November 2021 Newsletter
Helpful tips for Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are defined as swollen veins in the lower rectum. Internal hemorrhoids are usually painless but tend to bleed. External hemorrhoids may cause pain. Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen veins in your anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins.
Hemorrhoids are an unfriendly foe that many experiences at some point in their lifetime. The best treatment is taking preventative measure by knowing what to look out for and what habits to alter.
Things that can be helpful for treating a hemorrhoid:
Hemorrhoids are an unfriendly foe that many experiences at some point in their lifetime. The best treatment is taking preventative measure by knowing what to look out for and what habits to alter.
- Proper body mechanics on the toilet can help with easier evacuation of stool with deceasing strain on internal pelvic floor muscles. Using a squatty potty is helpful to position knees above hips which helps open the rectum, allowing for smoother evacuation.
- Keeping stool soft by drinking adequate amounts of fluids throughout the day and adding enough fiber to your daily diet.
- When lifting avoid holding your breath, this puts a lot of pressure and strain on pelvic floor muscles. Exhale with exertion whenever you are lifting to allow abdominal pressure to work in your favor instead of against.
Things that can be helpful for treating a hemorrhoid:
- Using coconut oil around anal opening prior to defecation to improve the ease of evacuation with less pain.
- Placing an ice pack over anal opening when laying on your stomach can help with vasoconstriction which can decrease inflammation and decrease pain levels.
- Using hemorrhoid cream that can be purchased over the counter that can help decrease pain levels. Check with your medical doctor to make sure this is right for you.
- Addressing pelvic floor muscle tension with specific pelvic floor stretches.
SPT Spotlight
Megan Kalinich, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapist
Megan Kalinich received a Bachelor of Science in Biology & Society from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Creighton University in Omaha, NE.
Megan has had an interest in pelvic health physical therapy from the beginning of her physical therapy education as she pursued additional academic training during her physical therapy schooling at Creighton University. She has worked at multiple practices in the Austin area where she was able to develop her skills in both pelvic and orthopedic physical therapy. Throughout this time, her passion has continued to grow for the pelvic health population. She enjoys assisting her patients in overcoming their symptoms and helping them to become empowered through knowledge.
Megan is originally from Flagstaff, Arizona where she met her husband. They love hiking, camping, cooking, and getting outdoors as often as possible.
Megan has had an interest in pelvic health physical therapy from the beginning of her physical therapy education as she pursued additional academic training during her physical therapy schooling at Creighton University. She has worked at multiple practices in the Austin area where she was able to develop her skills in both pelvic and orthopedic physical therapy. Throughout this time, her passion has continued to grow for the pelvic health population. She enjoys assisting her patients in overcoming their symptoms and helping them to become empowered through knowledge.
Megan is originally from Flagstaff, Arizona where she met her husband. They love hiking, camping, cooking, and getting outdoors as often as possible.
Return to Running Program
The life of a parent with a newborn can make it challenging to find the time and money to come to appointments weekly. We wanted to create something that would be more cost-effective and time-efficient without impacting the quality of care. We are in the process of creating a self-paced tool for our postpartum population that wants to return to exercise/running safely. We would greatly appreciate you filling out a survey to understand better what could be beneficial for our postpartum population. Thank you for being a part of improving our project.
GALS Push It Weekend
The Second Annual GALS PUSH IT: WKND OF FUN is here! It's time to be in community and celebrate together.
Register for the whole weekend (includes goodybag and entrance to the Birth as a Human Right event).
Register HERE
Giving Austin Labor Support (GALS) is an official 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization serving Austin, Texas for more than a decade. We seek to provide emotional and physical support to families during their birth experience. Our community can always count on us to provide:
Sullivan Physical Therapy's Jenny Rogers, PT, DPT will be hosting a webinar on return to running on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 11 am. Many postpartum people struggle with returning to running and exercise with any level of comfort or ease. Many people do not feel they have enough information to return to exercise when they are cleared at their 6 weeks follow-up appointment. Donate $20 to join her for a 30-minute presentation over returning to exercise and running postpartum, exercises involved, and how to do so safely. Here is the link for Jenny's webinar.
For more information about GALS.
Thank you for supporting Central Texas families and ensuring everyone has access to doula support. Together, we are improving birth outcomes and ensuring no one gives birth alone!
Register for the whole weekend (includes goodybag and entrance to the Birth as a Human Right event).
Register HERE
Giving Austin Labor Support (GALS) is an official 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization serving Austin, Texas for more than a decade. We seek to provide emotional and physical support to families during their birth experience. Our community can always count on us to provide:
- Dependability - If you call us during your birth, we are there. No questions asked.
