December 2018 Newsletter
To belly band or not to belly band?
That’s the question! And it’s a good one. Those with a diastasis recti (DRA) or a separation of their abdominal muscles are probably asking themselves this question. Let’s start with what is a belly band? A belly band is an abdominal brace that is used to approximate the muscles to decrease their separation. Why is that important? When there is a gap between the abdominal muscles it puts them on a stretch, which makes it difficult for the muscles to contract properly. The abdominal muscles function best when they are running straight from the rib cage to the pubic bone. Not only are the muscles not as strong but this can create a bit of abdominal pooching.
So we want the abdominal muscles to be strong and we know that they are strongest when there is no separation between them. The muscle that we want to strengthen is the transverse abdominus (TrA) because tightening this deep core stabilizer brings the other abdominal muscles together, decreasing their separation. You activate this muscle without thinking when doing normal tasks like walking or moving your arms and legs. Sometimes after child birth, this muscle needs to be retrained, and your therapist may work with you on contracting your TrA before specific movements or exercises. If you have a diastasis recti, talk to your therapist about what exercises are right for you!
Now, back to the belly band. (To be fair, there are many different types of braces for a DRA, like the FitSplint, your physical therapist can help you decide which one is right for you). What the brace does is it brings the muscles closer together so that when you do use your abdominal muscles they are in the right place and will function appropriately. This should help you feel stronger when your need to use your abdomen to perform activities like daily chores or exercise. Using your abdominal muscles in the position that they should be in (with no gap) teaches the muscles to stay in that position.
Not everyone needs a belly band or a FitSplint to correct their DRA. It can depend on the severity of the DRA and relating symptoms. Ask your therapist if some sort of abdominal brace is appropriate for you!
So we want the abdominal muscles to be strong and we know that they are strongest when there is no separation between them. The muscle that we want to strengthen is the transverse abdominus (TrA) because tightening this deep core stabilizer brings the other abdominal muscles together, decreasing their separation. You activate this muscle without thinking when doing normal tasks like walking or moving your arms and legs. Sometimes after child birth, this muscle needs to be retrained, and your therapist may work with you on contracting your TrA before specific movements or exercises. If you have a diastasis recti, talk to your therapist about what exercises are right for you!
Now, back to the belly band. (To be fair, there are many different types of braces for a DRA, like the FitSplint, your physical therapist can help you decide which one is right for you). What the brace does is it brings the muscles closer together so that when you do use your abdominal muscles they are in the right place and will function appropriately. This should help you feel stronger when your need to use your abdomen to perform activities like daily chores or exercise. Using your abdominal muscles in the position that they should be in (with no gap) teaches the muscles to stay in that position.
Not everyone needs a belly band or a FitSplint to correct their DRA. It can depend on the severity of the DRA and relating symptoms. Ask your therapist if some sort of abdominal brace is appropriate for you!
SPT Spotlight
Tammy Sanchez, Patient Care Coordinator
Tammy was born and raised near the beaches of South Padre Island, TX. She graduated from Texas State University – San Marcos with a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology. With her degree and job experiences, Tammy developed a strong passion for helping others and making sure people of all backgrounds feel welcomed and cared for.
After growing up by the beach, Tammy is most at peace by the water. Her hobbies include fishing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Although her dog, Bailey, is not as thrilled about water activities, he loves being by her side for any hiking adventure. The more rocks to jump off of the better for him.
Tammy is a new addition to the Sullivan Physical Therapy family, and she is eager to get to know her new colleagues as well as the wonderful patients that walk through our doors.
After growing up by the beach, Tammy is most at peace by the water. Her hobbies include fishing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Although her dog, Bailey, is not as thrilled about water activities, he loves being by her side for any hiking adventure. The more rocks to jump off of the better for him.
Tammy is a new addition to the Sullivan Physical Therapy family, and she is eager to get to know her new colleagues as well as the wonderful patients that walk through our doors.
2019 Insurance
Will you have the same insurance next year, or a new insurance? Our Front Office Team will be working hard to make the new year transition go as smoothly as possible. Please help us by letting us know what insurance plan you will have next year. If you will have a new insurance plan, please provide the details to us as soon as you have them rather than waiting until your first visit of the new year. You can provide them in person, over the phone, or by email. We will need your insurance company name, claims address, member ID, group number, subscriber information (if spouse or parent, their name and date of birth), and provider contact phone number for the plan.
If you are changing plans, please be sure to reach out to your insurance company to ensure that we are a provider in your network. If we are out of network with your insurance, or if you have a new plan but do not have the details available to provide to us, we will need to proceed upon a self pay basis.
For more information please email:
Holly@sullivanphysicaltherapy.com
If you are changing plans, please be sure to reach out to your insurance company to ensure that we are a provider in your network. If we are out of network with your insurance, or if you have a new plan but do not have the details available to provide to us, we will need to proceed upon a self pay basis.
For more information please email:
Holly@sullivanphysicaltherapy.com
Upcoming Dates
December 3
The physical therapists' schedules will open for January, February, and March. All patients are welcome to schedule. If you are unsure of what frequency to schedule your appointments, please talk to your physical therapist.
December 4
Kimberlee Sullivan will be teaching the physical therapist assistant students at South University about pelvic floor physical therapy.
December 4
UsToo Prostate Support Group: Mike Jones Memorial Chapter will be
at 7pm to 8:30 pm at St.David's South Austin Medical Center
December 7 - 9
Amethyst Guerrero will be taking Neurologic Conditions and Pelvic Floor Rehab in Philadelphia. This class will specifically focus on bowel, bladder and sexual function for people with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson Disease and Spinal Cord Injury.
