Sullivan Physical Therapy

Sullivan Physical Therapy is joining forces with Origin — and we couldn’t be more excited about the changes that come with the name. What isn’t changing: Our amazing PTs and staff, who will continue to be here for you.

For a peek at what Origin is all about, check out www.theoriginway.com

THANK YOU for continuing to be part of our community & stay tuned for some awesome new things coming your way…

It’s never too early or too late in life to get in touch with your pelvic floor. To learn more about this incredible part of your body, check out the Origin blog, where you’ll find information about everything from chronic pelvic pain, to urinary and f***l incontinence, to how to use your pelvic floor contractions to enhance or**sm.

Get there through the link in our bio.

https://www.theoriginway.com/blog

We can’t wait to see you soon!

Sullivan Physical Therapy is joining forces with Origin — and we couldn’t be more excited about the changes that come with the name. What isn’t changing: Our amazing PTs and staff, who will continue to be here for you.

For a peek at what Origin is all about, check out www.theoriginway.com

THANK YOU for continuing to be part of our community & stay tuned for some awesome new things coming your way…

It’s never too early or too late in life to get in touch with your pelvic floor. To learn more about this incredible part of your body, check out the Origin blog, where you’ll find information about everything from chronic pelvic pain, to urinary and f***l incontinence, to how to use your pelvic floor contractions to enhance or**sm.

Get there through the link in our bio.

https://www.theoriginway.com/blog

We can’t wait to see you soon!

Testimonial Tuesday...👍🙌👏
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"PT was extremely helpful for me. I have recommended pelvic floor therapy to most of the women/mother’s in my life."
Recent Patient of Lauren Steele, PT, DPT

Testimonial Tuesday...👍🙌👏
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"Lauren was amazing! She quickly helped me reach my goals for PT and she made me feel very comfortable and at ease each session. Thanks again!" - Lauren Steele, Pt, DPT

Testimonial Tuesday...👍🙌👏
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"Krista is 1000% the reason for my review and score. She is super knowledgeable, thorough, and explains things to you along the way, especially when you have questions. She really takes her time to try and fully understand what's wrong with you not only by listening to what you tell her, but by also listening to what your body tells her so that she can try to best tailor your therapy experience to your needs. On top of being a fantastic physical therapist, she is an outgoing, deeply-caring, passionate woman who knows what it means to be a health care provider at the highest degree." - Recent patient of Krista Hartig, PT, DPT
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Testimonial Tuesday...👍🙌👏
"Amethyst was the best!! I was so down after having my baby and 6 months later still having severe pain. I was referred to Sullivan PT and saw Amethyst. She gave me hope and motivation. It was a slow process but I’m able to work out and run again!! My son is now a year old! Doing the stretches and exercises was so worth it. Thank you soo much Sullivan physical therapy!!" - Recent patient of Amethyst Guerrero

Testimonial Tuesday👍🙌👏
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"I now have regular bowel movements without pain or muscle spasms. Therapy was extremely effective and helpful. Thank you for the help and education." - Recent patient of Sima Shalchi, PT, DPT

Testimonial Tuesday 👍🙌👏

"Very pleased with this treatment. It is the best thing I did for myself postpartum." - Recent patient of Lauren Steele, PT, DPT

Testimonial Tuesday 👍🙌👏
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"Christina was lovely. I was comfortable talking all the "taboo" topics and felt safe to ask my questions. Thank you for helping me heal and embrace this new postpartum mama body of mine! My only regret is not beginning with you sooner." - A recent patient of Christina McGee, PT, DPT

Testimonial Tuesday...👍🙌👏
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"I enjoyed Sima’s instruction and I am glad I did it! She is very personable, relatable, and communicates well." - A recent patient of Sima Shalchi, PT, DPT
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Testimonial Tuesday...👍🙌👏
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"I can stand without pain for much longer and I have the knowledge to get out of pain if I get in it. Thank you so much!!!"- Recent Amethyst Guerrero, PT, DPT
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Testimonial Tuesday...👍🙌👏
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"Wonderful staff and great results. I highly recommend Sullivan Physical Therapy and Sima!" - Recent patient of Sima Shalchi, PT, DPT, RYT
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Testimonial Tuesday...👍🙌👏
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"The scheduler is very friendly and go extra miles to schedule me as soon as possible to meet my needs. The therapist is professional with passion and gentleness." - Recent patient of SPT
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Testimonial Tuesday... 👍🙌👏
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"Lauren is amazing. I have been made to feel comfortable from the moment I walked in the door and have been heard and helped so much. My pelvic floor health has improved greatly in 4 sessions so far.." - Recent patient of Lauren Steele, PT, DPT

Testimonial Tuesday...👍🙌👏
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"Christina was amazing. She is caring and knows so much. She helped me avoid surgery." - A recent patient of Christina McGee, PT, DPT
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Testimonial Tuesday...👍🙌👏
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"Very kind and gentle about such a taboo subject. It's really a safe haven for women!" - A recent patient of SPT
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Patients with interstitial cystitis with more severe pelvic floor dysfunction demonstrated higher rates of dysfunctional voiding than those with nonsevere dysfunction, and may benefit from advanced pelvic floor therapy.

http://ow.ly/Vb7d50EYQfd

Think of sliding down a slide with soft sweat pants, both surfaces are slick so we slide down quickly and smoothly. When we do not use lubrication when our tissues are dry then it often times we have an increase in friction, think of sliding down a slide in short shorts and our skin gets stuck the whole way down the slide. Lubrication can be extremely helpful during s*xual activity, either with self, a toy, or with a partner. Lubrication is what minimizes friction allowing for an easy glide.

