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The Case of the Mysterious Hip and Testicular Pain

In Male Pelvic Pain, Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Molly Bachmann3 Comments

By Molly Bachmann PT, DPT, Birth Doula, PHRC San Francisco, CA One of the most common questions I receive as a physical therapist is “But why does it hurt? How did I get this?” Sometimes, these questions are really challenging to answer. Other times, there is a distinct root cause. Let me tell you the story about a patient with …

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Why Do Men Develop Penile Pain? Plus video resources!

In Male Pelvic Pain, Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MSPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack   One in 10 men will suffer from Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome at some point in their symptoms. Men can develop penile pain for numerous reasons: Excessive exercise Aggressive force and/or frequency of masturbation Persisting pain after disease, infection or inflammation Aggressive jelqing, attempts at foreskin regeneration, penile enhancement protocols   Symptoms of …

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Ehlers Danlos Syndrome: Facts, Information and Myths Busted

In Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Uncategorized by Elizabeth Akincilar2 Comments

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MSPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack   Ehlers Danlos Syndrome is a rare inherited connective tissue disorder. It affects the skin, joints, and blood vessel walls. It causes joint hypermobility (joints that move too much!) which can result in joint dysfunction and pain. If many joints are affected, it can cause muscle dysfunction throughout the body, as the muscles …

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Scar Facts: All You Need to Know

In Uncategorized by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Let’s talk scars and facts:   Scar tissue is of poorer quality than regular tissue; therefore it is more sensitive to UV light. Be sure to protect your scars with SPF! Don’t be surprised when hair doesn’t grow back in your scars. Hair follicles and sweat glands do not regenerate in …

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What is Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD/GPD)? Part 2

In Endometriosis, Female Pelvic Pain, Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   In 2021, a panel of experts published a consensus and management of care paper on Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder/Genito-Pelvic Dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD) in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The paper describes a treatment algorithm involving five different therapeutic targets for PGAD/PGD! The paper describes how clinicians newer to treating this diagnosis can …

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What is Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD/GPD)? Part 1

In Endometriosis, Female Pelvic Pain, Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD) is a syndrome characterized by unwanted genital arousal in nonsexual situations and was first described in 2001. The syndrome is being studied and in 2021 the International Society for the Study of Women’s Health (ISSWSH) published new guidelines about PGAD, broadening the term to genito-pelvic dysesthesia …

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Myofascial Trigger Point: What They Cause + Treatments

In Female Pelvic Pain, Male Pelvic Pain, Pain, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Trigger points can cause local pain at the site of the trigger point and/or they can cause referred pain in a location distant from the trigger point itself. Trigger points in each muscle have common referral patterns that have been well documented in the medical literature.   Trigger points can …

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2023: Year of the Rabbit, A (2022) Year in Review

In Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic floor physical therapy continuing education, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Telehealth, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Welcome 2023, goodbye 2022! It’s been another year full of changes for Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center. With the start of the new year, we would like to acknowledge all of the changes that have occurred both virtually and in person.   Last year….. PHRC Pasadena opened in January 2022, …

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How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can help with Low Anterior Resection Surgery?

In Female Pelvic Pain, Male Pelvic Pain, Pain, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Lauren OpatrnyLeave a Comment

By Lauren Opatrny, PT, DPT San Francisco, CA   What is Low Anterior Resection Surgery?  Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States (1), and low anterior resection (LAR) is the preferred surgical treatment for rectal cancer. During this procedure, the part of the rectum with cancer will be removed, and the remaining part …

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Latchkey Incontinence; Why Does it Happen? Part 2

In Female Interstitial Cystitis / Painful Bladder Syndrome, Male Interstitial Cystitis / Nonbacterial Chronic Prostatitis / Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health by Molly Bachmann1 Comment

By Molly Bachmann PT, DPT, Birth Doula, PHRC San Francisco    How does your brain know when it is time to empty the bladder? As the bladder begins to fill with liquid, receptors within the walls of the bladder perceive stretch. When the receptors perceive that the bladder is full with about two cups of fluid, the detrusor muscle (the …

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Latchkey Incontinence; What is It and How Does PFPT Help? Part 1

In Female Interstitial Cystitis / Painful Bladder Syndrome, Male Interstitial Cystitis / Nonbacterial Chronic Prostatitis / Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, pelvic floor physical therapy by Molly BachmannLeave a Comment

By Molly Bachmann PT, DPT, Birth Doula, PHRC San Francisco, CA   Have you ever pulled into the driveway after a long day and suddenly had the urge to urinate? Like Five-Alarm Bell, clear the driveway sprinting to the bathroom to make it in time? You are not alone! You might have even heard of this term before, Latchkey incontinence. …

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The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center’s 2022 Return to Kenya!

