In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Thea Bowler, a gynaecologist and fertility specialist with advanced training in pelvic pain, pain management, and laparoscopic surgery. Thea combines evidence-based medicine with a compassionate, whole-person approach, helping patients and practitioners understand that true healing begins with safety and awareness of the nervous system.

Alongside her is Paula Hindle, a physiotherapist and educator known for her integrative, nervous-system-informed approach to pelvic health. Paula blends movement, breath, and body connection with trauma-informed care, helping women (and the clinicians who treat them) move from protection into trust and ease.

Together, this powerhouse duo from Vera Wellness discuss the nervous system’s role in pelvic pain, and how their new resource supports both patients and practitioners. We explore what it means for clinicians to regulate themselves, how that helps prevent burnout, and why our own state directly influences patient outcomes. Unfortunately we are missing the wonderful Dr. Peta Wright, who is part of this brilliant team and founder of Vera.

This conversation is for anyone treating or living with pelvic pain — and for every practitioner who needs the reminder that you can’t pour from an empty cup.

Vera Education Links here

Enjoy!! And find her research here: Dr Laura Whitburn

If you haven't listened to or watched Part 1, head back catch up, this is our continued conversation. Jo, Tam and myself dive further into my PhD studies - looking at pelvic floor symptoms between women doing CrossFit and women only running, objectively assessing pelvic floor support in supine versus standing, and more of the ins and outs of a PhD.

We also discuss some more benefits of transperineal ultrasound in the clinic. For more info on learning this:

Lori's online courses HERE

Tam's wonderful PELVIC HEALTH COMMUNITY

Jo: The Physiotherapy Clinic

Lori's PhD THESIS!!!!

Enjoy!

We're thrilled to share our conversation with Alison Deslandes, specialist sonographer and endometriosis researcher, who's breaking down the game-changing role of ultrasound in endometriosis detection. If you are missing out on the current action at the World Congress on Endo, catch her here and stalk her on insta.

✨ In this episode, we dive into:

• How specialized ultrasound is revolutionizing endo diagnosis
• Australia's new Medicare rebate for endometriosis investigations (finally!)
• Why seeking out specialist ultrasound clinics makes all the difference for accurate assessment

For too long, women have been told their pain is "normal" or that nothing shows up on standard scans. Alison explains why specialized training and dedicated endo ultrasound clinics are crucial for getting the answers women deserve.

This is essential listening for anyone navigating an endo diagnosis, supporting someone who is, or working in women's health. Knowledge is power, and proper diagnosis is the first step toward better care.

Link in bio to listen now! 🎧

Find Ali: 

https://aliultrasound.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/aliultrasound/

https://imagendo.org.au/

#EndometriosisAwareness #WomensHealth #Ultrasound #MedicareRebate #EndoWarrior #PodcastEpisode #HealthAdvocacy #SpecialistCare #DiagnosisMatters #Australia

We explore her research, specifically exercise-based heavy lifting and pelvic organ support in Part 1 where the next episode (Part 2) discusses the use of transperineal ultrasound in physiotherapy and her research exploring assessment positions.

💡 Grounded in evidence, clinically relevant, and just the beginning...

🎥 And we’re now on YouTube! You can watch this episode there too!

Don't forget about the upcoming PB Conference in Sydney, June 13, 2025. Check it out HERE and register!

Today’s episode is a tough but important episode. We discuss female genital cutting previously known as female genital mutilation in Australia. We have had the absolute privilege of talking to Dr Greg Jenkins, who was an OBGYN at Auburn hospital when they were first confronted with women in labour who had immigrated from countries where this cultural tradition continues. They looked around for pregnancy and birth guidelines for this population of women but couldn’t find any, so went about creating them, with some exceptional outcomes for these women.  

https://ranzcog.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Female-Genital-Mutilation-FGM.pdf

In this episode, we chat with a long-time physiotherapy colleague and friend of Lori's, Heidi Mules. She shares her personal story about the birth of her daughter Sophie, risks for stillbirth, better communication during and after pregnancy, and healing. 

You can read more about Heidi's story here

Please use the following resources to help you and others:

Sands - miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death support

Still Aware - prevention-focused charity

CRE Safer Baby Bundle - for clinicians

Precious Wings - memory boxes

Born Ready

For those of you who have been listening to this podcast, you will be very familiar with previous episodes on menopause and endometriosis. You will also be familiar with her generosity - and keeping in line with that, she is giving listeners a 20% discount on her online courses until the end of August 2023 - use the code "Phpodcast" !!! 

Michelle's Website and PODCAST

The Pelvic Health Community - JOIN US NOW!

PB Endo Conference 2023

Don't forget about the upcoming Brisbane Endo conference in October - tickets selling faaaaaast:

PB Endo conference!!!!

And of course checking out The Pelvic Health Community!!!!:

https://the-pelvic-health-community.mn.co/share/M6n01bTZgpvV9J1s?utm_source=manual

The paper Jo is discussing:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30870081/

For extra knowledge in this area, you can learn from us here...

Online:

2D Transperineal Ultrasound in Females: A tool for pelvic floor physios

Face-to-face:

2D Transperineal Ultrasound in Females: A tool for pelvic floor physios

She is a wealth of knowledge, has a PhD in Sport and Exercise Science, 15 years of clinical experience in nursing and midwifery, and now the CEO and Co-founder of JunoFem – a medtech company on a mission to free women from the stigma of urinary incontinence.

Listen in as we discuss some of her research that led her to design the FemFit in addition to how it works and what it does. A revolutionary little device that is unlike any other.

Links to some things we discuss:

The Pelvic Health Community

Getting the FemFit here from Fiona!

PB Endometriosis Conference in Brisbane

ICS Conference in the T-dot 2023 - join us!!!!

Today it's the ever-growing interest in transperineal ultrasound and I (Lori) share some tips. 

PB Endo conference!!!!

For extra knowledge in this area, you can learn from us here...

Online:

2D Transperineal Ultrasound in Females: A tool for pelvic floor physios

Face-to-face:

2D Transperineal Ultrasound in Females: A tool for pelvic floor physios

Myths she addresses include:

• The Oxford scale as a measure of PFM strength
• Levator ani muscle function as a major factor in stress urinary incontinence
• Detrusor overactivity and overactive bladder as the same thing
• Caffeine as a major bladder irritant
•  Relaxin as the cause of ligament laxity in pregnancy
• Are crunches bad for the pelvic floor?

And more!

For those of you who don't know Taryn Hallam, she is one of the most brilliant women we know. Not only does she run the most comprehensive education on the pelvic floor in Australia through WHTA, she now travels world-wide and online to share this. The annual research updates are insanely popular and not to be missed. (No, this is not an ad or paid).

Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did.

Sue then turns the mic on me (Lori) to discuss my chosen professional pathway of a PhD, which leads to some great conversations.

Hope you enjoy our chat and below are some resources we discuss:

Sue's books: Pelvic Floor Recovery: Physiotherapy for Gynaecological Repair Surgery, Pelvic Floor Essentials 

Sue's blog: a must read!

WHTA courses

The Physiotherapy Clinic Education - which will be changing names soon

The brilliant Nat McConachie

APA course for pelvic health

Jo, Tam, and I take you on a vulnerability episode where we answer the following questions:

If you could tell your younger self some advice, what would it be? What do you want to give, create, be, feel, or share? What things in your past have shaped the way you see things now or go about your life?

