Physical Therapy
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Pregnancy/Postpartum Physical Therapy
The female body goes through a variety of changes during pregnancy, some of which persist for over a year in the postpartum period! These changes can result in back pain, pelvic girdle pain, hip pain, diastasis recti, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Amy has extensive experience in helping women stay active and pain-free during their pregnancy. Even if you are feeling great during your pregnancy, recent scientific literature that suggests evaluation of the pelvic girdle and pelvic floor muscles by a physical therapist at 37 weeks gestation can improve birthing outcomes to improve ease of delivery and prevent tearing. Furthermore, it is beneficial to receive an assessment at 6-8 weeks postpartum to evaluate pelvic floor muscle and check for diastasis recti. Believe it or not, it is standard of care in France for women to receive PT in the postpartum period! With all the information out there, it can be overwhelming and hard to determine what is really appropriate for your body during this time. Amy received her Certificate of Achievement in Pregnancy and Postpartum through the Section of Women’s Health of the American Physical Therapy Association. Amy is passionate about providing specific, individualized care that women need to stay strong and functional both during and after their pregnancy.
Trigger Point Dry Needling
Myofascial trigger points are one of the most common musculoskeletal dysfunctions. A trigger point is an area within a muscle that is painful when touched and when the muscle is stretched or contracted. Research has shown that trigger points have both mechanical and chemical properties that contribute to their pain-causing properties. Trigger points may result in a phenomena known as “referred pain,” where pain is perceived at a different part of the body (for example, trigger points in the upper traps can cause headaches). Trigger points do more than simply cause pain, they also have negative effects on the function of the muscle: they can cause spasm, weakness, inhibition and muscle imbalance. Trigger points can develop with repetitive overuse, trauma or stress. Trigger points may occur on their own, but they can also be associated with certain medical issues such as endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, painful bladder syndrome, prostatitis and dysmenorrhea (painful periods).
Trigger point dry needling is a technique to eliminate trigger points, during which a dry needle (a microfilament needle that does not deliver medication or take blood, hence the term “dry”) is inserted into the trigger point through the skin. This intent of this procedure is to elicit a “twitch response,” which can be an uncomfortable (but brief!) sensation. This modality is extremely effective in reducing pain, improving muscle function and decreasing tension. Amy has done extensive training through Kinetacore and Myopain to develop her effective dry needling technique.
Visceral Manipulation
Our abdominal organs (“viscera”) are tightly housed within our abdominal cavity and must be able to slide and move against each other in order to function appropriately. The movement of our viscera can be affected by physical trauma, surgery, stress, illness, postural changes, diet and illness. When the motion of our viscera is impaired, people may experience pain, gastroinestinal symptoms (indigestion, nutrient deficiency/malabsorption of nutrients, constipation) and even musculoskeletal pain (for example, dysfunction in the stomach can cause left shoulder pain and left-sided headaches!) Visceral manipulation is a gentle modality that addresses movement restrictions of the viscera in order to restore function of the organs. Amy has completed her visceral manipulation training through the the Barral Institute.
Check out Amy's PT practice, Apto Physical Therapy!