Unfortunately, many lubricants have chemicals and parabens that can cause irritation or can make us more vulnerable to getting urinary and yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. Read the labels of lubricants to make sure certain ingredients are not included. Most lubricants are scented and flavored have chemicals that effect pH, if you do enjoy these types of lubricants search for organic ingredients.

Slippery stuff
-water based lubricant
-paraben and glycerin free
-unscented
-does not alter pH levels
-can be absorbed fairly quickly, potential for reapplication during s*xual activity
-safe to use with silicone toys

Uber L**e
-silicone based with vitamin E
-paraben and glycerin free
-unscented
-does not alter pH
-Longer lasting than water based products
-potentially not safe for silicone toys

-Good Clean love
-Water based with organic aloe vera
-paraben and glycerin free
-Safe to use with silicone toy and latex condoms
-does not alter pH
-options for fertility- friendly by supporting s***m health
-Also has different moisturizers

Lubricants are not a 1 size fits all. Due to slight variations in v***a and vaginal tissues, one product may work for you. Vaginal dryness may just be one piece of the puzzle. Pick a product and trial it for 10-14 days to see if you begin to see a difference. If you are not satisfied, trial another product, it can take time to find what works best for you.

Pelvic Floor in Runners

One of the major relationships that can contribute to incontinence in runners is the diaphragm. The diaphragm works in coordination with the pelvic floor and the transverse abdominis to assist in spinal stabilization by increasing intra-abdominal pressure during limb movement(Hodges 2007, 1999). More specially, high impact activity, such as running, can be very abrupt and increase that pressure. To counteract the increase in pressure requires the muscles of the pelvic floor to react with the same speed and power. However, research has shown that women with SUI tend to have impaired ability to recruit these fast twitch muscle fibers.

Having a specific running and pelvic floor routine is important in order to retrain these muscles. Research has shown that gait, how one’s heel strikes and less miles per week with increased speed has an effect of continent vs incontinent runners.(Silva 2019).

Causes of SUI: pelvic floor muscle weakness, supportive dysfunction(ligament and tendon injuries), lack of pelvic floor endurance, or overactivity of muscles.

How to manage:
1. Speed and timing
2. Power
3. Endurance

Exercises to begin in modified positions
-supine, seated, quadruped to progress to
-jump rope, skipping, block jumps(assists in the monosynaptic reflex of the pelvic floor)

Additional management of SUI:
-bladder irritants
-scar or restrictions abdomen/pelvic floor
-running mechanics(how the foot is contacting)
-restrictive foot mobility: Studies indicate that runners who overstride will have increased body weight load through their lower extremities. Meaning, that if one has symptoms of SUI then changing your stride, putting foot closer to body, may help.
-supportive devices: tampon, poise impressa, pessary
-diaphragmatic breathing
-rib lateral expansion breathing practice

Reference: Amanda Olson, Underactive Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Runners: Focus on Stress Incontinence, Prolapse and Postpartum, Pelvic Global, 14 May 2020

Testimonial Tuesday...👍🙌👏
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"Amethyst has been great and has made PT an enjoyable and productive experience." - A recent patient of Amethyst Guerrero, PT, DPT
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This summer, Sullivan Physical Therapy is joining with Varian Hans to host a Summer Health Series focused on nutrition.

If you would like to join us for the webinar or receive the recording please email us at [email protected].

The first one up is Surviving The Texas Heat With Herbs and Food - May 23, 2022 at 11 am CT
Anybody who's experienced a Texas summer knows how suffocating the heat can be. If you're prone to winding up on the summer struggle bus and avoiding the trek across a parking lot or a walk around the block, join us for this webinar. You'll learn some amazing herbal and dietary allies that can help cool you from the inside out. So whether you're a native Texan or you just arrived, you'll gain some powerful information that will make the heat bearable.

Here is the rest of the line up for the summer:
How To Navigate Your Summer Sweet Tooth - June 13, 2022 at 11 am CT

How To Pack A Nourishing Summer Ice Chest - July 18, 2022 at 11 am CT

How To Reduce The Likelihood of Sunburns and How To Recover From One With Food - August 22, 2022 at 11 am CT

Happy Mother's Day from all of us at Sullivan Physical Therapy!💐

Menopause and Exercise:

Hormonal changes during menopause can increase inflammation, insulin resistance, reduce bone turnover and create cognitive changes. With these shifts the female athlete may have to consider changing or supplementing their workouts. Outlined below include three type of workout regimes that should be included before and during the stages of menopause.

1. High Intensity Interval Training: Short sessions :20 minutes with 2 sessions a week to increase to 4X a week)
Benefits:
a. Increase in blood glucose control: body is under stress it translates the glucose(pull into liver, muscle and fat cells)
b. Acute inflammatory response leads to a greater anti-inflammatory response
c. Increase in BDNF to improve cognition and working memory

2. Heavy Resistance Training:
a. Due to womens decrease ability to maintain or gain mass, heavy resistance should be incorporated
b. Protein intake afterwards is recommended

3. Plyometrics/Power Training:
a. During menopause, women loose the fast twitch and performance power they may have had. Therefore, the need to train explosive power and speed is important.Eg. Overhead medball slams
b. Increases GLUT4 proteins(enhance bodies ability to handle blood glucose)

Additionally, nutrition is important along with exercises. Nutrition is more of a timing concern and need up to 40g of protein and 6g of amino acids or leucine(focus on plant based protein). Nutrient timing decreases catabolic state, improves glucose control, stimulates muscle protein synthesis, reduces LEA risk and supports microbiome support.

Reference: Dr. Stacy Sims, Menopause for Athletes, Pelvic Global, 1 Nov 2021