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We're excited to announce that our GRAND (RE)OPENING CELEBRATION is on Tuesday, January 31 from 4-6 pm at our clinic located at 6721 Government St., Baton Rouge, LA 70806! Our office has been designed with your comfort and well-being in mind, and we can't wait for you to see it. During the party, you'll have the opportunity to take a tour of our clinic and learn about the techniques and methods we implement to treat pelvic floor disorders. Our team of specialists will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and provide information on the various treatments we offer.  In addition to touring the office and learning new information about the services we offer and the techniques we use, we will also have yummy snacks from local vendors for you to enjoy. Sandwiches from Calvins, cookies from CounterSpace, and a nice little beverage spread, we couldn't ask for more! We understand that pelvic floor disorders can be a sensitive topic, and we want you to feel comfortable and confident in our care. Our team is dedicated to providing personalized, compassionate care for everyone who walks through our doors. We look forward to seeing our old friends, meeting new folks in the community, and celebrating our rebranding and growth with everyone. Can't wait to see you there!
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Pleasure, Not Pain: Tackling Pelvic Floor Dysfunction for a Better Experience in the Bedroom1/13/2023 If you’ve ever had sex and before during or after intercourse thought to yourself, “Is what I just experienced normal? Does sex feel like that for everyone?” you’re going to want to keep reading. Painful intercourse, also known as dyspareunia, can be caused by pelvic floor dysfunction. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, nerves, and connective tissue that support the pelvic organs and control bladder, bowel, and sexual function. When these muscles become weak or tight, it can lead to a variety of issues, including pain during intercourse. Keep reading to discover if the uncomfortable sensations you’re feeling are “common but not normal.”  Initial Entry We often have people come into our clinic and tell us that when they attempt to insert an object everything feels very "sharp and stabby," or that there’s a sensation of a “wall” blocking the object’s entrance. We also commonly hear that their vaginal or anal opening almost feels like “sandpaper”, very dry, and burning sensations no matter how much lubrication they use. There can be several reasons for this type of pain, many of them pointing back towards the pelvic floor muscles as an issue. Deeper Entry If our patients have pain with deeper entry, that will explain it feels "achy", almost like someone is "poking a bruise" deep, deep inside the pelvis.. Another common sensation people experience is, “it feels like they’re running into something or hitting my organs”, depending on what position they’re in. People who are experiencing these sensations often tell us that they can handle certain positions like missionary, but others like being on top, is totally out of the question. This is probably due to a muscle issue, even though it feels much worse than that. Pain with Tampon, Pap Smear, or Sex Toys If you’ve never been able to put a tampon in or have a gynecological exam without pain and dread, it could very well be a pelvic floor problem. This can also be a problem in bedroom while trying different toys and experiencing pain with insertion or usage. Pain During Orgasm When you’re having an orgasm, your pelvic floor is essentially involuntarily squeezing and releasing repeatedly. The problem is, when your pelvic floor muscle is too short and you have an orgasm, this can become extremely painful because the muscle is over contracted. This can also make your other symptoms (bladder, bowel, back pack, etc ) worse afterward. A lot of our patients who are dealing with this tell us they don’t even want to have sex anymore because the best part is taken away with pain. Oftentimes this sensation is described to us as a “Charlie horse in the vagina”, “electricity-like”, or like “zingers”. Pain After Intercourse It’s very common for patients to tell us that they can only have sex at the end of the day because afterwards they’re in so much pain that they can’t stand up and go about their day, they must lay down until the pain subsides. If they try to have sex earlier in the day and try to go about business as usual, they experience heaviness in the vulva or pressure, almost like it feels like something may “fall out” if they stand up for too long. This can be extremely frustrating because what should be fun and spontaneous, must be planned out and routine. The Bottom Line Though all of these symptoms are very common, and we see them all the time, they are in no way normal. If everything is functioning correctly in the body, sex should never hurt or be uncomfortable. If you’ve ever experienced any of these sensations, feel free to call our office or watch the video below for more information. We want to help you take back your confidence in the bedroom and get back to living life on your terms! Take back control so your pelvic floor isn't running the show. P.S. If you’ve ever caught yourself saying “is this all it is?” during intercourse, stay tuned. Next week’s blog will feature what it means if you’re not feeling the “fireworks” everyone always talks about.
