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About Heather Jeffcoat, DPT | Los Angeles Pelvic Floor Doctor
Heather and her staff blog about all things pelvic health related
Including male, female, pediatric, transgender and nonbinary chronic pelvic pain, urinary dysfunction such as incontinence, prostatitis, sexual dysfunction, pregnancy, back pain, upcoming events and more.
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- Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Learn about low intensity shockwave therapy for painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
Our team at Fusion Wellness and Physical Therapy is committed to providing the highest level of evidence-based care. That is why we are conducting a research study to determine the effectiveness of low intensity shockwave therapy for painful intercourse, or dyspareunia as it is known clinically. We are searching for volunteers to participate in this high quality study. Those who qualify to participate will receive a reduced rate on all visits related to the study!
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- Staff Writer
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Best Exercise for Each Decade of Life: Exercises to Benefit Aging
Here at Fusion Wellness PT, we believe fitness is something to practice throughout a lifetime. It will look different for everyone, and the type of movements performed may be different for each decade. The things you do to stay active may even change in a month's time. Variability is important to keep the body versatile, and to keep you challenged. Perhaps someone was a track athlete in high school, then got involved in the yoga class on college campus in their 20s, in their 30s they picked up group fitness cycling, in their 40s they spent time hiking, and in their 50s and 60s they enjoyed yard work, gardening, and outdoor biking to stay active.
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There is growing research for the role of pelvic floor physical therapy in treating male sexual dysfunction. Dysfunction can occur in any phase of the sexual response cycle, including: erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and orgasmic disorders. Many people live with sexual dysfunction and in this article we will exhibit how exercise helps sexual dysfunction.
A 2020 study found that, almost 1 in every 3 men (up to 31%) have sexual dysfunction.1 Another research article shows that erectile dysfunction (ED) is on the rise over recent years.2 Despite the large numbers, many people put off seeking assistance for these serious quality of life problems due to the sensitive nature and potential humiliation of asking a healthcare practitioner what can be done. Even though there are many prescription drugs that can alleviate symptoms temporarily, there is little focus on the causes of make sexual dysfunction and even less on lifestyle changes that might also alleviate symptoms. Erectile dysfunction is an arterial level problem, so it is no surprise that the most prevalent comorbidity of erectile dysfunction is cardiovascular disease. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
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- Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS
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Male Dysorgasmia is on the Rise
In our practice, we see many males who come in describing recent or long-term pain with orgasm or after orgasm (called dysorgasmia). It is not uncommon for a patient to come in feeling discouraged or hopeless due to their pain or sexual dysfunction. Sometimes their medical providers may have prescribed pain medication or antibiotics, or others simply don’t have a solution. But there is hope and we are here to help!
This blog covers some of the main medical or post-surgical conditions that can contribute to male dysorgasmia, followed by the benefits of pelvic floor rehabilitation or pelvic floor physical therapy to improve pain and sexual functioning.
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- Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Read on to find out more about Low Intensity Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
Low Intensity Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (LiESWT) is a research supported treatment modality that has applications for a variety of conditions such as wound healing and orthopedic conditions including sprains, strains and joint inflammation. An electrode inside a dome of water sends short, frequent sparks of energy which create soundwaves traveling through the applied tissue, causing an increase in blood flow, as well as decreased inflammation.
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Physical Therapy Can Play a Part in Effective Constipation Treatment
Constipation is a condition that affects approximately 63 million people in North America and it is the most common gastrointestinal complaint. The definition of constipation may vary depending on who you ask, however it is more than just a reduction in frequency of bowel movements.
According to the Rome IV criteria, the diagnostic criteria for functional constipation states that at least 2 of the following symptoms must have occurred for at least 6 months before diagnosis, and during the last 3 months:
- Straining during more than ¼ of bowel movements
- Lumpy or hard stools for more than ¼ of defecations
- Sensation of incomplete evacuation for more than ¼ of defecations
- Sensations of anorectal blockage for more than ¼ of defecations
- Manual maneuvers required to facilitate more than ¼ of bowel movements
- Fewer than 3 spontaneous bowel movements per week
- Loose stool rarely present without the use of laxatives
- Insufficient criteria present for IBS.
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- Sarina Karwande PT, DPT, CAFS
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When a Squatty Potty isn't Enough: How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for Hemorrhoids and Anal Fissures Can Help
Anal fissures and hemorrhoids are some of the most common causes of severe rectal pain in adults. An anal fissure is a tear near the rectum that can cause severe difficulty when defecating. Often you might see bright red blood when wiping, experience soreness around the area, and/or pain that lasts well after having a bowel movement.
Hemorrhoids are small swollen veins around the rectum and anus that can occur both internally and externally. Hemorrhoids can be either painful or painless and most often have symptoms of itching, swelling, pain and bleeding.