December 8
Pelvic Pain Support Group 10 to 11:15 am 4131 Spicewood Springs Road Suite M-1 Austin, Texas 78759
RSVP prior to joining the group: brittanyneece@gmail.com or 512-814-6027
December 8 -9
Rachel Madera and Becky Maidansky are taking a course in Denver. It is titled "Top Down Bottom Up" looking at lower extremity and foot biomechanics and its relationship to dysfunction.
December 11
Kimberlee Sullivan will be teaching a class at South University about business management.
December 24 -28
Sullivan Physical Therapy will be closed for the holidays.
The physical therapists' schedules will open for January, February, and March. All patients are welcome to schedule. If you are unsure of what frequency to schedule your appointments, please talk to your physical therapist.
December 4
Kimberlee Sullivan will be teaching the physical therapist assistant students at South University about pelvic floor physical therapy.
December 4
UsToo Prostate Support Group: Mike Jones Memorial Chapter will be
at 7pm to 8:30 pm at St.David's South Austin Medical Center
December 7 - 9
Amethyst Guerrero will be taking Neurologic Conditions and Pelvic Floor Rehab in Philadelphia. This class will specifically focus on bowel, bladder and sexual function for people with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson Disease and Spinal Cord Injury.
December 8
Pelvic Pain Support Group 10 to 11:15 am 4131 Spicewood Springs Road Suite M-1 Austin, Texas 78759
RSVP prior to joining the group: brittanyneece@gmail.com or 512-814-6027
December 8 -9
Rachel Madera and Becky Maidansky are taking a course in Denver. It is titled "Top Down Bottom Up" looking at lower extremity and foot biomechanics and its relationship to dysfunction.
December 11
Kimberlee Sullivan will be teaching a class at South University about business management.
December 24 -28
Sullivan Physical Therapy will be closed for the holidays.
Updates from the Physical Therapy Team
Here are some updates from the physical therapy team.
- Rachel Madera and Jamille Niewiara did a presentation on November 16, 2018 for Pregnancy and Post Partum Health Alliance to volunteer doulas.
- On November 3-4, 2018, Jamille Niewiara and Jessica Chastka taught their Diving into the Pelvic Floor class at Texas Women’s University in Houston. Anissa Akrout acted as a teaching assistant. It was a great class that introduced pelvic floor physical therapy to students and physical therapists interested in pursuing this field.
- Rachel Madera will be decreasing her days at the clinic to Mondays and Tuesdays starting January 7, 2019.
- Christina McGee will be going on maternity leave in February 2019. We have hired Nicole Rogers, PT to help while Christina is taking care of her family. Nicole will start shadowing Christina and meeting patients in January. Rachel Madera will be seeing patients at the Austin Area Birthing Center in Christina's absence.
PT Below the Waist
Jamille Niewiara and Jessica Chastka are co-hosts of Sullivan Physical Therapy's podcast called "PT: Below the Waist", a patient oriented podcast discussing topics related to pelvic floor physical therapy and how it addresses bladder, bowel, and sexual function issues. The podcast features two pelvic floor physical therapists casually conversing about their experiences and thoughts towards pelvic floor related issues.
Every few weeks, they will be posting podcasts about different diagnoses, tips/recommendations to address symptoms, and interviews with medical professionals. Subscribe to their podcast on iTunes, follow them on Twitter @PTBelowTheWaist, and like them on FaceBook. Leave comments and questions on their email: PTBelowTheWaist@gmail.com.
Sullivan Physical Therapy encourages you to listen to their podcasts and get enlightened about "Better Pee, Better Poo, Better Sex".
To listen to our latest podcast please click here.
Every few weeks, they will be posting podcasts about different diagnoses, tips/recommendations to address symptoms, and interviews with medical professionals. Subscribe to their podcast on iTunes, follow them on Twitter @PTBelowTheWaist, and like them on FaceBook. Leave comments and questions on their email: PTBelowTheWaist@gmail.com.
Sullivan Physical Therapy encourages you to listen to their podcasts and get enlightened about "Better Pee, Better Poo, Better Sex".
To listen to our latest podcast please click here.
Sullivan Physical Therapy & Austin Area Birthing Center
Postpartum pelvic floor physical therapy is standard in some other countries, with health systems recognizing that preventative care during the crucial healing period following delivery can save women from future suffering and save the system hundreds of thousands of dollars in medications and surgeries farther down the line. Problems such as incontinence, prolapse, scar pain, diastasis recti, back or hip pain, and pain with intercourse can be addressed and eliminated or even prevented all together with a post partum evaluation and recommendations or exercises from a pelvic floor physical therapist trained in postpartum health. To this point, these services are rarely offered in the United States.
Sullivan Physical Therapy is excited to partner with Austin Area Birthing Center in creating this type of whole- person care for clients. Christina McGee PT, DPT, will be on site at Austin Area Birthing Center South Thursdays to provide physical therapy evaluations and treatments to pregnant and postpartum AABC clients to maximize health and healing and allow patients to get back to activities safely following delivery. At this time, we are only contracted with BlueCross BlueShield Insurance at this location. If you have another insurance, we would collect payment and provide you a receipt to file with your insurance.
Please contact Sullivan Physical Therapy to learn more about this service and schedule an appointment or email christina@sullivanphysicaltherapy.com.
Sullivan Physical Therapy is excited to partner with Austin Area Birthing Center in creating this type of whole- person care for clients. Christina McGee PT, DPT, will be on site at Austin Area Birthing Center South Thursdays to provide physical therapy evaluations and treatments to pregnant and postpartum AABC clients to maximize health and healing and allow patients to get back to activities safely following delivery. At this time, we are only contracted with BlueCross BlueShield Insurance at this location. If you have another insurance, we would collect payment and provide you a receipt to file with your insurance.
Please contact Sullivan Physical Therapy to learn more about this service and schedule an appointment or email christina@sullivanphysicaltherapy.com.
