Media Appearances by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT on Physical Therapy’s Role in Pelvic Floor Health, Chronic Pain and General Conditioning

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT has been a featured writer in a number of print publications, and her increasing recognition as a leading expert in her field has resulted in appearances on “Loveline with Mike and Dr. Drew“, Popsugar, Health, Cosmo, ABC and more. The demand for her expertise is on the rise as more and more folks seek to remedy the issues that Heather and her team regularly deal with.

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A Reader Wants to Know “Why Sex With My Boyfriend is Always Painful?”

I was featured in the Independent as a resource for answers to the question “How come sex with my boyfriend is always painful?” in a recent article at the website of the Irish Independent newspaper. There is a link to the full article shown below.

Heather Jeffcoat

Author: Mary O’Conor
Published: January 31 2021

I am 24 years of age and ever since I became sexually active, I have experienced a lot of pain. I don’t have any medical issues down below. I’m on a contraceptive that is an injection every three months. I dread sex every time, which I know isn’t healthy, but the pain is unbearable. I love my boyfriend and would love for this to reduce, if not stop altogether.

Please can you provide some advice on this as it has begun to take a toll on our relationship.

Mary replies: Dyspareunia, which is what painful intercourse is called, is naturally very upsetting. Vaginismus, a condition whereby the woman is unable to allow penetration at all and unable to allow even a medical examination of the vaginal area, is almost always psychological in origin, but dyspareunia often has a physical component. In your case, however, you tell me that there are no medical issues, so I assume that you have discussed all this with your doctor who hasn’t found any physical reason for your pain.

Lymphatic Massage and What it Can Do For You

When you think about getting a massage, benefits like relaxation and muscle relief may come to mind. But what about a massage that may support a stronger immune system and more muscle tone? Well, those are some of the potential benefits of a lymphatic drainage massage.

Lymphatic massage has been popularized recently as a way to reduce bloat and flush out toxins, but it’s actually been used as a medicinal practice for some time. And unlike some overhyped beauty and wellness treatments, there’s actually a good amount of science behind lymphatic massage. To get the scoop, mbg tapped a few experts to learn about the technique, and if it’s actually legitimate.

Byrdie Calls on Heather Jeffcoat on Stretching Post-Workout

The website Byrdie has garnered quite a following thanks to their informative, well written content on all things related to women’s health and beauty. In this recent article they reached out to our own Heather Jeffcoat, DPT for her expert advice on how to improve the effectiveness of your pre- and post-workout regimen with a few simple stretching tips.

The article begins:

We naturally do it first thing in the morning, reaching high and long into the air to rid our body of tension and stress, yet many of us skip the stretching portion of our workout, promising to do it next time. Love it or hate it, stretching is an essential component for many in leading a healthy and fit lifestyle.

How and why you’d want to give your vagina a workout, using the best kegel weights availalble

By Gina Vaynshtey

January 8, 2021

You’ve got your at-home workout equipment, signed up for a wellness app, and maybe even a meal kit—but what have you done for your vag lately? The best Kegel weights, as well as smart trainers and machines, exist to strengthen your pelvic floor. Unsure what the pelvic floor even is? Think of it as a hammock that supports some very important organs, like your uterus, bladder, and bowels—and keeps you from going number one or two when you have to go. The pelvic floor enables childbirth, but it’s also a major player in your sex life.

How do Kegel exercises help strengthen your pelvic floor?

Kegel exercises, whether you choose to use a product or not, can help. These exercises involve a series of contracting and relaxing your pelvic-floor muscles to help strengthen them.

The following excerpts are from an article about 9 Amazing Things Exercise After 50 Can Do for You on the highly regarded website Livestrong. They reached out to Laureen McVicker and Heather Jeffcoat for their advice on this vital topic for all of us who have reached the half century mark. A link to the full article is below.

By Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1 November 22, 2020

While exercise is important at all stages of life, it may have the most significant effect on older adults, especially those 50 and above. As you age, your body undergoes several changes, many of which are degenerative and can be debilitating to your health.

But exercise can help slow these age-related health issues or even prevent them in the first place.

Healthline reached out to Heather Jeffcoat for her advice on cycling when you’re pregnant. Read on for Heather’s expert advice.

Outdoor Cycling When You’re Pregnant – Safety Tips

Taking your cycling to the street or trails is a bit more dicey than exercising indoors. That’s because there are variables you can’t control.

Physical therapist Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, agrees.

The biggest risk with cycling outdoors is the risk of falling, leading to abdominal trauma,” she says. That’s why she advises her patients to stop cycling after their first trimester.