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- Sarina Karwande PT, DPT, CAFS
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Learn All About Childhood Bedwetting and Genetics
The average age of potty training can begin between 18mos to 3yrs and this depends on many factors of readiness including: physiological readiness, cognitive readiness, verbal readiness and motor readiness. In this article, we will assess potty-training readiness, as well as look at the underlying causes of child bedwetting and some behavioral modifications we can use to address these causes.
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- Sarina Karwande PT, DPT, CAFS
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An In Depth Look at Bladder Control for Your Child - and Yourself!
Urinary Incontinence (UI) during the 4th trimester can be a frustrating symptom, but what happens when both you and your toddler, child or teen are struggling with bladder control, or urinary or fecal incontinence? Here are just a few key tips from a pelvic health therapist to help in managing and solving these symptoms for you and your child.
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- Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Individuals affected by
What is Endometriosis ?
The tissue that lines the uterus is called endometrium. With
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Restless Legs Syndrome (or RLS)
Restless legs syndrome (or RLS) is a condition where there are uncontrollable urges to move limbs (mostly in the legs, but sometimes in the arms) that follows a circadian pattern, namely evenings/overnight when resting.
The urges usually come with unpleasant sensations such as tingling, burning, itching, or otherwise pain. Usually, it can be alleviated by movement, but as you can imagine, it can be debilitating and impair sleep, and thus the quality of life. It is common to experience mood swings, anxiety, and depression.
It is estimated that about 3.9-14.3% of the general population suffers from RLS. It is the most common movement disorder in pregnant women. There is either primary (idiopathic) RLS, or secondary (acquired) RLS due to pregnancy, renal pathologies, diabetes, hypertension, and other metabolic conditions. The two most common risk factors for RLS are iron deficiency and kidney disease.
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This month is Bladder Health awareness month and we would like to discuss with our readers a recent and significant update to the research regarding guidelines on treating Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS).
This past May, the American Urological Association (AUA) published updated clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of IC/BPS. The purpose of this guideline is to provide a “clinical framework” for best practice regarding optimal management of patients with Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome. This includes what should and shouldn’t be done for patients, and how to avoid unnecessary or harmful interventions. The previous guidelines on treating Interstitial Cystitis were published in 2014 -- 8 years ago!
So what is Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome?
Check out some of our previous articles on our sister site, FeminaPT.com for definitions and how pelvic floor physical therapy can help, including this article specific to those that have painful intercourse and Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome. In this year’s update, the author’s, experts in the field, continued to include the role of pelvic floor physical therapy in management and treatment of patients experiencing Interstitial Cystitis or Bladder Pain Syndrome. The AUA has placed pelvic floor physical therapy under the Behavioral / Non-pharmacologic Treatments category, as we are evidenced-based (research-approved) professionals providing treatments that have proven successes for Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome.
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Want to start a spin class? Afraid of returning to cycling because of knee pain or pelvic pain?
Come see one of our trained staff therapists for an assessment of your form and spin the right way.
We love biking at Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy / Femina PT! We have a Peloton bicycle used to evaluate, modify and progress spinning and cycling routines. Our clinic director/owner Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, is our in-house spinning guru. She is here to help you with your form as well as how to fit the bike properly to your body.
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May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month.
Did you know that Physical Therapists are an essential member of your interdisciplinary care team?
With life expectancy increasing it is becoming more evident that bone health and fall prevention are key to a good quality of life. Osteoporosis is defined as a decrease in bone mass or a change in the structure of the bone causing the bone to be more fragile.1 If the bone is weak there is a higher chance of a fracture (bone break). The most common areas of fractures are the hip, spine, forearm, and humerus (upper arm bone). Osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million fractures annually worldwide, affecting predominantly postmenopausal women. The probability of women, at menopause, of having an osteoporotic fracture exceeds that of breast cancer and the likelihood of a fracture is approximately 40%.2
Bone mineral density is measured through a scan called a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). It can be used to measure the bone mineral density of the whole skeleton as well as specific sites. Approximately 21% of women aged 50–84 years are classified as having osteoporosis.2
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- Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS
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Building Your Own Post-run Recovery Routine
A very important component of any running program, ranging from a 5 km (3.1 miles) race to an ultra-marathon (anything more than a marathon which is 26.2 miles), is adequate recovery.
Many people neglect this portion of their training because it doesn’t involve getting sweaty or doing high intensity intervals or weights. However, building in a solid recovery routine is crucial to helping your body bounce back after training as quickly as possible. A good recovery routine also helps prevent injury, decreased immune system function, and muscle mass loss. A recovery routine encompasses a cool-down activity, nutrition, and exercises like hatha-based yoga, foam rolling, and/or stretching the major muscle groups used during your workout. Although not discussed here, getting good quality sleep is critical to recovery as well!
My Post-run Recovery Routine:
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**This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor.