Now that we understand the basic pelvic floor anatomy and function, we can delve deeper into what happens when the pelvic floor isn't functioning as it should and what symptoms may arise from this dysfunction. If you're suffering from pelvic floor problems, it's most likely due to one of two things: the muscles being too long and weak or too short and weak.  Let's start with the first problem, if the pelvic floor is very long and weak, the muscles are underutilized and it can become difficult for them to generate any type of force. Imagine Napoleon Dynamite or Shaggy on Scooby Doo. This issue commonly leads to difficulty in controlling bowel, bladder and sexual function, as well as pelvic organ prolapse. People who fall into this group generally respond well to pelvic floor strengthening exercises, also known as Kegels. The second problem many people deal with is their muscles in the pelvic floor being too short. Imagine a body builder walking around with their shoulders almost touching their ears, it doesn't matter how much weight they can move because they aren't functional. They wouldn't be able to scratch their own back or wash their own hair because that muscle is too short and tense. This issue commonly leads to discomfort, pain, and difficulty with bowel, bladder and sexual function. This is the problem we see most commonly in our office! Almost every day we have people come into the clinic with muscles that are weak because they are too short, not weak because they're too long. When we see muscles that aren't working optimally and functioning correctly, we first determine which camp they're in, too long or too short, via a physical examination. We then prescribe the appropriate intervention. We're committed to customizing treatment plans based on what each individual who steps into our office needs and how their body responds to care. You'll never receive a "one-size-fits-all" approach from us, because we understand that everyone's body is different and requires different treatment. If you’re interested in learning more about pelvic floor dysfunction and what’s happening behind the scenes when your symptoms start to snowball, watch the video below! Before we dive into what happens when the pelvic floor goes rogue and the symptoms associated with dysfunction, it’s important to understand its anatomy and how it functions when everything is working as it should be. It can be difficult to conceptualize the pelvic floor because you can’t physically see it, so let’s dive in! The pelvis itself is a bony structure that forms the base of the spine and supports the organs of the lower abdomen. This structure is comprised of the hip bones, what you feel of when you put your hands on your hips, the pubic bone, the hard bone at the very front of your pelvis, the sacrum, a triangular-shaped bone at the base of the spine, and the coccyx, a small bone at the base of the scrum, also known as the tailbone.  The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that form a sling-like structure at the base of the pelvis, these muscles go from front to back and from side to. These muscles play a crucial role in supporting the pelvic organs including the bladder, uterus, and rectum, as well as controlling bowel, bladder, and sexual function.  From SexMed Advocate: https://www.sexmedadvocate.com/hypertonic-pelvic-floor-dysfunction-vaginismus Now that we understand the basic anatomy of the pelvis and the pelvic floor, let’s discuss how the pelvic floor functions, if everything Is working as it should. When the pelvic floor muscles contract they move up and in, this contraction closes any openings your anatomy has. For males, this would mean the anal opening and for females this would mean the vaginal opening, urethra, and anal opening. This is all to say, you should be unable to pee, poop, or insert anything into any of these openings, if the pelvic floor is contracted or the “door is closed”. When the door, or the muscle, “rests”, imagine how your shoulders are “resting” when you’re just standing normally, it should be resting in a closed position. The muscles are not working or actively doing anything, they’re just sitting still. In this state, nothing should be able to exit or enter the pelvis. The final function of the pelvic floor muscle is the action of moving down and out. When this is the case, the muscle is open, ideally this would mean anything could move in or out at will. When the muscle is in this position you should be able to pee or poop comfortably and without issue. This position is also what allows anything to enter that you so please, males should be able to get a prostate exam, females should be able to have a vaginal exam, put in a tampon, and anyone should be able to have intercourse freely and without pain. In a perfect world, this is how the pelvic floor should function. If you have any questions about this information give our office a call or send us an email, we would love to help! Want more knowledge on the topic? Watch the video below for additional information on the anatomy and function of the pelvic floor. Starting a new workout regime is always exciting, but it's important to make sure your body is ready for the physical demands you'll be placing on it. One key area to focus on is your core, which includes the muscles in your abdominal and back region Having a stable core is crucial for overall physical health and performance. It supports your body and helps maintain proper posture, which can improve balance and stability, reduce the risk of falls and injuries, and make everyday tasks easier. A stable core can also enhance athletic performance, whether you're running, playing a sport, or lifting weights. A stable core isn't just about physical performance, though, it can also help alleviate back pain and improve spinal health.  So before you start your new workout regime, it's a good idea to get a core assessment. A core assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of your core muscles and overall physical condition. It can help identify any weaknesses or imbalances in your core, allowing you to address them before they become a problem that could result in an injury.