We also share our own issues with our pelvic floor and how it has shaped some of our clinical work.

I loved this episode. It was fun and insightful and lovely to share.

Please note, they’re a couple swear words so warning before you listen with your kids.

Links:

Lori's online intro transperineal ultrasound course is here

Brisbane transperineal ultrasound workshops here (with Lori)

Sydney transperineal ultrasound workshops here (with The Physiotherapy Clinic)

Put the date in your calendar: Oct 27, 2023 for the PB Endo conference in Brisbane

LINK TO READ PAPER HERE: https://rdcu.be/cY0e2

This episode she dives into the paper, heavy weightlifting during pregnancy, what is and should be a "valsalva" for weightlifting, and much more. 

Join us for a great conversation on a much needed topic.

For more on Christina:

https://thebarbellmamas.com/

https://www.staveoff.ca/about/

https://twitter.com/c_prevett?lang=en

https://www.instagram.com/christina_prevett/?hl=en

Eloise Wellings is one of Australia’s most inspiring female athletes. She has been running since she was 10 years old, followed her dreams and competed for Australia in 2 Olympic Games in middle distance running. Eloise has also competed in multiple Commonwealth Games, most recently placing 4th in the marathon in Birmingham. You can learn more about Eloise on her website https://www.eloisewellings.com.au

Today's episode she joins Jo, Tam and I to discuss the upcoming Women In Sport Congress in Melbourne at the MCG on Aug 17-19, 2022 - a conference not to be missed, with free childcare, sponsored by Brukner & Khan (yep, THE Brukner and Khan from Clinical Sports Medicine. The book that got us all through ;) Rachel shares her background, details about the conference, details about the AIS female pelvic health initiative, and some more cool projects on the way. For those of you who can get to the MCG, be there.

Rachel's Twitter Account

Katie Kelly is a pelvic floor physiotherapist from New Brunswick, Canada. She graduated from the MSc PT program at Dalhousie University in 2010 and has been working with pelvic floor patients for over a decade. She opened her private physiotherapy practice in 2017, and co-opened ReConnect Health Centre, a women’s focused multidisciplinary health clinic in June 2020.  Katie is a guest lecturer at Dalhousie University’s School of Physiotherapy where she lectures on the topics of pregnancy and pelvic floor physiotherapy. Katie is an active contributing author to the Canadian Physiotherapy Association’s Women’s Health Division Newsletter. She has a passion for Cesarean section rehabilitation education, recently presented on this topic for the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and teaches a professional course on the subject. Katie has developed a relationship with Mount Allison University’s Sexual Health Lab where she contributes to research involving genital pain conditions. Recently, Katie has launched The Vulvar Image Collection; a resource of vulvar images used in research and education. You can find Katie in the community supporting the role of physiotherapy in pelvic health conditions, or on social media advocating for pelvic floor physiotherapy awareness.

Website: www.katiekellypt.ca, www.reconnecthealth.ca

Facebook: Katie Kelly Physiotherapy

Instagram: @ptkatiekelly

Tiktok: @katiekellypt

Website for The Vulva Image Collection:  https://embodiaapp.com/courses/1211-resource-package-the-vulvar-image-collection-katie-kelly-pt

Promo code: pelvichealthpodcast25 Good until August 1, 2022

GMI http://www.gradedmotorimagery.com

Details HERE

In today's episode, Emma so kindly shares her journey of early onset perimenopause, what she discovered in the research, and what has helped her.

Web: https://www.physiomum.co.uk

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/physiomumuk/

"Why Did No One Tell Me?" Book https://www.physiomum.co.uk/my-book

Runnung Guidelines https://blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/2019/05/20/ready-steadygo-ensuring-postnatal-women-are-run-ready/

At Your Cervix Podcast https://www.physiomum.co.uk/podcast

PelvicRoar

Active Pregnancy Foundation

Preparing for the perimenopause and menopause 

Balance app https://www.balanceapp.com

Movers & Mentors is a new book by physiotherapists Tim Reynolds and Bryan Guzski featuring the thoughts and advice from leaders in physiotherapy and movement science - a book in which I was asked to contribute to along with absolutely brilliant names, including both Julie Wiebe and Sandy Hilton. 

Tim Reynolds asked to interview me about some of my answers to very cool questions in this book and I thought it would be more fun to have Julie and Sandy join, and decided to make it even more international and exciting by inviting another brilliant physio representing the Pelvic Obstetric & Gynaecological Physiotherapy group - Biljana Kennaway.

I hope you all enjoy!!!!

Find the book HERE

Bios via link on the names above :)

Bios:

Bryan Guzski PT, DPT, OCS, MBA, CSCS (couldn't party with us for this episode) is an outpatient orthopaedic physical therapist practicing in Rochester, NY working primarily with patients with spine related issues and persistent pain. Bryan earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Ithaca College in 2014, completed an orthopaedic residency program through Cayuga Medical Center in 2015 and received his Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist certification, and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Simon Business School at the University of Rochester in 2021. 

Tim Reynolds PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Anatomy & Physiology at Ithaca College and a part-time physical therapist practicing at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, NY where he predominately treats patients with spine or lower extremity impairments. Tim earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Ithaca College in 2014 and completed both his orthopaedic residency and spine fellowship through Cayuga Medical Center, and currently helps mentor and teach in both of these programs as well. 

Lyz Evans is a co-founder of the Empowered Motherhood Program, an APA titled Womens and Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, with over 17 years experience in both the public and private sector. She is the founder of Women in Focus Physiotherapy in Sydney, and spent over 10 years working at the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney in Maternity, Oncology and Gynaecology. 

Lyz completed her Womens Health Masters through Curtin University in 2017, and as apart of her Masters has published clinical research in the International Urogynecology Journal reporting on the multifaceted longer term impacts to a woman of sustaining an Obstetric Anal Sphincter injury. 

She is also a busy mum to three young children and has an unwavering passion for armouring women with quality information to enable them to make better choices for their health. 

Kimmy Smith is the co-founder of the Empowered Motherhood Program. She is a pregnancy and postnatal exercise specialist, maternal health advocate and a proud Mum to three little girls. Kimmy was a former professional athlete and corporate lawyer. She played at the elite level for over 10 years, representing the NSW Swifts and was a member of the Australia Diamonds Squad. Drawing from her experience as a professional athlete, Kimmy is passionate about supporting women to feel strong during their pregnancy and  to return to exercise in a safe and positive way after birth. 

Health care professionals listening to The Pelvic Health Podcast can use the link to access:

• Two Week Free Trial for Health Care Professionals. 
• Links to our Find a Physio page where they can list their clinic and reach our members. 
• EMP Member Pathway 
• List of Included Content. 
• Testimonails from Women’s Health Physiotherapists using the program. 

 https://www.empoweredmother.com.au/the-EMP-for-Health-Professionals 

Other links:

WHTA - Women's Health Training Associates

ICS 2021 Melbourne (online)

Bios:

Jenny Nucifora is the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist in the Physiotherapy Led Pelvic Health Clinic at Gold Coast Health. This part time primary contact role within the urogynaecology team Clinic, was established in December 2016, to provide timely conservative management interventions as part of a strategy to reduce the urogynaecology waiting lists. Jenny continues to work part time in her private practice, Focus On Women Physiotherapy, at Benowa, Gold Coast, Queensland. She has been a Women’s Health physiotherapist for more than 25 years. Her research interests are in improving care of women with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, and the development of women’s health physiotherapists.

