February 2019 Newsletter
Meditation and the Pelvic Floor
We all feel varying levels of stress on a daily basis, unfortunately that stress usually leads to muscular tension. People often think that they only carry tension in the neck and shoulders because those are the areas that get sore, but commonly the pelvic floor muscles are also harboring tension.
When the pelvic floor muscles become tense you may experience pelvic pain, burning, decreased sexual arousal, constipation, and difficulty starting or maintaining the urinary stream. Oftentimes, people find themselves in a feedback loop where stress causes tension, which leads to pain, which causes more stress, and so on. There are many routes to take to addressing tension and stress: physical therapy, acupuncture, medication, stretching, or massage. Pelvic floor therapy, along with those other options, can address tension but if we aren’t able to get to the root of the stress then the tension may not subside and it may be useful to try other options. Meditation is a quick and easy way to address stress and can be a great adjunct to any of the treatments listed above.
Meditation is the act of aligning your body, spirit, and mind to gain what you desire. It’s a great tool to have in your back pocket if presented with a stressful situation. Meditation can help you to step away from the stress and work through it, preventing the heightened state from taking over and causing muscular tension. Meditation has many other positive effects on the body as well: decreasing elevated heart rate, improving sleep habits, enhancing concentration, and decreasing anxiety. Taking just ten minutes a day to meditate can make all the difference.
Guided meditation apps are a good place to start; Headspace and Calm are two great examples. Some people use these for a short while until they feel comfortable meditating on their own. Once you have the skill to drop into a meditative state you can utilize it anytime and anywhere!
When the pelvic floor muscles become tense you may experience pelvic pain, burning, decreased sexual arousal, constipation, and difficulty starting or maintaining the urinary stream. Oftentimes, people find themselves in a feedback loop where stress causes tension, which leads to pain, which causes more stress, and so on. There are many routes to take to addressing tension and stress: physical therapy, acupuncture, medication, stretching, or massage. Pelvic floor therapy, along with those other options, can address tension but if we aren’t able to get to the root of the stress then the tension may not subside and it may be useful to try other options. Meditation is a quick and easy way to address stress and can be a great adjunct to any of the treatments listed above.
Meditation is the act of aligning your body, spirit, and mind to gain what you desire. It’s a great tool to have in your back pocket if presented with a stressful situation. Meditation can help you to step away from the stress and work through it, preventing the heightened state from taking over and causing muscular tension. Meditation has many other positive effects on the body as well: decreasing elevated heart rate, improving sleep habits, enhancing concentration, and decreasing anxiety. Taking just ten minutes a day to meditate can make all the difference.
Guided meditation apps are a good place to start; Headspace and Calm are two great examples. Some people use these for a short while until they feel comfortable meditating on their own. Once you have the skill to drop into a meditative state you can utilize it anytime and anywhere!
Online Bill Pay
We now offer an online payment portal for you to make your payments safely and quickly!
Please visit www.sullivanphysicaltherapy.com/payments.html.
For more information please email:
Holly@sullivanphysicaltherapy.com
Please visit www.sullivanphysicaltherapy.com/payments.html.
For more information please email:
Holly@sullivanphysicaltherapy.com
SPT Spotlight
Lauren Miracle, Office Manager
Lauren Miracle is a proud born and raised Texan. She graduated from Texas State University- San Marcos in December of 2009 with a Bachelors of Health and Wellness Promotion. Lauren sought a position where she could help people improve their health to the fullest potential. Initially seeking to become a health educator, Lauren facilitated classes to help people quite smoking while working for a large healthcare system. It was then that Lauren found her calling in leadership and process improvement. Now she works on the administrative side to streamline operations, scheduling, and billing practices to help as many people as possible acquire treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction.
Lauren started with Sullivan Physical Therapy in August of 2012 as Patient Care Coordinator and advanced to the role of Office Manager in November of 2014. Lauren works hard to greet every patient with a smile, often by name, and overall to ensure that you have a pleasant experience at Sullivan Physical Therapy.
Lauren has a very close relationship with her family and in her spare time enjoys traveling, cooking, and reading.
Lauren started with Sullivan Physical Therapy in August of 2012 as Patient Care Coordinator and advanced to the role of Office Manager in November of 2014. Lauren works hard to greet every patient with a smile, often by name, and overall to ensure that you have a pleasant experience at Sullivan Physical Therapy.
Lauren has a very close relationship with her family and in her spare time enjoys traveling, cooking, and reading.
Upcoming Dates
February 5
UsToo Prostate Support Group: Mike Jones Memorial Chapter will be
at 7pm to 8:30 pm at St.David's South Austin Medical Center
February 9
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
February 19
Jamille and Jessica will be guest speakers for the Top Knot Squad, a podcast about motherhood by 3 local mothers. They will be interviewed about the pelvic floor and benefits of pelvic floor physical therapist.
UsToo Prostate Support Group: Mike Jones Memorial Chapter will be
at 7pm to 8:30 pm at St.David's South Austin Medical Center
February 9
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
February 19
Jamille and Jessica will be guest speakers for the Top Knot Squad, a podcast about motherhood by 3 local mothers. They will be interviewed about the pelvic floor and benefits of pelvic floor physical therapist.
Updates from the Physical Therapy Team
The physical therapy team was busy in January. Here are some highlights:
- Sullivan Physical Therapy started an instragram page. Rachel Madera will be leading this project. Please follow us @sptclinic!
- Christina McGee presented on topics of common pelvic floor complaints in pregnancy and postpartum to clients of Austin Area Birthing Center January 7 and January 22.
- Jamille Niewiara and Jessica Chastka recently interviewed Amethyst Guerrero about Neurologic Conditions and Pelvic Floor Rehab for their January episode for PT Below the Waist podcast. Amethyst discussed topics related to neurogenic bladder, bowels, and sexual health. Stay tuned for part 2.
- Becky Maidansky started writing for Sullivan Physical Therapy's new blog. She will be discussing different topics that we see at the clinic. She will be writing a new post every Monday. Please check it out at https://blog.sullivanphysicaltherapy.com/
- Kimberlee Sullivan was asked by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties to write test questions for the Women's Health (WCS). She was one of ten chosen in the specialty of women's health physical therapy to write the board exam questions for certification.
- Amethyst presented at the Austin Area Birthing Center on January 30th to talk with moms regarding common diagnoses experienced during pregnancy and post-partum and how pelvic floor PT can help.
- Rachel Madera started a 200 hour course on becoming yoga teacher trainer.
- On January 31, the therapists attending an informational session with Dr. Matthew Kaplan. We discussed difficult pelvic pain cases and went over new prolotherapy treatment to help with pelvic pain.
- Christina McGee will be going on maternity leave starting February 1, 2019. She will be home with her new baby for 12 weeks. We have hired one of our past students, Nicole Rodgers, PT, DPT, to treat Chrsitina's patients in February, March and April.
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 Thursday afternoons 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, insurance will not be accepted for visits performed at AABC.
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 Thursday afternoons 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, insurance will not be accepted for visits performed at AABC.
Please contact Sullivan Physical Therapy to learn more about this service and schedule an appointment or email christina@sullivanphysicaltherapy.com.