Getting a core assessment can also give you a performance baseline to measure your progress as you improve. It's a small investment that can pay big dividends in terms of your overall physical health and performance. So if you're starting a new workout regime, don't forget to focus on your core. Make sure it's stable and ready to handle the physical demands you'll be placing on it. A core assessment is a great way to ensure that you're starting off on the right foot and setting yourself up for success. We’re offering FREE Core Assessments if you book any time between now and January 7th. Simply call and leave us a message or click here to book. Let’s get moving! Put Yourself First This Holiday Season.This time of year can get hectic with family gatherings, work parties, and the kids’ never-ending series of events. The more chaotic life gets, the less likely we are to take care of ourselves. We think, “As soon as the kids' school parties and sports are over, I’ll get back to me”, or you hear a friend say, “I really need to go to this appointment but I need to save every penny for the kid’s Christmas presents”. We want you to stop putting yourself on the back burner. We understand that much of the time we never get around to taking care of ourselves due to a lack of resources, whether those resources are time, money, or a combination of the two. For this reason, Restoration Health Collective will be offering a discounted rate for a limited number of Evaluation Sessions as our Black Friday offering to all of you! If you are consistently putting yourself last, taking care of everyone around you first, and ignoring your symptoms hoping they’ll eventually go away on their own, OR if you know someone like this whether it be your friend, your parents, or your sister or brother, call us.  We’re offering :
4 evaluation appointments at 75% off 4 evaluation appointments at 50% off 4 evaluation appointments at 25% off These slots are on a “first call, first served'' basis meaning the first four callers will get 75% off, then 50% off, and so forth. Our goal is for everyone to become the best, most healthy & happy version of themselves and we’re so excited to be able to offer this special to you guys! Call our office to treat yourself or a loved one this holiday season! You’ve finally found hope that your uncomfortable and even embarrassing pelvic floor symptoms can be solved. You have a better understanding of the “how, when, and why” of the initial visit. Now, let’s get into the treatment process and what happens when you’ve completed your healing journey. In this article, we’ll explain our hybrid approach, frequency and different types of visits, and why each is important to your journey of living a symptom and worry-free life. What’s a Hybrid Approach? With Baton Rouge traffic, childcare challenges, and lack of vacation time at work, most of our patients are looking for creative ways to get the care they deserve without putting their life on hold. We strive to respect your schedule and accommodate your lifestyle. Based on patient feedback, we have created a hybrid model of care that incorporates in-person AND telehealth appointments, so you don’t have to come to our office EACH you need to benefit from therapy. You can get better from the comfort of your home!  You Mentioned Telehealth. What Does That Look Like? Every time we need to do “hands-on” treatment or use equipment, you will need to be physically present in the office. However, if there is an exercise, stretch, or lifestyle modification we can teach you virtually, we make it a point to do so. Make sure you have a working computer or phone, reliable internet connection, and some space on your floor to demonstrate all the things we will teach you! How Often Do I Need to Come? We will be able to recommend a frequency once you come in for a full examination. Everyone’s symptoms, health level, and goals are different. Generally, we start slow so you can absorb all the new things you’re learning. Once you’ve started making some progress and you’re seeing results, we will ramp up the appointment frequency to really optimize your success. Once you’re symptom-free, the fun doesn’t stop! We will decrease visits so you can start living life again, but still have us as a “lifeline” as you add more challenges back into your daily rhythm. All of our recommendations will be personalized to accommodate your specific schedule, lifestyle, and needs. How Much Work Do I Have to Do at Home? When it comes to your care, you can be as proactive or passive as you want. Some people only have the mental energy to stumble in here and receive treatment, and that’s ok. Ultimately, we want to teach you how to treat yourself when future challenges arise. When therapy is working optimally, we will perform a technique and then immediately teach you how to do that same technique at home. After your appointment, we will send you a video recap of everything you learned and a weekly checklist of things you can do to augment your care and take back control. Do I Stay With the Same Therapist the Entire Time? All of our therapists have areas of specialty where our skills shine! During the phone consultation, we will do our best to pair you with the therapist that fits your needs and personality. During your care, you will see at least one other therapist to fix your movement patterns with corrective exercises. By therapist recommendation or patient request, we can also have another staff therapist provide a consultation and/or treatment. We want the right therapist to provide the right treatment at the right time. Teamwork makes the dream work! What’s Corrective Exercise? You will frequently hear us say the phrase, “You are more than your floor.” Even though we will start your treatment at the level of the pelvic floor, we don’t stay there. Your body is connected and if we fail to look at your whole body, your symptoms won’t stay gone. We use personalized, corrective-style exercises and drills to diagnose and treat movement patterns that cause many of your problems. Let’s move our bodies smart, not hard.  I’m at the end of my healing journey and my life has completely changed! What now?What Happens After I Graduate From Therapy?