Janelle Greitschus is a clinical lead physiotherapist in the Pelvic Health Clinic at the QEII Jubilee Hospital, Metro South, Brisbane. This is a part time primary contact role associated with the Gynaecology, Urogynaecology, Urology and Colorectal Departments of this hospital. This clinic was established in 2016 and is designed to reduce the waiting lists of those clinical specialties by providing conservative care for patients with pelvic floor dysfunction prior to them seeing a medical specialist. Conditions included are: urinary or faecal incontinence, urogenital or rectal prolapse, obstructed defaecation or constipation. This provides a streamlined model of care following evidence based practice.

Janelle continues to work at Results Physiotherapy Private practice part-time, treating patients with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Janelle has a sessional teaching role at the Griffith University, Gold Coast and Nathan campuses teaching continence and Womens health physiotherapy in the Undergraduate and Masters of Physiotherapy programmes.

Janelle has been involved in teaching the Assessment and Treatment of the Pelvic Floor Course offered by the APA since the late 1990s until the recent introduction of the Womens, Men’s and Pelvic Health level 1 and 2 courses. She has been part of the successful research grant application “To assess the success and acceptability of a physiotherapy management program to treat urinary incontinence in indigenous women in a community based indigenous health service.”

Research:

Jenny - ResearchGate, email: jennifer.nucifora@health.qld.gov.au

Do patients discharged from the physiotherapy-led pelvic health

clinic re-present to the urogynaecology service? May 2021

Outcomes of a physiotherapy-led pelvic health clinic.

Patient Perceptions of a Group-Based Lifestyle Intervention for Overweight Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Dr. Kerac Falk is a urogynecologist (Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgeon), and recently accepted an Assistant Professor of Urogynecology position at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. He has been involved in researching recurrent UTIs, biofilm, fluid dynamics and our focus for today’s episode was based on his research as part of a founding member of the "Fellows OAB Taskforce for Treatment accessibility” advocacy group.

Recent OAB publications include:

• Menhaji K, Cardenas-Trowers OO, Chang OH, Hall EF, Ringel NE, Falk K. Anticholinergic Prescribing Pattern Changes of Urogynecology Providers in Response to Evidence of Potential Dementia Risk. Int. Urogynecol.J. Accepted for publication 1/2021, available online 3/2021, pending print.
• Escobar C, Falk K, Mehta S, et al. Rethinking Second-Line Therapy for Overactive Bladder to Improve Patient Access to Treatment. Obstet. Gynecol. 2021 Mar;137:1-8.
• Johnson TM, Goode PS, Hammontree L, Markland AD, Vaughan CP, Ouslander JG, Falk K, McGwin G, Burgio KL. An Exploratory Analysis of Tamsulosin for Overactive Bladder (OAB) in Men With Varying Voiding Symptom Burden. Urology. 2021 Jan 20:S0090-4295(21)00085-6. 
• Bennett AT, Ringel NE, Menhaji K, Brown OE, Hall EF, Cardenas-Trowers OO, Falk K, Jeney SES, Barnes H, Escobar C, Tellechea LM, Sappenfield EC, Mehta S, Chang OH. "First, Do No Harm"-Trainees' Observation of Risk Reduction in the Treatment of Overactive Bladder. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2021 Jan 1;27(1):2-4.

Enjoy and thanks again to Always Discreet for sponsoring this episode!

On behalf of the ICS Institute of Physiotherapy, I had the pleasure of interviewing Professor Paul Hodges for Episode 1 on Balancing Mobility and Stability within the #pelvicfloor and am excited to be able to share some of it here first. This episode on The Pelvic Health Podcast is only half of our discussion - you can catch the entire episode as of June 1 (2021) on the new ICS Podcast through their website and all major podcast platforms like iTunes and Spotify. The ICS Podcast series line-up is not to be missed and aims to highlight the amazing speakers in pelvic health that will be presenting at this year’s ICS Virtual Conference on October 14-17.

So sit back and get ready to be floored by only some of the wisdom of Prof Paul Hodges on concepts and research on pelvic floor muscle stiffness, movement, pain, strength and so much more. Don't forget to look for the new ICS Podcast in June to listen to the rest of this episode and so much more!

Thank you to Always Discreet for sponsoring this episode of The Pelvic Health Podcast.

In addition to treating women with DRA for years, Liz not only had a large DRA, she had a ventral hernia, and discusses the different kinds of surgeries and how her journey led her to make the surgical decision. She has such an interesting perspective as both a clinician and a patient.

Follow her visual journey on Instagram at MummyandCoPhysio 

Listen and enjoy and a big thanks to Always Discreet for sponsoring this episode of The Pelvic Health Podcast. Head to Always Discreet to learn more about bladder leak tips, management and incredible bladder leakage protection!

Please rate and leave a review on the Apple Podcast app so more people can find it and share on any social media platform, or just with your mates. 

Not only is Cath a wealth of clinical knowledge in her roles as a pelvic health physiotherapist for Queensland Health and Movements Solutions Physiotherapy in Brisbane, she was our previous Chair of the APA's Women's, Men's and Pelvic Health National Group, is the New Chair of the APA's National Advisory Council, and teaches the undergraduate Gender Health subject to physiotherapy students at Australian Catholic University in Brisbane. 

On that note, I want to say a very big thank you to Always Discreet as this entire episode has been made possible by their support.

For more than 30 years across the world, Always has been helping women with their menstruation needs thanks to its comprehensive line of period pads and liners. The brand gained global accolades for some of its previous topical campaigns, including “Like A Girl” and “End Period Poverty.”

As a brand, Always’ purpose has been to empower and help females everywhere live life to their fullest potential. Not only have they created a superior line-up of bladder leak protection products called Always Discreet, they have helped to educate women around the globe about the help from doctors and physiotherapists available for bladder leakage rather than just telling women to use their products and ignore it.

But, what makes the Always Discreet range so great?

• It’s specifically designed for incredible protection from bladder leaks (vs. menstruation needs)
• It features breakthrough technology via a super-absorbent core that turns liquid into gel and locks in odours
• Its products on the range are surprisingly thin and discreet, helping you feel more comfortable and confident going about your everyday life

Now sit back and enjoy!

She joins me today to talk about preparation around stage 2 in labour - what happens in the body, how can we help with breath and #pelvicfloor, where do physiotherapists play a role.

Links for today:

More of Anita's bio:

Anita is passionate about helping #pregnant physiotherapy clients connect more with their body including their pelvic floor plus keep you active and comfortable during pregnancy while you prepare for birth which will give you a head start on your postpartum recovery. She enjoys helping postpartum clients navigate their recovery and return to activities they love including exercise, sports and dance without pain and pelvic floor symptoms.

Anita created her Bump to Birth online course which guides you step by step to prepare you, your pelvic floor and core for birth and co hosts the To Birth & Beyond podcast to share this information to help people around the world. 

Growing up as a ballet dancer and athlete, Anita was always fascinated with how the body moved and healed. Her love for sport led her to become the team therapist for the McMaster University women’s rugby and basketball teams.

