March 2020 Newsletter
Dementia and Urinary Leakage
If you know someone with dementia you likely see the obvious forgetfulness: not remembering their favorite meal at the diner or having a difficult time recognizing the faces of their loved ones. But what we oftentimes overlook is how dementia can impact hygiene. Many people with dementia experience a form of bowel or bladder leakage. Sometimes it occurs because they simply can’t find the bathroom but more often than not, they are unable to feel the sensation that they need to relieve themselves. Creating a toileting schedule for your loved one can make all the difference. It is typical for the average adult to urinate every 2-4 hrs and to have at least one bowel movement daily, typically in the morning. Creating a spreadsheet that includes toileting times as well as any other events happening that day can help your loved ones to get through their day.
On the other hand, if they are having trouble navigating to the bathroom and finding their destination you can help them by implementing a few changes to the surroundings. Arrows on the floor may be utilized to mark the path to the bathroom. Light up toilet seats or colorful toilet seats can also help direct them to their target. And lastly but most importantly, if seeing their reflection in the mirror is distressing or confusing it may be helpful to cover the mirrors. If you know anyone that is having trouble getting to the bathroom or experiencing leakage on the way to the bathroom them may need pelvic floor physical therapy.
On the other hand, if they are having trouble navigating to the bathroom and finding their destination you can help them by implementing a few changes to the surroundings. Arrows on the floor may be utilized to mark the path to the bathroom. Light up toilet seats or colorful toilet seats can also help direct them to their target. And lastly but most importantly, if seeing their reflection in the mirror is distressing or confusing it may be helpful to cover the mirrors. If you know anyone that is having trouble getting to the bathroom or experiencing leakage on the way to the bathroom them may need pelvic floor physical therapy.
SPT Spotlight
Nicole Rodgers, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapist
Nicole received her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health from East Carolina University and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Elon University.
While completing her undergraduate degree, Nicole developed and conducted a research project that assessed college-aged women’s knowledge of pelvic floor, identifying a large deficit in accurate information available to the population. This sparked Nicole’s interest in pelvic health and led her to pursue a career that would help to close this gap in knowledge and positively impact the lives of both women and men. Nicole strives to work collaboratively with patients to ensure that each patient's personal goals are being met.
Nicole is a native of Wilmington, NC and has relocated to Texas to follow her passion for the field of pelvic health physical therapy. She has since fallen in love with the Austin area. Nicole enjoys cooking, walking the brushy creek trail, and going to the movies.
While completing her undergraduate degree, Nicole developed and conducted a research project that assessed college-aged women’s knowledge of pelvic floor, identifying a large deficit in accurate information available to the population. This sparked Nicole’s interest in pelvic health and led her to pursue a career that would help to close this gap in knowledge and positively impact the lives of both women and men. Nicole strives to work collaboratively with patients to ensure that each patient's personal goals are being met.
Nicole is a native of Wilmington, NC and has relocated to Texas to follow her passion for the field of pelvic health physical therapy. She has since fallen in love with the Austin area. Nicole enjoys cooking, walking the brushy creek trail, and going to the movies.
Update Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Sullivan Physical Therapy would like to assure our patients that we are being proactive regarding the announcement from the Center for Disease Control about the likely spread of the coronavirus in the United States.
We are currently in the process of developing a preparedness plan in the event that the outbreak reaches Austin. We are also monitoring the Center for Disease Control and the Department of Public Health for the most recent information.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent the coronavirus (COVID-19). As with any respiratory virus, you can protect yourself by taking everyday actions. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with this helpful information:
What is 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19)?
How is coronavirus spread?
What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
How can I prevent getting coronavirus?
Below are variety of helpful links with additional information regarding the coronavirus:
We are currently in the process of developing a preparedness plan in the event that the outbreak reaches Austin. We are also monitoring the Center for Disease Control and the Department of Public Health for the most recent information.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent the coronavirus (COVID-19). As with any respiratory virus, you can protect yourself by taking everyday actions. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with this helpful information:
What is 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19)?
- A new respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China that can cause severe illness and pneumonia in some people.
How is coronavirus spread?
- Through the air by coughing and sneezing.
- Close personal contact, like touching or shaking hands.
- Touching something that has the virus on it (like a table or glass) then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
- The symptoms for some people will be mild, like:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Some people may have severe symptoms and have to be hospitalized.
- Call your doctor if you have symptoms or questions about coronavirus.
How can I prevent getting coronavirus?
- Much like the flu, you should:
- Wash your hands often
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
- Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest
Below are variety of helpful links with additional information regarding the coronavirus:
Online Classes
Online Class: Pelvic Floor Issues Are Preventable and Treatable Educating yourself is key to understanding how...
Learn from one of the best, Christina McGee, PT, DPT!
What You'll Learn:
https://birthbabybodycourses.thinkific.com/courses/getting-to-know-your-pelvic-floor
Learn from one of the best, Christina McGee, PT, DPT!