After you finish your plan of care, we want you to feel empowered to tackle anything that life throws your way. Now that you're not dealing with a sickness or problem, we can work on being well, healthy, and ultimately fit. On your patient journey, we will have identified some fitness goals, movement strengths, and optimal plan to keep you active and strong for the rest of your life. What Happens if My Symptoms Flare Up? We love to tell people that even though you have graduated, that doesn’t mean we have to “break up.” All of your video-based learning and handouts will be yours to keep and reference forever. If you have tried to fix the problem and need more support, call our office first and we’ll see if we can help over the phone. If more treatment is needed, you can always come back! What Else Can You Help Me With? Our wellness programs are always expanding. Many of our patients come back for check-ins, tune-ups, fitness training, and/or coaching on a weekly basis. We want to help you exceed your goals! So, you’ve discovered that you don’t have to “learn to live with” these symptoms and there is freedom from living with worry or discomfort. But… now what?
Have you thought of scheduling an appointment with a pelvic floor physical therapist but didn’t know where to start? Maybe you overheard a friend talking about how she got back to running postpartum with no leaking or pain because of pelvic floor physical therapy. Or maybe a coworker shared with you that their nagging back pain is finally subsiding after years of “trying everything” since starting treatment with a pelvic floor specialist. This article will help you to better understand the booking process, when’s the best time to start treatment, what happens at your first appointment, and how and why we treat differently than other providers. Do I Need A Referral to Book an Appointment? You do not need a referral to book an appointment with us! Louisiana is a "Direct Access" state, meaning legislation was passed allowing licensed PTs to evaluate and treat patients without first seeing a physician. When is a Good Time to Start Pelvic PT? As soon as possible! If your body has been holding you hostage, now is the best time to take back your control and restore your health. The longer you wait, the bigger the problem becomes! If you’re pregnant, we’d love to see you around the 20-week mark to help you enjoy your pregnancy and prepare for birth! If you have prostate or other pelvic surgery scheduled, we would like to see you at least 3-4 weeks BEFORE surgery to optimize your results. What Makes Y’all Different? Starting with our credentials, we are the only board-certified AND residency-trained specialty clinic within a 7-hour radius. Each of our therapists was hand-picked and trained directly by our owner and founder, Amber Anderson, PT, DPT, CLT, WCS. Beyond our credentials, we have taken deliberate steps to make sure there are features in place that create a safe, inviting, and comforting environment. Our staff training and office design are trauma-informed including features such as real sheets, warm lighting, and thoughtful treatment room layouts that never leave you feeling trapped or uncomfortable. The level of service you receive throughout your patient journey will be personalized, top-notch, and life-giving. Your treatment is always be 1-to-1 with a licensed therapist for the entirety of your care. You will never be handed over to an untrained technician. We are constantly consuming the most up-to-date research and consistently practicing our clinical skills to make sure we stay on the cutting edge of our specialty. Getting to the root cause of the problem is our main focus so you don’t just get better, but stay better. We acknowledge and address the mind-body connection, so that true healing can occur. Do You Accept My Insurance? RHC is “out of network” with all insurance providers. We will, however, provide a medically coded receipt for you to submit for reimbursement. We believe in providing care that is high quality, cutting-edge, and accessible. Most insurance companies have high deductibles and don’t cover pelvic PT. If you do have pelvic PT as a benefit, most companies will only cover treatment if we provide care that is outdated by 20 years! In order to provide the cutting-edge care that our patients deserve, we chose to let our patients make their own decisions about their healthcare instead of an outdated insurance company policy. How Much Does it Cost? That depends on what you need. We want you to feel confident about making the decision to get help. Because of this, your first visit is free! We want to hear your story, understand your symptoms, and make sure this is the perfect place for your needs. The next step is to come in for a full physical “work-up” and exam. Once we have a complete understanding of what you need, we will be able to give you a clear path to healing without any financial surprises. We will know the exact cost of your care (down to the penny) before we ever get started! You will always be provided with several different options