She completed her clinicial Pilates rehab training during her final physiotherapy clinical placement in Brisbane, Australia alongside working with semi-professional ballet dancers. She brought this knowledge back to Toronto to start off her physiotherapy career including becoming an on-site physiotherapist for Canada’s Ballet Jorgen and Past President of Healthy Dancer Canada, an organization that fosters and facilitates communication and collaboration among the dance community, health professionals and researchers. 

Listen and enjoy and a big thanks to Always Discreet for sponsoring this episode of The Pelvic Health Podcast. Head to Always Discreet to learn more about bladder leak tips, management and incredible bladder leakage protection!

Dr. Elliott-Sale is the Head of the Musculoskeletal Physiology Research Group at Nottingham Trent University in England and lectures in the areas of Exercise Physiology, particularly in Female Physiology, Endocrinology, Performance, and Health. She has more than 20 years of experience working with females, elite female athletes and maternal populations including expertise in regards to the design and implementation of exercise-based interventions.

Since the completion of her PhD, which examined the effects of female reproductive hormones on muscle strength, her research has concentrated on various aspects of health and athletic performance in female populations.

In this episode we cover:

• the stages of the menstrual cycle – simplified so we all understand! (CLICK HERE AND HERE FOR MENSTRUAL CYCLE PHOTOS TO FOLLOW ALONG)
• if hormonal changes influence athletic performance
• whether the research supports females training according to their menstrual cycle
• How oral contraceptives change the picture

She also recently recorded a brilliant podcast episode with BJSM so do not miss it – it’s a great compliment to this one! 

Her Twitter account @ElliottSale

Open Access Papers:

• McNulty, K.L., Elliott-Sale, K.J., Dolan, E. et al. The Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Exercise Performance in Eumenorrheic Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med 50, 1813–1827 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01319-3
• Elliott-Sale, K.J., McNulty, K.L., Ansdell, P. et al. The Effects of Oral Contraceptives on Exercise Performance in Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Med 50, 1785–1812 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01317-5

Listen and enjoy and a big thanks to Always Discreet for sponsoring this episode of The Pelvic Health Podcast. Head to Always Discreet to learn more about bladder leak tips, management and incredible bladder leakage protection!

Our guest today, Melaine Roussin, is working to change all of this. She was diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 31. As part of her recovery, she left corporate life to study and work in health and is now working on her PhD which focuses on the sexual quality of life (SQoL) for young gynae cancer survivors (YGCS). In this episode, she shares her journey and how she plans to use her research to help those affected, in addition to Girls Rocking Cancer - a cancer support community and blog at www.girlsrockingcancer.com. (Instagram + Facebook) where they celebrate women’s stories and bodies after cancer.

Other links:

melanie.roussin@research.usc.edu.au

Recruiting participants: She is currently recruiting women living in Australia who were aged 18-45 and pre or perimenopausal at their gyn cancer diagnosis for 1-on-1 interviews with her on Zoom. Study link: https://uniofsunshinecoast.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0UsbscK6D9g1DzT

Listen and enjoy and a big thanks to Always Discreet for sponsoring this episode of The Pelvic Health Podcast. Head to Always Discreet to learn more about bladder leak tips, management and incredible bladder leakage protection!

Physical therapist and academic, Aliza Rudavsky, joins me to discuss her research in this area and some very cool facts about how the #glottis works and how this can influence the pelvic floor.

Bio from her website:

A native of Pittsburgh, Aliza grew up as a dancer.  She studied modern dance in college and performed professionally for several years before going to graduate school for her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Washington in Seattle.  As a physical therapist, Aliza has specialized training in pelvic floor dysfunction and women's health PT through the Herman and Wallace Institute.  She trained as a dance PT through the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries and the Australian Ballet.  She also has unique training in physical therapy for voice dysfunction and treats both performing artists and other occupational voice users. 

Aliza completed her PhD in 2018 through the University of Copenhagen (in collaboration with Monash and Latrobe Universities in Melbourne, Australia) under the supervision of Dr. Jill Cook.  Her research involved studying tendon development in adolescent ballet dancers. She has published this research in several sports journals as well as the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science.

Currently, Aliza is an assistant professor at Penn State University where she has a split appointment in the department of Kinesiology and the School of Theatre.  In Kinesiology she teaches the athletic training students and does research, and in the School of Theatre she runs an on-site PT clinic for the musical theatre and acting students. Her current research involves connecting the pelvic floor to the vocal folds to study how they coordinate to regulate pressures in the trunk. This research is currently funded by the Foundation for PT Research-Pelvic Health Research.

Aliza is the mother of two delightful young boys with a third baby on the way.  She enjoys biking, hiking and exploring central PA with her family. 

Listen and enjoy and a big thanks to Always Discreet for sponsoring this episode of The Pelvic Health Podcast. Head to Always Discreet to learn more about bladder leak tips, management and incredible bladder leakage protection!

Sidorkewicz & McGill 2015. Documenting female spine motion during coitus with a commentary on the implications for the low back pain patient 

Tone Dahl-Michelsen, David A. Nicholls & Karen Synne Groven Approaching intimacy, sexuality and ethics in the professional training of physiotherapy students in Norway

Michael E. Metz & Barry W. McCarthy The “Good-Enough Sex” model for couple sexual satisfaction

Sheren Gaulbert was diagnosed with unprovoked vulvodynia in 1999 after a lifetime of intermittent pain and comorbid conditions. With frequent episodes of fainting as the pain worsened, and mobility affected, she stopped working altogether.

10 years on from diagnosis and unsuccessfully trialling different treatments, she stumbled across self-hypnosis and later Quest Cognitive Hypnotherapy (QCH), starting her on her journey toward freedom. Her curiosity to find out why it was working and how she could help others, led her to seek out further training for a better grounding in pain neurophysiology, and to understand best practice models from current, up-to-date treatment methodologies and pain science.

Sheren has a specialist interest in female and male pelvic pain and is now a Trustee of the Vulval Pain Society, She hosts VPS webinars with specialist vulval pain clinicians, and you will find a selection on YouTube.

Sheren is currently working on the Pelvic Pain Toolkit, which includes short information videos, with Pain Toolkit founder Pete Moore. This will be released later in 2020.

Sheren also runs CPD courses for health professionals and one-to-one mentoring for clinicians ready to learn from different modalities to provide better care. She encourages a multidisciplinary approach to pain management (and for some complete relief), and an effective treatment plan which treats the individual – the whole complex person, considering their values, beliefs, expectations, cognitive evaluations, contextual, cultural factors and more.

She is also founder of the Break Through Pain Programme: a tailored, collaborative and action-orientated approach which utilises the Cognitive Hypnotherapy framework to help each unique individual experiencing persistent pain, start living a better quality of life, more comfortably doing more of the things that give them joy.

• Sheren’s Website: https://the-ultimate-you.com/
• Sheren’s Free Resource for clinicians and patients - 7 Keys to Reducing Pain: http://the-ultimate-you.com/7KeysReducePain
• Vulval Pain Society: http://www.vulvalpainsociety.org/
• Vulval Pain Society YouTube: https://bit.ly/YouTubeVPS
• Pain Toolkit (Pelvic Pain Toolkit coming soon, this is the website for the general one): https://www.paintoolkit.org/

Enjoy, subscribe and keep moving :)

Big thanks to this episode's sponsor Always Discreet. Learn more about bladder leak tips, management and incredible bladder leak protection by checking out Always Discreet.

Aside from discussing what research we do have , the drawbacks of this limited data, and the physiology behind the effects of adequate load on connective tissue, he talks about his research into patient satisfaction with exercise programs. Just because as professionals we think someone is better, doesn't mean they feel that way. 

Bio from Arizona State University website: (see below for reference list)

David is a Lecturer and Coordinator for CHS100/300 in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University.  David earned a Doctoral degree in Health Science from A. T. Still University, Masters degree in Kinesiology from A. T. Still University, and a Bachelors degree Kinesiology from Arizona State University.  His research is primarily focused on conservative treatment modalities such as abdominal strength training for the postpartum condition diastasis recti.  David is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), a Certified Pre- and Postnatal Coach (CPPC), and Certified Level 2 Nutrition Coach through Precision Nutrition (PN2).  He specializes in pre- and post-natal training, youth athletic performance, and strength and conditioning and has over 10 years of experience in the fitness and sport performance industry. 

Reference list:

Acharry, N., & Kutty, R. K. (2015). Abdominal exercise with bracing, a therapeutic efficacy in reducing diastasis-recti among postpartal females. International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research, 3(2), 999-1005. doi:10.16965/ijpr.2015.122

Awad, M. A., Mahmoud, A. M., El-Ghazaly, H. M., & Tawfeek, R. M. (2017). Effect of Kinesio Taping on Diastasis Recti. Med. J. Cairo Univ., 85(6), 2289-2296.

Benjamin, D., Van de Water, A., & Peiris, C. (2014). Effects of exercise on diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle in the antenatal and postnatal periods: a systematic review. Physiotherapy, 100(1), 1-8. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2013.08.005

Bo, K., Hilde, G., Tennfjord, M. K., Sperstad, J. B., & Engh, M. E. (2017). Pelvic floor muscle function, pelvic floor dysfunction and diastasis recti abdominis: Prospective cohort study. Neurourol Urodyn, 36(3), 716-721. doi:10.1002/nau.23005

Boissonnault, J. S., & Blaschak, M. J. (1988). Incidence of diastasis recti abdominis during the childbearing year. Phys Ther, 68(7), 1082-1086.

Chiarello, C. M., McAuley, J. A., & Hartigan, E. H. (2016). Immediate Effect of Active Abdominal Contraction on Inter-recti Distance. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 46(3), 177-183. doi:10.2519/jospt.2016.6102

da Mota, P. G. F., Pascoal, A. G. B. A., Carita, A. I. A. D., & Bø, K. (2015). Prevalence and risk factors of diastasis recti abdominis from late pregnancy to 6 months postpartum, and relationship with lumbo-pelvic pain. Manual therapy, 20(1), 200-205.

El-Kosery, S. M., El-Aziz, A. A., & Farouk, A. (2007). Abdominal muscles exercise program and/or electrical stimulation in postnatal diastasis recti. Bull. Fac. Ph. Th. Cairo Univ, 12(2).

El-Mekawy, H. S., Eldeeb, A. M., El-Lythy, M. A., & El-Begawy, A. F. (2013). Effect of Abdominal Exercises versus Abdominal Supporting Belt on Post-Partum Abdominal Efficiency and Rectus Separation. International Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 7(1), 75-79.

Gallus, K. M., Golberg, K. F., & Field, R. (2016). Functional Improvement Following Diastasis Rectus Abdominus Repair in an Active Duty Navy Female. Military Medicine, 181(8), e952-e954. doi:10.7205/MILMED-D-15-00387

Gluppe, S. L., Hilde, G., Tennfjord, M. K., Engh, M. E., & Bo, K. (2018). Effect of a Postpartum Training Program on the Prevalence of Diastasis Recti Abdominis in Postpartum Primiparous Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Phys Ther, 98(4), 260-268. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzy008

Gluppe, S. L., Hilde, G., Tennfjord, M. K., Engh, M. E., & Bø, K. (2018). Effect of a Postpartum Training Program on the Prevalence of Diastasis Recti Abdominis in Postpartum Primiparous Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial [Article]. Physical Therapy, 98(4), 260-268. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzy008. (Accession No. 128847946)

Grgic, J., Schoenfeld, B. J., & Latella, C. (2019). Resistance training frequency and skeletal muscle hypertrophy: A review of available evidence. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 22(3), 361-370. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.09.223

Gunnarsson, U., Stark, B., Dahlstrand, U., & Strigård, K. (2015). Correlation between Abdominal Rectus Diastasis Width and Abdominal Muscle Strength. Digestive Surgery, 32(2), 112-116. doi:10.1159/000371859

Gürşen, C., İnanoğlu, D., Kaya, S., Akbayrak, T., & Baltacı, G. (2016). Effects of exercise and Kinesio taping on abdominal recovery in women with cesarean section: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 293(3), 557-565. doi:10.1007/s00404-015-3862-3

Hills, N. F., Graham, R. B., & McLean, L. (2018). Comparison of Trunk Muscle Function Between Women With and Without Diastasis Recti Abdominis at 1 Year Postpartum. Phys Ther, 98(10), 891-901. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzy083

Kamel, D. M., & Yousif, A. M. (2017). Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Strength Recovery of Postnatal Diastasis Recti Abdominis Muscles [Article]. Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine, 41(3), 465-474. doi:10.5535/arm.2017.41.3.465. (Accession No. 124103784)

Keeler, J., Albrecht, M., Eberhardt, L., Horn, L., Donnelly, C., & Lowe, D. (2012). Diastasis recti abdominis: a survey of women's health specialists for current physical therapy clinical practice for postpartum women. Journal of women’s health physical therapy, 36(3), 131-142.

Keshwani, N., Mathur, S., & McLean, L. (2018). Relationship Between Interrectus Distance and Symptom Severity in Women With Diastasis Recti Abdominis in the Early Postpartum Period. Physical Therapy, 98(3), 182-190. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzx117

Khandale, S. R., & Hande, D. (2016). Effects of abdominal exercises on reduction of diastasis recti in postnatal women. IJHSR, 6(6), 182-191.

Lee, D., & Hodges, P. W. (2016). Behavior of the linea alba during a curl-up task in diastasis rectus abdominis: an observational study. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 46(7), 580-589.

Lee, H., Kim, I.-G., Sung, C., & Kim, J.-S. (2017). The Effect of 12-Week Resistance Training on Muscular Strength and Body Composition in Untrained Young Women: Implications of Exercise Frequency. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online, 20, 88+.

Liaw, L. J., Hsu, M. J., Liao, C. F., Liu, M. F., & Hsu, A. T. (2011). The relationships between inter-recti distance measured by ultrasound imaging and abdominal muscle function in postpartum women: a 6-month follow-up study. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 41(6), 435-443. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.3507

Litos, K. (2014). Progressive therapeutic exercise program for successful treatment of a postpartum woman with a severe diastasis recti abdominis. Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy, 38(2), 58-73. doi:10.1097/JWH.0000000000000013

Michalska, A., Rokita, W., Wolder, D., Pogorzelska, J., & Kaczmarczyk, K. (2018). Diastasis recti abdominis - a review of treatment methods. Ginekol Pol, 89(2), 97-101. doi:10.5603/GP.a2018.0016

Mota, P., Pascoal, A., Carita, A., & Bø, K. (2015). Inter-recti distance at rest, during abdominal crunch and drawing in exercises during pregnancy and postpartum. Physiotherapy, 101, e1050-e1051.