Self Magazine’s online staff recently reached out to select experts in the field of physical therapy, including our own Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, for their input on the best posture correctors to stop slouching. Here is a brief excerpt and a link to the full article.

Heather

October 31, 2020

8 Posture Correctors to Stop Slouching

Physical therapists share their top recommendations.

By Krissy Brady

If you’re one of the many people navigating a new home office lifestyle or spending more time at home, you may notice that your posture is suffering as a result. Maybe your body is starting to resemble a question mark due to an uncomfortable work setup or being cooped up indoors. When so much of your daily grind is spent in front of a screen or hovered over a phone, without enough breaks in between, it’s easy to develop the tendency to round and slump your shoulders (which, in turn, puts pressure on your spine).

Livestrong Asks Heather Jeffcoat About Outdoor Exercise Equipment

The best workouts are ones that feel more like play than hard work. And you can make your workouts more fun with some light-weight, portable equipment you can throw into a backpack or duffle back and bring with you just about anywhere.

Running Parachute

A running parachute is a great training device for stamina, muscular endurance and acceleration. Heather Jeffcoat, a physical therapist and owner of Fusion Wellness and Physical Therapy in Los Angeles, recommends using the parachute to help you perform fun and challenging resisted sprints. The faster you run, the more resistance you will feel.

Michael Castleman M.A. has written an informative article for Psychology Today about women’s options for self help when it comes to painful intercourse.

According to the landmark “Sex In America” survey (1994), sexual pain afflicts around 20 percent of American women—15 percent before menopause, 33 percent after. That’s such a shame. Except for consensual BDSM, sex should never hurt, not even the first time.

Livestrong has once again reached out to our own Heather Jeffcoat for her expertise, this time on the best seated strength workout.

In this latest article by Amada Capritto, Heather reveals some valuable tips on how to get your reps in even if your mobility is limited.

Having limited mobility can be frustrating — it might even feel fruitless to attempt strength training. But it’s important to exercise regardless of your ability level, says Heather Jeffcoat, Los Angeles-based physical therapist. With the right fitness programming, it’s totally doable.

Foam Rollers for Muscle Soreness

With over 58,000 incoming links, an Alexa global ranking of 164 worldwide, and publication in seven languages, C|Net is one of the leading voices on the web when it comes to all things tech related. Their About page reads:

“CNET tells you what’s new in tech, culture and science, why it matters, how it works and what you need.

Our global team works 24/7 to explore and explain the changing world around us. You can depend on CNET for news, commentary, analysis, features, FAQs, advice, hands-on reviews, buying guides, amazing photography and fun and informative videos.”

In this recent article they venture away from the tech world and into the land of foam rollers for yoga and targeted stretching. Of course when they went looking for authoritative voices, they tapped Heather Jeffcoat for her expert opinion:

Heather Jeffcoat at PopSugar: the Best Pilates Crunch Variation for Your Abs

In this latest article by Maggie Ryan, PopSugar once again contacted our own Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, this time for her expert opinion on a pilates crunch variation for toning your lower abs.

“I’ve been doing a lot of Pilates lately, and my abs are really liking all the new moves. One core exercise I really didn’t see coming? Pilates double toe taps, a simple crunch variation done on your back that lit up my lower abs.“

Heather Jeffcoat Provides Pilates Instructors Prowess to PopSugar

In their latest article about improving your core and achieving a flatter tummy and stronger abs through pilates, they contacted our own Heather Jeffcoat, DPT for her expert opinion:

With 189 out of 199 reviewers giving five stars, Sex Stories with Wyoh Lee is surely one of the highest rated podcasts in any genre. In Episode 60, Wyoh sits down with our own Heather Jeffcoat, DPT.

Bye-bye Pain, Hello Pleasure:

“Painful sex is great if you’re into that – but if it isn’t on purpose, Doctor of Physical Therapy Heather Jeffcoat can help you. In this episode, she explains how her work transforms sex lives of women and trans people and makes sex pleasurable – and in some cases, possible – again. We get an overview of her book, Sex Without Pain, and Wyoh bookends the talk with some sexy listener shares.”

The Best Pilates Reformers for Your Home Gym

Livestrong.com was founded by world champion cyclist Lance Armstrong. In their own words the site “provides the blueprint to simple healthy living”, and it covers a wide variety of topics that help people make better choices about their health and wellness.

While compiling information for the article linked below they reached out Heather Jeffcoat for her opinion on several topics, including the best options for Pilates reformers. To quote Heather: