The Pelvic Health Podcast

Joelene Murdoch, who is a MSK and women’s health physiotherapist and one of the directors of The Physiotherapy Clinic, joins the podcast to talk about an upcoming conference you are all invited to called Paving the Best way Forward for the Female Athlete taking place in Sydney on May 13, 2022. This conference is for anyone interested in in female athletes, sports physicians, physios, S&C coaches, AEPs, coaches and more. There is the potential for online access at a later date - listen up and stay tuned. Hope to see you there! Details HERE  

Emma Brockwell is a pelvic health physiotherapist, an advocate, an educator, a runner, a podcast host, a mum, and an author. She is brilliant and up to date with evidence around the pelvic floor, yet she still struggled at first to find answers to unexplained symptoms...of perimenopause. 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

Welcome to this international party episode of The Pelvic Health Podcast.  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 - 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 Therap

I reached out to Lyz Evans and Kimmy Smith to to tell me about the Empowered Motherhood Program because I have watched them work tirelessly to create such a comprehensive and brilliant program and I think everyone needs to know about it. And a side note, this is NOT a paid advertisement. I just believe in this and wish I had their collective brains :). 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

To address long hospital waitlists and improve patient access to care for pelvic floor conditions such as #incontinence and #prolapse , physiotherapy-led pelvic health clinics were introduced as a new model of care for gynaecology, urogynaecology and colorectal patients. Two physiotherapists involved in the evolution of this model of care are Jenny Nucifora and Janelle Greitschus (bios below). In this episode, they explain how this model was developed, the research supporting it's positive impact, and the role and pathway for advance practice physiotherapists in this setting.   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 Physi

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a very common condition involving urinary urgency, with or without incontinence, plus frequency and nocturia. In this episode, urogynaecologist Dr. Kerac Falk joins me to discuss general information on overactive bladder (OAB) with a focus on the medical treatment options - particularly involving recent research he has worked on as part of a team regarding very common anticholinergic medication for OAB and evidence of potential dementia risk. 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. Dr. Falk will be starting to see patients at his new practice in August 2021. You can find hi

The International Continence Society Podcast is coming! 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

Liz Lush is a Brisbane physiotherapist and clinical lead at Mummy and Co Physiotherapy and Fitness, childbirth educator and tutor for physiotherapy students, and a mother of 4 children. Today she shares her journey (21 days post surgery at the time of recording this) for her large #diastasis or often called #DRA or #DRAM. For previous episodes covering more on DRA research and practical exercise tips, check out the previous episodes (click on the links) with Dr David Larson in July 2020 and physiotherapist Lashonda Jones in Sept 2020 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 Discr

Today is an extra special episode! We have physiotherapist Cath Willis back (go find the episode on breast health from April 2018) to talk about #bladder leakage, or technically known as urinary incontinence. She breaks down the types and causes for urinary #incontinence, what physiotherapists look for as part of assessment and ways we can help treat this, as well as understanding the importance bladder leak protection products such as Always Discreet. 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 s

Anita Lambert is a Registered Pelvic Health & Orthopaedic Physiotherapist with a focus on #prenatal, #birth prep and #postpartum care, as well as the co-host of the To Birth & Beyond podcast. She’s one of the few #physiotherapists in Canada to have completed physiodoula training which blends physiotherapy expertise with birth doula support and now assists this professional course taught in Canada. 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: www.holistichealthphysio.com www.bumptobirthcourse.com www.tobirthandbeyond.com IG: @holistichealthphysio FB: @holistichealthphysio   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 postpart

What better way to start off 2021 with Associate Professor Dr. Kirsty Elliott-Sale discussing the #menstrual cycle and how sex #hormones may affect #exercise performance in the general female population. 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

So many gynaecological cancer survivors, particularly younger females, are left with a poor sexual quality of life and not many are asking about this or helping provide tools to help. Out of the 3 million women living with gynaecological cancers, up to 70% live with temporary or permanent sexual difficulties. 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 recruitin

We know holding our breath can influence pressure onto the #pelvicfloor, but did you ever think about how this happens, or why, or that our vocal cords can influence this pressure? 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 occupati

APA Titled Sports and Exercise #Physiotherapist, Indianna Franke, who also holds a Grad. Cert in #PelvicFloor Physiotherapy, joins the podcast today to talk about sex in the context of low back pain.   As low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal types of pain, and sex is part of life but often becomes difficult when you have #backpain, why aren't all of us as professionals asking our patients about this? We ask about pain with bending, lifting, #exercise, #sports, and other daily activities, but often we are too embarrassed or ill-equipped to talk about how to help our patients when they are quite possibly having #back #pain during #sex.   Thank you to @alwaysdiscreet for sponsoring this episode   Below are some useful links from our chat. Enjoy! Indianna Franke OMGYes 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 intim

This episode will blow your mind! I admit the word "hypnotherapy" really threw me but you have to listen - especially if you are a #pain #science nerd, have #pelvicpain, or treat those with pelvic pain. Sheren Gaulbert has extensive knowledge in the pain science field and brings a very large piece to this puzzle. 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

It's time to talk about the practical side of abdominal separation, or DRA - diastasis rectus abdominis, after discussing the lack of research on a recent episode. How should we assess it? What kind of exercises should we try? What if we can't physically see a physiotherapist because of location or isolation? Who better than Lashonda Jones.   Lashonda is a licensed physical therapist, certified personal trainer & pre/postnatal corrective #exercise specialist. She's has 14 years of exercise in outpatient orthopedics with a more recent transition into women's health once she became a mom of two. She loves educating & empowering women on Postpartum rehab, fitness & Diastasis Recti healing journeys. After working hard to heal her own #Diastasis & seeing the lack of education moms were given about their postpartum healing she developed an online program that allows women to work 1 on 1 with her online to receive the individualized education & exercises they need to heal   Education: Masters Ph

Physiotherapist and coach, Candice Lamb, and I are back to talk about what first sessions, weeks and first few months might look like when returning to CrossFit-brand training and high-intensity exercise after having a baby. This episode, as a continuation from our last one on CrossFit in Pregnancy, focuses on women who were doing this activity before and during their pregnancy - not women who are new to this activity after having a baby. Pelvic health considerations and modifications for certain specific exercises, much needed discussion around bracing (which will continue in episodes to come), returning to intensity, and more.  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.

DRA, the separation of the abdominal muscles most often associated in women with pregnancy, is very close to my heart and I am so excited to bring you this AMAZING conversation on the research on #exercise for #diastasisrecti with David Larson @dmlarson31 dmlarson@asu.edu   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

Fiona Rogers is baaackkk! I bugged her to join me to talk about using electrical stimulation for the #pelvicfloor because I do not know enough about it (my brain can only hold so much information!). I have watched her dive deep into the research behind this for years and develop her course "Electrical Stimulation for Pelvic Health: An advanced course for health professionals" - which is now online! Click on the name of that course to find out more. 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!   

#debunkingdesire aims to educate women, their partners, health care providers, and the media about low sexual #desire in #women. 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 1