Newman-Beinart, N. A., Norton, S., Dowling, D., Gavriloff, D., Vari, C., Weinman, J. A., & Godfrey, E. L. (2017). The development and initial psychometric evaluation of a measure assessing adherence to prescribed exercise: the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS). Physiotherapy, 103(2), 180-185. doi:10.1016/j.physio.2016.11.001

Parker, M. A., Millar, L. A., & Dugan, S. A. (2009). Diastasis rectus abdominis and lumbo-pelvic pain and dysfunction-are they related? Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy, 33(2), 15-22.

Thabet, A., & Alshehri, M. A. (2019). Efficacy of Deep Core Stability Exercise Program in Postpartum Women with Diastasis Recti Abdominis: A Randomised Controlled Trial (Vol. 19).

Tuttle, L. J., Fasching, J., Keller, A., Patel, M., Saville, C., Schlaff, R., . . . Gombatto, S. P. (2018). Noninvasive Treatment of Postpartum Diastasis Recti Abdominis: A Pilot Study. Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy, 42(2), 65-75. doi:10.1097/JWH.0000000000000101

Walton, L. M., Costa, A., LaVanture, D., McIlrath, S., & Stebbins, B. (2016). The effects of a 6 week dynamic core stability plank exercise program compared to a traditional supine core stability strengthening program on diastasis recti abdominis closure, pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI) and pelvic floor disability index scores (PFDI). Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, 3(1), 3. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7243/2055-2386-3-3

Youssef, A. M., Sabbour, A. A., & Kamel, R. M. (2003). Muscle Activity in Upper and Lower Portions of Rectus Abdominis During Abdominal Exercises in Postnatal Women Having Diastasis Recti. Bull. Fac. Ph. Th. Cairo Univ, 8(1).

Listen and enjoy and a big thanks to Always Discreet for sponsoring this episode of The Pelvic Health Podcast. Head to Always Discreet to learn more about bladder leak tips, management and incredible bladder leakage protection!

Listening to her has made me excited to use this option more for those who may need it, and understand so much more about parameters AND why all probes will not work for all women!

Listen and enjoy and a big thanks to Always Discreet for sponsoring this episode of The Pelvic Health Podcast. Head to Always Discreet to learn more about bladder leak tips, management and incredible bladder leakage protection!

Please rate and leave a review on the Apple Podcast app so more people can find it! 

Who better to talk to about this than Dr. Lori Brotto, not just because she has THE best name but because she has a brilliant mind and has worked in this area for years. In this episode, Dr. Brotto discusses sexual desire, this #debunkingdesire campaign as well as some of her work in #sexual #pain, such as provoked vestibulodynia (#PVD). 

Dr. Lori Brotto is a Professor in the UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and a Registered Psychologist. She is the Executive Director of the Women's Health Research Institute at BC Women’s Hospital. Dr. Brotto holds a Canada Research Chair in Women's Sexual Health. She is the director of the UBC Sexual Health Laboratory where research primarily focuses on advancing the science of psychological and mindfulness-based interventions for women’s sexual health. Dr. Brotto is an Associate Editor for the Archives of Sexual Behavior, has over 150 peer-reviewed publications, is passionate about knowledge translation, and as such, is frequently featured in the media on sexual health topics. Her book, Better Sex Through Mindfulness: How Women Can Cultivate Desire (Greystone Publishing) is a knowledge translation of her research over the past 15 years demonstrating the benefits of mindfulness for women’s sexual concerns and genital pain.

*Click on links above and below for more information!

Australian Booktopia for Better Sex Through Mindfunless

A bit more about Tom:

Originally born in England, Tom moved to Australia 15 years ago. Initially he studied audio engineering and worked in various fields of technical support and training before meeting his wife and embarking on a physiotherapy degree.

He is a newly graduated physiotherapist. As part of his undergrad he conducted an honours project where they developed a questionnaire to assess the impact of chronic pelvic pain in men. This project has sparked a passion for research, chronic pain, and men’s health. He is currently deciding on PhD topics in those areas and working on expanding his clinical skills to support his future research. He enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with his twin daughters Kate and Lily.

Links:

mPPIQ preprint on Research Gate

Abstract presentation through the Australian Pain Society

I love highlighting the work of up and coming researchers and Tayla Lamerton is a name you should keep in mind. She is in her last year as a PHD Candidate at the University of Queensland, Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences. Prior to commencing her PhD, she graduated with a Masters in Psychology from the University of Otago, NZ. She also trained as a group fitness instructor in 2013 and is now a Level 1 CrossFit trainer. Her research interests focus on understanding female pelvic floor health in young women. Specifically, how weight and physical activity are related to urinary incontinence in this demographic, and exploring methods to improve management and return or adhere to regular physical activity.

Papers:

Lamerton, T. J., Torquati, L., & Brown, W. J. (2018). Overweight and obesity as major, modifiable risk factors for urinary incontinence in young to mid-aged women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 19(12), 1735–1745. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12756

Haakstad, L. A. H., Gjestvang, C., Lamerton, T., & Bø, K. (2020). Urinary incontinence in a fitness club setting-is it a workout problem? International Urogynecology Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-020-04253-0

If you missed her last episode, head back to April 2019 to listen to her, Tom Goom and Emma Brockwell discuss their guidelines on return to running in postnatal women.

Guidelines for reprocessing ultrasound transducers 2017

Bio from her website - Absolute Physio:

Gráinne is an Advanced Physiotherapist in pelvic health. She graduated from the University of Ulster in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physiotherapy. She specialised in Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological physiotherapy in 2010 undertaking extensive post-graduate training and completing the Postgraduate Certificate in Continence Practice at the University of Bradford in 2018. Gráinne is currently completing a Masters in Advancing Healthcare at the University of Ulster and is aiming to complete this in 2020. Alongside her private practice, she continues to work part-time in the NHS where she is the team lead for the pelvic health physiotherapy service across her local health trust. Gráinne became particularly interested in the assessment and treatment of Diastasis Recti due to its prevalence and associated implications with her clients. She also teaches health and fitness professionals about the assessment and management of Diastasis Recti. Gráinne co-authored the internationally recognised "Returning to running postnatal - guidelines for medical, health and fitness professionals managing this population" as well as publishing her conference presentation "Diastasis Rectus Abdominis - physiotherapy management" from the 2018 Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy Conference. Gráinne regularly presents at conferences around the UK and Ireland on topics related to pelvic health and well-being. She uses real-time ultrasound for pelvic health and is involved in training courses for physiotherapists. Grainne is the Chair for the Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy Northern Ireland specialist interest group as well as a member of the Ulster Gynae Urology Society committee. Gráinne is also a fully certified PINC and STEEL cancer rehabilitation physiotherapist and co-founded a non-profit service in N. Ireland called SPARK Cancer Rehabilitation. She also co-founded WHITE Circle, an educational pelvic health platform to empower women to safeguard their pelvic health.

In addition to maintaining a full time private practice in Cambridge, MA, she lectures and presents courses world-wide on Pelvic Floor, Women and Men’s Health, Pregnancy and Postpartum, Orthopedics, Geriatrics and Sexual Medicine.

Holly is 1 of 2 PT’s in the world certified as a Sexuality Counselor by the American Association for Sexual Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), and one of 4 PT’s in the world certified as a Women’s Health Sexuality Fellow by the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH).

Holly co-founded the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute in 2005. Though she is no longer associated with the institute, Holly brings her own courses to the US, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Chile, Canada, Portugal, Brazil, UAE Saudi Arabia and Australia through HWHMeducation.

