pediatrics, pre- and post-partum concerns, all things pelvic floor! But did you know the clinic has the ability to see patients looking for care for all sorts of traditional physical therapy needs? You can now continue to receive care in the comfortable, welcoming, one-on-one atmosphere PPPT is known for while alleviating your other musculoskeletal concerns. Joining the PPPT team this fall, Becky has spent her career mostly in the orthopedic world. Starting out, she split her…