What You'll Learn:
- Where the pelvic floor is and how it's affected by pregnancy and birth
- Tips for preparing your pelvic floor for birth
- How painful sex, peeing when coughing, core weakness, and other common postpartum problems are connected to the pelvic floor
- When kegels can help pelvic floor problems and when they are harmful
- How pelvic floor physical therapy can help pelvic floor problems whether you just had your baby or had your kids long ago
https://birthbabybodycourses.thinkific.com/courses/getting-to-know-your-pelvic-floor
Angela Dobinsky, PT, DPT, WHC will be hosting a free webinar on March 6 that will cover nutrition considerations for those with pelvic pain due to suspected or diagnosed endometriosis. The webinar will address the importance of optimizing digestive health, simple strategies to improve digestion, and the anti-inflammatory diet with a focus on all of the delicious foods to enjoy versus restrict.
While this is a live event, it will be recorded for those that cannot attend at the scheduled time. Sign up is necessary regardless if you plan to attend live or have the recorded version sent to you.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nutrition-for-endometriosis-tickets-93553818991
While this is a live event, it will be recorded for those that cannot attend at the scheduled time. Sign up is necessary regardless if you plan to attend live or have the recorded version sent to you.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nutrition-for-endometriosis-tickets-93553818991
Research Roundup
Pregnancy-related deaths decline across health settings
The rate of US women with pregnancy-related deaths in inpatient settings dropped by 20% between 2003 and 2016, while the prevalence of maternal mortality in the emergency department or outpatient facility declined by 24% during the same period, according to a study presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting. However, researchers found significant pregnancy-related death increases in other settings, especially in the home.
Cervical cancer may be eliminated in a century, studies predict
Adequate human papillomavirus vaccination may prevent 61 million cervical cancer cases in low- and middle-income nations by 2120, and countries with successful HPV immunization implementation may completely eradicate cervical cancer from 2055 to 2102, researchers at the World Health Organization Cervical Cancer Elimination Modeling Consortium reported in The Lancet. Another study by the same researchers in the same journal predicted a 34.2% lower cervical cancer mortality rate by 2030 in countries with twice-lifetime screening measures.
General anesthesia in cesarean tied to depression risk
A study in Anesthesia & Analgesia found that the use of general anesthesia in cesarean deliveries was linked to a 54% increase in postpartum depression, as well as a 91% increased risk of suicidal ideation or self-inflicted injury, compared with neuraxial anesthesia. "If confirmed, these preliminary findings underscore the need to avoid the use of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery whenever possible, and to provide mental health screening, counseling, and other follow-up services to obstetric patients exposed to general anesthesia," the researchers wrote.
GDM, preeclampsia may increase risk for obesity in youths
A study published in the Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics showed that children whose mothers had gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia were more likely to have a consistent increase in body mass index over time and larger BMI values, signifying a heightened risk for obesity. The findings, based on data from children of 356 women, also showed that the upward BMI trajectory was more apparent for children whose mothers had both GDM and preeclampsia, compared with those whose mothers had only one of the conditions.
The rate of US women with pregnancy-related deaths in inpatient settings dropped by 20% between 2003 and 2016, while the prevalence of maternal mortality in the emergency department or outpatient facility declined by 24% during the same period, according to a study presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting. However, researchers found significant pregnancy-related death increases in other settings, especially in the home.
Cervical cancer may be eliminated in a century, studies predict
Adequate human papillomavirus vaccination may prevent 61 million cervical cancer cases in low- and middle-income nations by 2120, and countries with successful HPV immunization implementation may completely eradicate cervical cancer from 2055 to 2102, researchers at the World Health Organization Cervical Cancer Elimination Modeling Consortium reported in The Lancet. Another study by the same researchers in the same journal predicted a 34.2% lower cervical cancer mortality rate by 2030 in countries with twice-lifetime screening measures.
General anesthesia in cesarean tied to depression risk
A study in Anesthesia & Analgesia found that the use of general anesthesia in cesarean deliveries was linked to a 54% increase in postpartum depression, as well as a 91% increased risk of suicidal ideation or self-inflicted injury, compared with neuraxial anesthesia. "If confirmed, these preliminary findings underscore the need to avoid the use of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery whenever possible, and to provide mental health screening, counseling, and other follow-up services to obstetric patients exposed to general anesthesia," the researchers wrote.
GDM, preeclampsia may increase risk for obesity in youths
A study published in the Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics showed that children whose mothers had gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia were more likely to have a consistent increase in body mass index over time and larger BMI values, signifying a heightened risk for obesity. The findings, based on data from children of 356 women, also showed that the upward BMI trajectory was more apparent for children whose mothers had both GDM and preeclampsia, compared with those whose mothers had only one of the conditions.
New Health App
Have you ever dealt with stigmas living with a health condition/ disability? Have you ever wondered what works for people with your health condition? Or how they made empowered decisions with their health battle? If yes, Riley is the app for you! Riley (Riley App) is a recently launched IOS mobile App where patients with the same age, passions and health experiences connect on a one-to-one basis.