For her full bio, check out her website HERE.

In today's episode, Merv discusses what exactly strength training is, why it’s important for all of our bodies and how physiotherapists can get their patients started and progressing. And of course my son, Rylan, had to compete with his sister in podcast recording (and special blooper takes at the end). Check out the reference list below Merv kindly put together for us!

More about Merv...he completed his PhD at Curtin University where he also maintains an Adjunct Research Fellow role. His teaching areas include anatomy and exercise rehabilitation. He has a Masters of Manipulative Therapy and is a qualified strength & conditioning coach (Australian Strength and Conditioning Association – Level 2).

Merv’s clinical background includes working in professional rugby union and he provides clinical consultation for complex musculoskeletal conditions at Star Physio, WA.

Merv guest lectures nationally and internationally on the topics of strength and conditioning for physiotherapists and tendinopathy rehabilitation, as well as runs an international strength conditioning course for physiotherapists.

Optimise Rehab - courses for Strength and Conditioning courses for physios

Some key references pertaining to some of this things we spoke about:

Public Health and strength training:

Steele, J., Fisher, J., Skivington, M., Dunn, C., Arnold, J., Tew, G., . . . Winett, R. (2017). A higher effort-based paradigm in physical activity and exercise for public health: making the case for a greater emphasis on resistance training. BMC Public Health, 17(1), 300.

Dankel, S. J., Loenneke, J. P., & Loprinzi, P. D. (2016). Determining the Importance of Meeting Muscle-Strengthening Activity Guidelines: Is the Behavior or the Outcome of the Behavior (Strength) a More Important Determinant of All-Cause Mortality? Mayo Clin Proc, 91(2), 166-174.

Strain, T., Fitzsimons, C., Kelly, P., & Mutrie, N. (2016). The forgotten guidelines: cross-sectional analysis of participation in muscle strengthening and balance & co-ordination activities by adults and older adults in Scotland. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 1108.

Physio knowledge of guidelines:

Lowe, A., Littlewood, C., McLean, S., & Kilner, K. (2017). Physiotherapy and physical activity: a cross-sectional survey exploring physical activity promotion, knowledge of physical activity guidelines and the physical activity habits of UK physiotherapists. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 3(1)

Lifting with a neutral spine:

Saraceni, N., Kent, P., Ng, L., Campbell, A., Straker, L., & O'Sullivan, P. (2019). To Flex or Not to Flex? Is There a Relationship Between Lumbar Spine Flexion During Lifting and Low Back Pain? A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 1-50

Achilles tendon pain and loading:

Murphy, M., Travers, M., Gibson, W., Chivers, P., Debenham, J., Docking, S., & Rio, E. (2018). Rate of Improvement of Pain and Function in Mid-Portion Achilles Tendinopathy with Loading Protocols: A Systematic Review and Longitudinal Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine.

Placebo and Exercise:

Crum, A. J., & Langer, E. J. (2007). Mind-set matters: exercise and the placebo effect. Psychol Sci, 18(2), 165-171.

Minimum strength dosage:

Androulakis-Korakakis, P., Fisher, J. P., & Steele, J. (2019). The Minimum Effective Training Dose Required to Increase 1RM Strength in Resistance-Trained Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine.

If you haven't checked out her vlogs, blogs and info...check it out HERE and subscribe to her mailing list!

Thanks for listening and have a happy holiday season! Catch you in 2020 - don't miss first episode with Dr Merv Travers talking all about the basics of Strength Training!

Patron Support link for The Pelvic Health Podcast

This episode covers #menopause, #perimenopause, #exercise, #bonehealth, #tendonhealth, #hearthealth, #poo, #hormones, #nutrition, #alcohol, and much more. We may actually need to cover each of these in separate episodes with the amount of information she can discuss. Please share with friends, colleagues, family!

3rd Age Woman

Thanks to my lovely co-host for the intro/outro - who does NOT have her own accounts you can follow (but there was no stopping her on the mic) :)

Bio:

Candice is a Physiotherapist working in Continence and Women’s Health in private practice as well as a CrossFit Coach and wannabe CrossFit athlete at CrossFit Contessa, an all female CrossFit gym on the Sunshine Coast.

She is incredibly passionate about the effect that exercise, in particular CrossFit, has on women both physically and mentally throughout their life stages. She loves educating fellow health professionals about the sport of fitness, to help them empower their patients to continue exercising (modified as needed of course) through whatever life throws at them – be it injury, pelvic floor dysfunction or pregnancy.

CrossFit Journal Pregnancy Scaling Guide

Check out my Instagram @pelvicwod for the infographic summary

Please subscribe, review, rate and share and consider becoming a patron :)

Instagram - @youseelogic Web - youseelogic.com

Links:

O.School

OMGYes

Dame products

Bio from YouSeeLogic.com:

Dr. Uchenna Ossai is a sex-positive pelvic health physical therapist, sex educator and counselor, and is on faculty for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Sexual Health Certificate Program. UC is only one of three licensed Physical Therapists in the world with an AASECT certification in sexuality counseling; as well as the only Black Physical Therapist with this specific designation. UC spends her days treating people with both sexual and pelvic floor dysfunction, and her evenings educating the masses on everything that has to do with “sexytime.” When it comes to sexual intelligence and great sex education, UC embraces always being unapologetically real, happily crunk, and deliciously kind

Lori :)

Bio from APA Transform Conference website:

Chantale is a Professor at the School of Rehabilitation, University of Montreal, where she developed – and currently directs – the only post-graduate university-based pelvic floor rehabilitation program for physiotherapists in Canada. Concurrently, she is a published researcher with the Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montreal; specializing in pelvic floor dysfunction. She is also the founder and director of the Centre’s ‘Incontinence and Aging Laboratory’, in addition to acting as the holder of the Canadian Research Chair on Urogynecological Health and Aging.

Chantale is the inventor of the Montreal Dynamometer, an instrument to measure pelvic floor muscle function. The main focus of her work is to better understand pelvic floor muscle dysfunctions to provide better treatment using conservative management approaches. Her research methodologies include measuring instrument development and psychometric assessment, RCTs and systematic review. Finally, she still is a practicing physiotherapist specialized in pelvic floor dysfunction, a key influence informing her patient-oriented research.

Monika Leitner, PT, is a lecturer, researcher and clinician. She graduated in physiotherapy in 1989 at the University Hospital Graz (Austria). Since then she has been working in Switzerland at medical centers, hospitals and in own physiotherapy clinic. She completed a Master in Advanced Studies in Health and Fitness and a Master of Science in Sports physiotherapy. She works as a lecturer in the bachelor physiotherapy program at the Bern University of Applied Sciences. She has finished her PhD on the pelvic floor at the Graduate School of Health Sciences of the Bern University. Her research work focusses on the dynamic function of the pelvic floor muscles, and she is devoted to contributing to women's health, particularly to the topic of physical activity and urinary continence. In her clinical work she is focusing on pelvic floor rehabilitation and musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Links:

https://www.bfh.ch/de/ueber-die-bfh/personen/hj5uaeyu6dtt/

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Monika_Leitner

Lauren White

Social Media: @laurenwhiteau (both Instagram and FB)

Permission

Dr Monique Middlekauff (Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Higher Education Teaching Specialist, and former volleyball athlete) joins me to discuss details of this study, including her amazing team Drs. Marlene Egger, Janet Shaw, and Ingrid Nygaard. 