In Female Pelvic Pain, Male Pelvic Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic floor physical therapy continuing education, pelvic floor physical therapy mentoring, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MSPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack, Kim Buonomo, DPT, PHRC Lexington, Molly Bachmann, DPT, PHRC San Francisco The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center recently returned from their second trip to Nairobi, Kenya to teach a pelvic health course to a second cohort of physical therapists. We taught the first cohort of physical therapists in February 2020 and unfortunately COVID …

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Prostatectomy: Facts, Complications and How Pelvic Floor PT Can Help

In Male Pelvic Pain, Pain, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Let’s Talk Prostatectomy Facts   Although prostatectomy is a very effective surgical intervention for prostate cancer, there are some common symptoms that can occur following surgery that each person undergoing this procedure should be aware of. In fact, only 22% of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy were sufficiently counseled on the …

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Pain Interventions for Labor and Birth With a Partner

In pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pregnancy and Postpartum Pelvic Health by Molly BachmannLeave a Comment

By Molly Bachmann PT, DPT, Birth Doula When it comes to pain management during labor, most of us think of medical interventions such as an epidural or pain medication. Did you know that there are things that your doula, support person, midwife, partner or even OB can do to decrease pain? When I’m working with patients to help them prepare …

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Diastasis Recti: Causes and Treatment

In Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain, Pregnancy and Postpartum Pelvic Health by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles Diastasis recti can be caused by various reasons, some of which can affect one person more than the next. The integrity of our connective tissue is genetic. However, external factors also play a role in who may develop a DR. It is important to note a few things about each cause: …

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Diastasis Recti : What is It & Who Can it Affect?

In pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain, Pregnancy and Postpartum Pelvic Health by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles Some people with diastasis recti (DR) also report urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and myofascial pelvic pain. HOWEVER, it is not the presence of diastasis alone that leads to these things. Longer term problems from unresolved DR can (but don’t always) include: back pain poor posture pelvic floor dysfunction …

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Birth Control: Reviewing Your Options and Their Differences

In Pelvic Health, Uncategorized by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack    In a post-Roe world, conversations and questions about birth control options are on the rise. Currently, everyone still has a constitutional right to contraceptives. There are many ways to prevent pregnancy, including oral medications, implantable devices, injectable medications, barrier methods, surgical interventions, fertility awareness, and abstinence. There are advantages and disadvantages for …

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Pelvic Neuralgias: General Info, Causes, and Treatment

In Female Pudendal Neuralgia, Male Pudendal Neuralgia, Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles When considering neuropathic pain in the pelvis most people think of the pudendal nerve, but there are several other pelvic nerves that can also contribute to pelvic pain!  The genitofemoral nerve supplies a portion of the genitals as well as the front of the thigh. This nerve is sometimes confused with …

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Clitoral Pain: Causes and Treatment

In Female Pelvic Pain, Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   There are a number of treatable causes of clitoral pain, yet often patients are misdiagnosed and this distressing symptom can persist. Hormonal deficiencies associated with birth control pills, acne medications, and age can lead to thinning of hormonally sensitive structures, such as the clitoris and clitoral hood. This can lead …

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Success Story: How André Recovered from Groin Pain

In Male Pelvic Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Emily Tran1 Comment

By Jennifer Guan, PT, DPT  PHRC  Los Gatos   André Fenri* is a 28 year old male who was referred to PHRC by his urologist. André reports that three months prior to his initial evaluation, he developed pressure and pain on the left side in his groin region. He reports that he had gone skateboarding prior and his MD suspected …