After you download the app, you’ll build a profile containing information such as age, location, hobbies, medical conditions, and the topics you’d like to discuss with matches.
The app is filtered by health condition, so if you choose “Lyme disease,” you’ll be matched with other Lyme-diagnosed folks in the area; if you choose a general “chronic disease” category, you’ll be matched with others experiencing chronic illness. Medical conditions range from learning disabilities, cancer, rare diseases, to infertility.
Riley App was inspired after Elizabeth Tikoyan's( Founder and CEO of Riley) decade long health battle. She was 15 when her health battle started, and it was difficult for her to find other patients of a similar age going through the same experiences as she was. She realized she wasn't the only one who felt this way, so she founded Riley App.
Doctors give you a medical diagnosis, but they can’t tell you how to deal with social issues like dating with a health issue or going to work and telling your colleagues, and that's where Riley App comes in. The app will be a platform to connect patients looking for these kinds of discussions and advice.
We are excited to connect the largest minority in the world and change the stigma around life with a health condition/ disability one swipe at a time! We would love to have you join our Riley family if you would like to meet others in your shoes and finally feel empowered through your health battle with a community that gets you!
After you download the app, you’ll build a profile containing information such as age, location, hobbies, medical conditions, and the topics you’d like to discuss with matches.
The app is filtered by health condition, so if you choose “Lyme disease,” you’ll be matched with other Lyme-diagnosed folks in the area; if you choose a general “chronic disease” category, you’ll be matched with others experiencing chronic illness. Medical conditions range from learning disabilities, cancer, rare diseases, to infertility.
Riley App was inspired after Elizabeth Tikoyan's( Founder and CEO of Riley) decade long health battle. She was 15 when her health battle started, and it was difficult for her to find other patients of a similar age going through the same experiences as she was. She realized she wasn't the only one who felt this way, so she founded Riley App.
Doctors give you a medical diagnosis, but they can’t tell you how to deal with social issues like dating with a health issue or going to work and telling your colleagues, and that's where Riley App comes in. The app will be a platform to connect patients looking for these kinds of discussions and advice.
We are excited to connect the largest minority in the world and change the stigma around life with a health condition/ disability one swipe at a time! We would love to have you join our Riley family if you would like to meet others in your shoes and finally feel empowered through your health battle with a community that gets you!
Updates from the Physical Therapy Team
In February...
Kimberlee Sullivan traveled to meet with other Women's Health Physical Therapy Experts to discuss pelvic floor physical therapy at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting in Denver, Colorado.
Christina recorded a podcast episode for Mom Genes on topics of pregnancy and postpartum pelvic health and the role of pelvic floor physical therapy. Stay tuned for the link...
Jamille and Jessica posted two podcasts for the month of February. One was an interview with Heather Edwards, a pelvic floor physical therapist, who also holds a certificate in Sexuality Counseling and Sexuality Education and is the founder of website vinoandvulvas.com. The other was an interview with Susan Clinton, a physical therapist and co-owner of Embody PT in Pennsylvania. They discussed gut health and it's relationship to the pelvic floor.
Kimberlee Sullivan traveled to meet with other Women's Health Physical Therapy Experts to discuss pelvic floor physical therapy at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting in Denver, Colorado.
Christina recorded a podcast episode for Mom Genes on topics of pregnancy and postpartum pelvic health and the role of pelvic floor physical therapy. Stay tuned for the link...
Jamille and Jessica posted two podcasts for the month of February. One was an interview with Heather Edwards, a pelvic floor physical therapist, who also holds a certificate in Sexuality Counseling and Sexuality Education and is the founder of website vinoandvulvas.com. The other was an interview with Susan Clinton, a physical therapist and co-owner of Embody PT in Pennsylvania. They discussed gut health and it's relationship to the pelvic floor.
Upcoming Dates
March 3
UsToo Prostate Support Group: Mike Jones Memorial Chapter will be
at 7pm to 8:30 pm at St.David's South Austin Medical Center.
March 14
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
March 14
Angela Dobinsky will be doing a Nutrition for Endometriosis talk at the Townlake YMCA from 12:45-2:00pm.
UsToo Prostate Support Group: Mike Jones Memorial Chapter will be
at 7pm to 8:30 pm at St.David's South Austin Medical Center.
March 14
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
March 14
Angela Dobinsky will be doing a Nutrition for Endometriosis talk at the Townlake YMCA from 12:45-2:00pm.
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, the only insurance accepted at AABC is Blue Cross Blue Shield, however we will give you a receipt for you to submit to your insurance companies.
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, the only insurance accepted at AABC is Blue Cross Blue Shield, however we will give you a receipt for you to submit to your insurance companies.
Please contact Sullivan Physical Therapy to learn more about this service and schedule an appointment or email christina@sullivanphysicaltherapy.com.