that fit any budget. What Does A First Visit and Examination Visit Look Like? The full assessment is actually split into 2 parts. As mentioned above, the first appointment is a phone consultation where we hear your story, listen to your symptoms, and make sure you’re in the right place. If we are the best fit for each other, you will then come in for a physical exam that can take up to 2 hours. We’ll confirm all the details you’ve given us and perform an exam that measures how you move, full body capacity, and will likely include a pelvic exam (vaginal or rectal depending on your anatomy). Once we find the areas that need help, we'll provide the first step of treatment, teach you some things to do at home TODAY, explain our findings, and recommend a pathway to healing that is the best fit for you. How Long Are the Appointments? We want to make sure no stone is left unturned in your care! The phone consultation can last 20-30 minutes on average. Plan for 2 hours for your in-person examination visit. Our follow-up appointments can vary from 15-45 minutes depending on what you need. What Do I Need to Wear to My Appointment? You can wear anything that makes you feel comfortable and that allows for freedom of movement. Pelvic floor physical therapy has become much more mainstream over the past several years, and for good reason! For so long, people’s symptoms had been ignored because the problems were shrugged off as a “normal” part of life, aging, or even childbirth. We’re here to tell you that it isn’t normal & something can be done about it.
Though we know awareness of pelvic floor problems has greatly increased, we also understand that there are still many questions and misconceptions surrounding this important topic. This series will help you get answers to those important questions and feel better prepared to make the best decision for your health and happiness. In today’s article, we’ll be discussing the questions we hear when people are trying to determine if they have a pelvic floor problem and what they can do to get help. What’s a Pelvic Floor? The pelvic floor is a collection of muscles that live at the bottom part of your pelvis and keep your organs off the floor. They actually control and impact more than you think! If you have any issues with your core, bladder, bowel, sexual function, prolapse, or back/pelvic/hip pain, then you likely have a problem with these muscles. Do I Need Pelvic Rehab? Everyone has a pelvic floor and over 50% of Americans are living with some sort of pelvic floor problem or symptoms. These symptoms can be worsened by stress, diet, physical exercise, or even just doing normal day-to-day activities. If you’ve ever experienced leaking of urine or stool, difficulty emptying the bladder or bowels, difficulty or pain with sexual activity, prolapse, back, hip, or pelvic pain, or are pregnant/postpartum you can benefit from pelvic floor PT. What Can Pelvic PT Do For Me? If you struggle with anything that could be considered “too much information,” you probably have a pelvic floor problem. We treat symptoms related to the 5 P's: Pee, Poop, Penetration, Prolapse, and Pelvic Pain (Bonus Ps are Pregnancy/Postpartum and Penis/Prostate issues). We can help you get the confidence you need to be in control of your bladder and bowels, enjoy sex again, avoid surgery, and get back to the activities you love without being limited by pain or learning how to live with it! Aren’t Those Symptoms a Normal Part of Life? Our favorite phrase is: “Just because it’s common, doesn’t mean it’s normal.” Most of our patients struggle to get help because they don’t realize that they have a problem. People don’t typically share challenges that are considered socially stigmatizing or faux pa, even if it’s ruining their life! Once they find out that their symptoms aren’t a normal part of life, they don’t always know that help is available. That’s why we’re here to help! We love to help people who have been trapped in hopelessness and shame for years. Don’t settle for less than what’s best for your body. Won’t This Go Away On Its Own? Very rarely. If you don’t do maintenance on your car, it will start to break down, affect other parts of the system, and cost a lot more to fix. Your body is no different! In fact, if you let this problem stick around, it will most likely get worse and worse. Address the problem as soon as it arises and you will save time, money, and heartache! I’ve Done Kegels or Seen Other Physical Therapists Before, but They Didn’t Help. Well, you’re in luck! Kegels were all the rage 20 years ago, but as the research changes… so do we. Most people have “short or overactive” pelvic floor muscles that will only get worse with kegels. Exercise only irritates already shortened muscles. For example: If you are holding your shoulder up by your ear, I wouldn’t recommend shoulder lifting/shrugging exercises. The pelvic floor muscles are no different! Step away from the machines and recommendations to squeeze and try to let that muscle soften and lengthen, instead.
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