- Unconditional Support - We provide care and encouragement to any family who needs it.
- Consistency - Quality services are always provided from trained birth companions.
Sullivan Physical Therapy's Jenny Rogers, PT, DPT will be hosting a webinar on return to running on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 11 am. Many postpartum people struggle with returning to running and exercise with any level of comfort or ease. Many people do not feel they have enough information to return to exercise when they are cleared at their 6 weeks follow-up appointment. Donate $20 to join her for a 30-minute presentation over returning to exercise and running postpartum, exercises involved, and how to do so safely. Here is the link for Jenny's webinar.
For more information about GALS.
Thank you for supporting Central Texas families and ensuring everyone has access to doula support. Together, we are improving birth outcomes and ensuring no one gives birth alone!
Updates from the Physical Therapy Team
- October 4, Traci W. Pirri, LCSW-S, EMDR-CI from Hope for the Journey spoke to the physical therapists about trauma informed care and what they can do to help their patients who have suffered from trauma.
- On October 6, Christina McGee presented virtually to KidWorks physical and occupational therapists on topics of pediatric bladder and bowel dysfunction.
- On October 21, we said goodbye to Nicole Rodgers, PT, DPT. We wish her the best of luck as she moves closer to home.
- On November 5 at 7 am, our schedules will be open through June of 2021.
- After November 12, 2021, Krista Turner, PT, DPT will be treating patients at Hill Country Memorial on801 Steve Hawkins Parkway Marble Falls, Texas 78654.
- On November 25 and 26, our clinics will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Defend your rights - Sign a petition
From Intimate Rose:
Our health is under attack. Amazon is pushing essential tools like pelvic floor wands and kegel weights into the shadows with their latest policy. We need your help to reverse this decision.
Starting November 15th, Amazon, the world’s largest marketplace, will begin mislabeling these medical devices as “adult products” or “sex toys”. This decision will have a massive impact on consumers’ ability to access safe FDA-cleared pelvic health solutions.
Pelvic floor conditions touch 1 in 3 people at some point in their lifetime. From poor bladder control to discomfort with tampon use and even painful intimacy, pelvic health symptoms are all too common. While many of these symptoms and conditions are treatable, restricted access to pelvic health solutions delays treatment and prolongs suffering.
We deserve the right to safely and conveniently locate medical devices without unnecessary exposure to sexually explicit products.
By grouping pelvic wands and kegel weights into the same category as sex toys, Amazon has taken a stand against the health of people with vaginas.
In our journey as a provider of pelvic health solutions, we have seen our products inspire hope, create new beginnings and restore lives. The testimonies of thousand and thousand of people shed light on how important this work is. Pelvic health has been a taboo topic for far too long. We can’t allow Amazon to silence us now.
And we won’t stop fighting for them.
There’s too much at stake to stay quiet about these discriminatory policies. We should be able to easily access safe, FDA-cleared products.
We need your support – women, people with vaginas, clinicians, pelvic therapists, allies, anyone ready to take a stand. We hope you’ll join us in this fight.
Our health is under attack. Amazon is pushing essential tools like pelvic floor wands and kegel weights into the shadows with their latest policy. We need your help to reverse this decision.
Starting November 15th, Amazon, the world’s largest marketplace, will begin mislabeling these medical devices as “adult products” or “sex toys”. This decision will have a massive impact on consumers’ ability to access safe FDA-cleared pelvic health solutions.
Pelvic floor conditions touch 1 in 3 people at some point in their lifetime. From poor bladder control to discomfort with tampon use and even painful intimacy, pelvic health symptoms are all too common. While many of these symptoms and conditions are treatable, restricted access to pelvic health solutions delays treatment and prolongs suffering.
We deserve the right to safely and conveniently locate medical devices without unnecessary exposure to sexually explicit products.
By grouping pelvic wands and kegel weights into the same category as sex toys, Amazon has taken a stand against the health of people with vaginas.
In our journey as a provider of pelvic health solutions, we have seen our products inspire hope, create new beginnings and restore lives. The testimonies of thousand and thousand of people shed light on how important this work is. Pelvic health has been a taboo topic for far too long. We can’t allow Amazon to silence us now.
- We’re fighting for new parents trying to recover from childbirth.
- We're fighting for cancer survivors hoping to recover their pelvic health.
- We’re fighting for sexual assault victims working through their trauma.
And we won’t stop fighting for them.
There’s too much at stake to stay quiet about these discriminatory policies. We should be able to easily access safe, FDA-cleared products.
We need your support – women, people with vaginas, clinicians, pelvic therapists, allies, anyone ready to take a stand. We hope you’ll join us in this fight.
To sign the petition please click here.
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