We talk about specifics of this study which looked at women doing CrossFit compared to women walking for exercise, the fun of her PhD and running this study, her online work, and her love and passion in helping people (you cannot miss the passion in her voice!).

Links (also highlighted in text above):

Instagram: @exerciseandsportscience

Fitness for Us  Instagram:@fitnessforus_monique

Abs, Core & Pelvic Floor - online content with Natalie Hodson

Today she shares some interesting, new findings from her latest research project on the language of pelvic pain in which she is working on with Eleanor Schofield and Professor Roly Sussex. She discusses the study, some findings thus far and implications for all clinicians in understanding pelvic pain.

Thank you to the episode's sponsor, Sue Croft - physiotherapist and author of Pelvic Floor Essentials and Pelvic Floor Recovery: Physiotherapy for Gynaecological and Colorectal Repair Surgery

Other links from our discussion today (also see underlined links above):

Qendo

Alyra Biotech - Dr. Evans' company (founder and director) to develop new treatments for pelvic pain

PPEP Talk

Body in Mind article on this study

Woofties - ABC radio

If you know this topic is too difficult to listen to, please come back to listen when you feel ready. If you listen and feel triggered emotionally, or any of this story feels too close to home for you or a friend, please talk to someone.

Below are some links that may help:

PANDA - Perinatal anxiety and depression COPE - Centre of Perinatal Excellence PSI - Postpartum Support International Gidget Foundation

Beyond Blue

Blog by Nadine for Sue Croft

Head back to the very first episode and hear her talk about vaginal weights if you missed it!

Thank you so much to this episode's sponsor - Kenhub - see below for more details

Fore a 20% discount on all Kenhub Premium learning plans: khub.me/loriforner

For a 20% discount on illustration licenses - quote "Lori Forner" when emailing Kenhub to enquire at contact@kenhub.com

Fiona's E-stim course - might be sold out but she is running more!

Thank you to this episode's sponsor - Modibodi

Bio:

Kathe Wallace, PT, is an internationally recognized clinician, author and lecturer in women's health and pelvic floor dysfunction evaluation and treatment. Kathe has been a physical therapist since 1976 and focused on the pelvic floor since 1988.  She is a lifetime member of the APTA.

Kathe volunteered in the early 1990’s to help the American Physical Therapy Association Section on Women’s Health (SOWH) establish pelvic floor continuing education seminars and instructed pelvic floor function, dysfunction and treatment seminars for the associations section through 2005.   In 2006, she co-founded the professional continuing education company Herman & Wallace, Inc. developing a series of pelvic floor training seminars for physical therapists. She is no longer affiliated with the company and nowindependently continues to develop pelvic floor related seminars and resources for health care providersand their patients.  She is currently focusing on private patient consulting, mentoring and developing professional training for physical therapists at The Pelvic Health Clinic in Seattle, WA, USA.

Kathe was honored to receive the Washington state Physical Therapy Association (PTWA) Clinical Excellence Award in 2006. She is the author of Reviving Your Sex Life after Childbirthand multiple patient education handouts to restore the pelvic floor.  She also serves as a Clinical Instructor, Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, at the University of Washington.  Her professional mission is to ignite and nurture knowledge regarding pelvic floor dysfunction to help women and men get the care they need.

Resources:

McDonald, E. A., & Brown, S. J. (2013). Does method of birth make a difference to when women resume sex after childbirth?. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 120(7), 823-830.  https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1471-0528.12166  

Stavdal, M. N., Skjævestad, M. L. L., & Dahl, B. (2019). First-time parentś experiences of proximity and intimacy after childbirth-a qualitative study. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare.   Not free access https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1877575618303355  

 Penny Simkin  Childbirth trauma http://pattch.org/   USA  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkVHUrhh_vY 

 Professional associations

https://www.aasect.org/  

http://www.isswsh.org/  

http://sexscience.org/ 

Heather Howard http://sexualrehab.com/Additional-Resources.html   https://ergoerotics.com/ 

SEXOLOGY International blogs and resources https://sexologyinternational.com  

Better Sex Podcast https://bettersexpodcast.com/  

www.facebook.com/KatheWallacePTandAuthor.

Please consider heading to Noora Wellbeing and sign up for their newsletters, share a story and join in on the discussions!!

Crossing Borders - book by Fatumo Osman and Jenny Wickford

Thank you so much to this episode's sponsor - Kenhub - see below for deals

For a 20% discount on on all Kenhub Premium learning plans: khub.me/loriforner

For a 20% discount on illustration licenses - quote "Lori Forner" when emailing Kenhub to enquire at contact@kenhub.com

Understanding and Treating Incontinence - book by Sarah Haag

Check out Tom Goom at www.running-physio.com 

Grainne Donnelly at www.absolute.physio

Emma Brockwell at www.physiomum.co.uk

Check out my Instagram @pelvicwod for the Infographic summarising these tips, as well as www.loriforner.com 

Peter's Youtube video on PGP

Prof Peter O'Sullivan

A discussion on surgical management will be available to Patrons of the podcast. Consider pledging by clicking on the button "Be a patron" on the Podbean app for The Pelvic Health Podcast or click here and press the green button "Become a Patron".  

Prof Dietz

Levator ani avulsion model (in which he uses to discuss some concepts but you can't "see" it on a podcast! :))

Enjoy and thanks for listening!

Prof Dietz Bio

If you would like to become a patron and support the podcast, head to Podbean.com or click the money-bag icon in the Podbean app. As a thank you, you get access to patron-only episodes and the one of latest ones discusses some more ideas surrounding double unders. Thanks for listening everyone!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28675537

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27794169

https://www.juliewiebept.com/about/

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/womens-mens-and-pelvic-health-physiotherapy-symposium-tickets-55054469400?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

One of her research priorities is to promote, raise awareness, and advance understanding of the key influences that impact the exercising female. She is vice chair of the Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network (WISEAN), the aim of which is ‘To grow, strengthen, and promote research on women in sport and exercise, with the ultimate goal of optimising women’s athletic success and their participation’. Jacky publishes regularly in peer-reviewed journals in her field.

WISEAN

Women in Sport and Exercise Conference 2019

The Exercising Female; Science and it's Application, 1st ed.

Published articles by Jacky

Links:

The Brisbane Functional Colorectal Conference

Dr. Chris Gillespie

Allison Bryant

If you, or someone you know, needs help, please reach out for help. The following links may be helpful, depending on where you are located. For those outside of these countries, please search online for help (most often you can clear the internet search history if necessary).

Australia: White Ribbon Australia www.whiteribbon.org.au 1 800 737 732 USA: The National Domestic Violence Hotline www.thehotline.org 1 800 799 7233 Canada: www.endingviolencecanada.org 

Other links from this episode:

Beauty In Strength  www.beautyinstrength.com.au RUBY (through the PCYC) www.pcyc.org.au/youth-and-community/personal-and-leadership-development/ruby/ Allison Baden-Clay Foundation www.allisonbadenclayfoundation.org.au

Find out more about her and her free webinars at:

https://www.atouchysubject.com

If you haven't read her research before, here is a Pubmed link to her amazing work:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Kruger%20J%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=23640001

For her 18-page PDF she has put together, head over to www.loriforner.com and find the podcast episode!