Cancer can start in the cervix, uterus, rectum, or bladder and spread to the vagina. A typical treatment is radiation therapy which kills cancer cells directly. Pelvic radiation therapy can result in radiation-induced vaginal stenosis (VS), a common side effect of radiation therapy. Your vagina can narrow or stick together due to adhesions and scarring…
People experiencing urinary incontinence often turn to extreme measures to avoid uncomfortable or embarrassing situations, including limiting their fluid intake overall. Although it might seem logical, drinking less throughout the day is not the answer. Restricting your water intake will not make you pee any less. In fact, you may feel like you have to…
People consider addressing behavior when their choices lead to unwanted consequences. Eating too many sugary sweets today may lead to kidney disease tomorrow. That extra glass of wine can result in you wetting your pants by morning. And dehydration can lead to constipation. In order to improve your condition, you must decide to change behaviors…
Are you part of Team “I’ve tried Kegels, and it doesn’t work for me?” Then you need to schedule a thorough functional assessment to ensure you are not overloading your pelvic floor tissues with unnecessary work. And to also rule out hypertonic (or tight) pelvic floor muscles. If you don’t, then over time, you could…
Starting a pelvic floor muscle training program is highly encouraged to benefit individuals with incontinence issues and is supported by the scientific community. But, what happens when incorporating an exercise program at home is not enough? Often, people quit their prescribed pelvic floor muscle training program prematurely for many reasons: Education Age Incontinence severity Memory…
How does breathing affect your pelvic floor? The act of breathing seems so simple since it’s a practice we’ve all experienced since birth. Even when you’re not paying attention, you draw air into your lungs automatically and rhythmically. Your diaphragm contracts down into your abdomen, which creates a domino effect of expansion around your core…
Recent studies have examined how diaphragm muscle training is as effective as abdominal muscle training and pelvic floor muscle training to reduce pelvic floor dysfunction. Let’s explore some exercises that you can incorporate breathing in to help address your core areas by reducing strain or providing a gentle stretch across your pelvic floor. You want…
An estimated 3 million men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, making prostate cancer one of the most frequently diagnosed forms of cancer in the United States. Prostate cancer survival rates are nearly excellent, meaning more men live longer after treatment. However, too often, the negative effects of treatment go ignored. Men…
Written by Dr. Charlotte Singletary, PT, DPT As a cancer survivor, you persevered through hardship and trauma. While that is definitely something worth celebrating, part of you may feel like something is still “off”. You may not feel like the same person you once were. You may be experiencing lingering side effects from treatment…
Breastfeeding Body Mechanics There are a lot of new feelings and emotions that come with a new baby. There will also be a lot of new aches, pains and sensations you didn’t have before while performing everyday tasks. For example, you’ll feed your new baby an average of 8-12 times every day. That’s a lot…