Pelvic Service Announcement

Callie and Rachel review two of their success stories with the characters of Julie and Sandy. Julie and Sandy are two women with fictitious names but very real symptoms. The story of their recovery is true with name and detail changes to protect patient anonymity and comply with HIPPA regulations.

This neurologic control of the bladder is extremely complex. Like an orchestra with multiple moving parts, the bladder, brain, spinal cord, and pelvic floor work together to ensure we are able to void at the proper time. This episode provides a broad overview of what goes into bladder control as well as what can go wrong.

Pelvic pain can be extremely difficult to deal with. As the partner of someone who is struggling, it can be hard to know what the right thing to do is. This episode walks listeners through how to create a safe space for your partner and how to find ways to be intentional with intimacy to avoid emotional and physical pain.

While getting a pelvic exam or a pap smear is no one’s favorite thing to do, it should not be something that is painful or causes anxiety. This episode explains what to expect from a routine appointment and offers techniques to help reduce pain and anxiety with internal examinations.

Sexually transmitted infections can be a difficult topic to address, but that doesn’t mean the conversation shouldn’t be had. This episode explores some of the most common STIs and their implications for the pelvic floor.

Libido is one of the most complex topics in sexual medicine. With so many contributing factors and variability from person to person, it's no surprise that so many people are left feeling confused about what a "normal" sex drive should look like. This episode discussed the various things that can impact desire and when a diminished libido becomes something you should seek help from a...

Calling all our pregnant ladies!! Callie recently took a Herman and Wallace course and is here to share all the labor and delivery prep she learned. While there’s no way to be completely prepared for the birthing process, there are some tips and techniques that can set you up for success.

KT Taping has been popular in the athletic and PT community for a while but what does the research really say? What is KT tape appropriate for and what is it not appropriate for? In this episode Callie and Rachel take and evidence based approach to this treatment tool to answer all those questions.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common causes of infertility in women. Affecting more than 5 million women worldwide, this condition has no cure, but there are several treatment options. Callie and Rachel discuss the current research surrounding PCOS and explore the various methods of treatment. If you are suffering from PCOS, you are not alone, and there is help out there.

Aletta Davis-Pitre, known by many names—pelvic health pioneer, clinic owner/director, mentor, friend, and work mom—is the one that started it all. In this exciting episode, listeners get to hear from the woman who founded Optimal Physical Therapy, gave Callie and Rachel their first "big girl jobs," and made the pelvic service announcement podcast possible. Aletta shares her journey from the days o...

Often, testosterone gets blamed for many things such as road rage, fist fights, and anger issues, but is that actually what too much of this sex hormone looks like? In this episode, the PSA girls discuss the role of testosterone in men and women and what true testosterone deficiencies and overabundances really look like. They also examine some of the new research discussing hormone replacement the...

Personal trainer Rebekah Goguen joins the PSA girls as they discuss all things fitness. Rebekah shares her exercise journey through pregnancy and how she navigated the waters of postpartum, revealing how she "built back better." Whether you're a new or expecting mother dealing with stigmas and misinformation or simply someone looking to begin their fitness journey, this episode has it all, with so...

"People that have pain with intimacy will often endure it on Valentine's Day because they feel like they should". For all our ladies out there struggling with pain during intercourse, this one is for you. This episode is all about ways to spice up and enjoy your Valentine's Day in a pain free way. We discuss everything from date night ideas, love languages to ways to be intimate with limited conta...

Another Tuesday for the boys! In the spirit of reaching more male listeners, Callie and Rachel talk about all thing’s relevant in the world of football right now. They also provide listeners insight into the common causes and treatment options for erectile dysfunction. Male or female this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

While not as well known as the sciatic nerve from last week, the pudendal nerve is no less important and can be every bit as irritable. The pudendal nerve plays a vital role in the pelvic floor as it handles most bladder, bowel and sexual functions. The PSA girls educate listeners on how to keep the nerves healthy and provide treatment options for those presenting with pudendal neuralgia.

The sciatic nerve is one of the most popular nerves in the human body. As a combination of lower lumbar and upper sacral roots, this monster has many opportunities for compression as it travels down the posterior leg, making it a common source of pain. The PSA girls discuss anatomy, physiology, examination, and treatment for the sciatic nerve, as well as how the pelvic floor can play a surprising...

It's no secret that lubrication can help to spice things up in the bedroom, but choosing the best one for you can be intimidating, especially if you don't know what you are looking for. The PSA girls break down the different types of lubrication as well as provide insight into ingredients that could be doing more harm than good. They also explain the common causes of vaginal dryness and how to add...

With a new year comes an exciting announcement from the PSA girls. This episode is full of all the positive things that should carry over into the new year and the negative things we are leaving behind in 2022. This episode includes an overview of the things discussed throughout with year while also providing a brief insight into the exciting things that 2023 has in store for the PSA peeps.

For many people, the holidays mean traveling. Traveling can be stressful mentally and physically and that is why the PSA girls are here to give you all the tips for maintaining a healthy pelvic floor while you’re on the go. From avoiding travel induced constipation to stress management techniques, this episode has all you need to help you get to your holiday destination with minimal physical worry...

Dr. James Marion Sims is known as the "Father of Gynecology," the founder of the first women's hospital in America, and is credited with the invention of the speculum. While these accomplishments seem praiseworthy at first glance, the truth behind his success is something out of a horror film. Callie and Rachel investigate the sinister origins of this man's success and attempt to give a voice to t...

In episode 2 of this 3 part series Rachel and Callie continue to explore the medical practices of old. This week they focus on birth control, superstitions and common birthing practices.

Part one of this three part series introduces the origins of physical therapy and offers a glimpse into the not so glamours past of medicine. Between 460 BCE-370 BCE the Greek Physician Hippocrates was credited with developing the theory of the four humors-blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm. The thought was that the presence of disease or illness was due to an imbalance in the humors and sh...

Spinal cord injuries can come with a wide variety of functional changes, but what does damage to this vital part of our central nervous system mean for the pelvic floor? This episode aims to define what a spinal cord injury is and provide a broad overview to how damage at various levels will affect the function of the pelvic floor and what that means for recovery of bowel, bladder and sexual funct...

Research shows that 95% of men achieve orgasm while only 25% of women are able to consistently achieve orgasm during intercourse. This episode Rachel and Callie review the arousal response and explore explanations as to why only a fourth of women are climaxing with intercourse. They include education on how to improve your ability to orgasm as well as dysfunctions that can occur in men and women.&...

Constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic pelvic pain; is it possible there is a link between these conditions? The 10th cranial nerve or Vagus nerve is crucial for the "rest and digest" functions of the body by acting as a bridge between the brain and internal organs. Through exploration of the Polyvagal Theory, Callie and Rachel provide insight into why chronic st...