Tag: women’s health

PHYSICAL THERAPY’S ROLE IN PREPARATION FOR LABOR

The genesis for this blog occurred after I attended a birthing preparation course taught by Ashley Brichter at Birth Smarter. This organization has virtual and in person childbirth education classes for expectant parents and professionals. Despite being 5 years removed from having children myself, I found the educational review helpful for my professional practice. It reminded me that understanding the anatomy of a vaginal childbirth can gift the expectant parent with tools to improve the birthing experience.

IN CONVERSATION: BREATH & THE MIND BODY CONNECTION

We at Thrive are so fortune to collaborate with many types of rehabilitation, exercise, and movement specialists in the New York City area.  Pilates has long been one of our staff’s preferred exercise tools, and we dearly love and appreciate the expertise of the staff at Mongoose Bodyworks, a Pilates studio that is neighbor to our clinic here in Soho. Over the years we have found our mutual clients achieve more success in movement, return to activity, and engagement in life when we collaborate, and the conversation below is an edited version of a dialogue between Mongoose Bodyworks owner Halle Clarke and Thrive PT staffer Elizabeth D’Annunzio Shah.   Halle: Hi!  When we decided to have a conversation, we talked about many areas of professional overlap.  There’s lots of crossover between what you and I do! Elizabeth: That’s right.  Ultimately, both PTs and Pilates instructors spend a fair amount of time doing movement analysis.  We’re both trying to enable multi-dimensional, pain free movement. Halle: In the spirit of that crossover, I have some questions for you that I thought might relate to both of our client populations.   Specifically, let’s talk about breathing.  How do you think about breathing as it […]

POSTPARTUM SERVICES AT THRIVE

We at Thrive are ready to help meet the needs of pre and postpartum women and are launching a comprehensive rehabilitation and wellness program. We are looking forward to helping women stay strong and pain free during pregnancy, maintain safe exercise practices pre and post birth, and rehabilitate from injury. Our services will include a full musculoskeletal evaluation and examination for a wide variety of issues relevant to women.

Diastasis Recti Treatment: Emphasizing an Individualized Approach

There is no such thing as a one size fits all approach to diastasis recti (DRA) management. Just as no two persons are the same, no two DRAs are either. The separation of the linea alba often times reflects dysfunction, but what generates and perpetuates said dysfunction is different in all people. While this may seem obvious, many people come to me seeking a quick fix, or looking for the internet resource, book, or exercise DVD that will solve all their problems. While there are some wonderful resources out there, ultimately creating an individualized approach to DRA management based on the patient’s unique physical attributes, activity requirements, and goals is the best way to enable healing.

Workshop: Healthy Abs, Core & Pelvic Floor

  THRIVE PT is excited to announce that we will be hosting an interactive workshop, HEALTHY ABS, CORE & PELVIC FLOOR FOR ALL STAGES OF LIFE, on Monday, June 27th. Join two pelvic floor therapists, Solange Ross of Complete Core and Lindsey Vestal, of Functional Pelvis for an engaging discussion about how to strengthen your core with functional exercises that you can integrate into your daily life. Learn how to keep your core healthy to prevent common pelvic floor conditions that occur with aging. These simple, functional movements focus on the balance between mobility and stability in the pelvis and postural awareness. These exercises and self care strategies are appropriate for postpartum women (within the first year post baby), women with toddlers and school age children, and for perimenopausal women. And remember, pelvic health is important for men too! All are invited to attend. When:  June 27th, 6:30 – 8pm Where: Thrive Integrated Physical Therapy, 611 Broadway, Suite 503, New York, NY 10012 Register: $30 participant fee, CLICK HERE to register  

The Do’s and Don’t of Diastasis Recti

Hello all, As a physical therapist, I have had a number of patients coming in with questions about their diastasis recti. As you may remember from my previous post, I recently had a baby and since then, the question of how to treat a diastasis recti has been on my mind. This seems to be an issue shrouded in concern and fear for many women, so let’s talk about it. WHAT IS A DIASTASIS RECTI? Well, the rectus abdominus is a muscle that runs vertically along your abdomen from your lower sternum to the pubic area. It’s the muscle that creates the “six pack” aesthetic, if toned, in those with low amounts of abdominal body fat. It also functions to forward bend your trunk, and participates a bit in the stabilization of your spine (although it’s not the main player). A DIASTASIS RECTI IS WHEN THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE BETWEEN BOTH HALVES OF THE RECTUS ABDOMINUS STRETCHES OR SPLITS.  This happens commonly in pregnant women as their abdomens grow, with some studies suggesting that it occurs in up to 66% of women in their third trimester of pregnancy (Lee, 2011). It can also arise in people that exercise incorrectly or in […]