One of the main reasons I moved my office to the Spyre center was so that people could have a one stop shop for their health needs.
Want to swim some laps in the pool? Check!
Want to engage in the life changing art of trauma therapy? Check!
Want to heal from injuries, have better sex, and no longer pee yourself? Check!
Right down the hall from my office is the one and only Amanda Fitzgerald. She's a Pilates instructor, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, trapeze artist, & more!
One beautiful spring day, we met up at the cafe and I got to pick her brain on all things Physical Therapy. Read on for my interview with Amanda.
Who are you and what do you do?
Hi! My name is Amanda Fitzgerald, I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy, a Certified Pilates instructor, and an advanced recreational static trapeze artist! Â
What inspired you to pursue a career in physical therapy?
I was inspired to pursue a career in physical therapy through teaching Pilates. I found myself wanting to understand more about the human body and how to help and not hurt my clients with injuries. When I learned about pelvic floor physical therapy from a Pilates client who had a birth injury, I knew immediately that I wanted to specialize in Pelvic Health.
Is there a certain type of client that you love to work with?
I enjoy working with lots of people from all walks of life with all sorts of issues, but my niche is definitely pelvic floor issues, the ones nobody wants to talk about.. pee, poo, pain and sex!Â
What is the difference between pelvic floor PT and "regular" PT? How do I know which one I need?
Every physical therapist graduates from PT school with a Doctorate as a "generalist". A therapist who wants to treat in Pelvic Health will pursue further continuing education to become qualified to do so. I had an advantage since I knew before attending PT school that I wanted to specialize, and I had the opportunity to have a Pelvic Health elective and three clinical rotations in Pelvic Health settings before graduation.
There are advanced certifications (the WCS and PRPC) that require extensive experience in patient care and passing a comprehensive exam, akin to becoming "board-certified specialists", I have achieved the PRPC (Pelvic Rehab Practitioner Specialist). I would recommend a Pelvic PT over a "regular" PT with any issues that involve bladder or bowel dysfunction, pelvic, tailbone, or genital pain, pregnancy or postpartum rehab, or pain with sex.Â
As a therapist, one of the most common issues people talk to me about is pain with vaginal sex. Where should someone start if they're experiencing this? How can physical therapy help them?
If someone is experiencing pain with sex, it would be appropriate for them to consult a Pelvic Health Therapist and/or a Medical Doctor. A Gynecologist or Urologist will ask questions, perform an examination, and run tests/labs, possibly imaging, to screen possible sources of pain with sex to rule out infection or disease processes. Often patients will be under the care of both the MD and the Pelvic Health Therapist simultaneously.Â
A Physical Therapist will ask questions, perform an examination that may include functional movements and an orthopedic assessment of strength and range of motion of the spine, hips, legs, and a pelvic floor muscle assessment vaginally and/or rectally to determine the most appropriate treatment and plan of care.
Treatment is individualized depending on examination findings, but may include breathwork to lengthen and relax pelvic floor muscles and calm the nervous system, movement/flexibility for optimal muscle length/tension and muscle balance, hands on manual therapy to address specific dysfunction such as overly tense pelvic floor muscles or sacroiliac/lumbar dysfunction, and home exercises may involve dilator therapy, stretches, strengthening, and lifestyle modifications to empower the patient to take part in their own healing progress.
Physical Therapy can be a complete game changer for so many people with pain with sex! Pelvic PTs have a deep knowledge beyond anatomy and treatment and can be a liaison between the patient and the larger medical community to find answers to often complex and misunderstood pelvic floor issues.Â
As a physical therapist, how do you notice the impacts of mental health? Either when mental health is "going well" or when it's rocky.
Mental health absolutely impacts our physical health. Often people attribute their pain flares to increased stress. I see it go both ways where stress increases pain, and pain increases stress, an awful feedback loop.
Similarly, pain with sex can take a toll on one's emotional state and relationship too, another awful feedback loop. As a Pelvic PT, of course I love to empower people and watch their stress levels decrease, their activity levels increase, and their sex life improve! But when things don't play out exactly linearly, I appreciate there are so many resources for wellbeing with mental health therapists, sex therapists, physical therapists, MDs, etc for an interdisciplinary team to support people through the tough times.Â
Since you're a circus artist as well, do you have any tips for circus performers on staying healthy?
As a very enthusiastic recreational trapeze artist, my tips for circus artists to stay healthy is injury prevention! Warm-up, strength train, cross-train, stay consistent, and tend to injuries should they arise.
The latest for acute injury management is to replace the old "RICE" with "PEACE & LOVE"
P=Protect, E=Elevate, A=Avoid anti-inflammatories, C=Compression, E=Education, L=Load, O=Optimism, V=Vascularization, E=Exercise. Oh and of course get PT!Â
What are your favorite things to do?
My favorite things to do are take Trapeze, Aerial and Pilates classes, connect with my community within the circus, Pilates and Pelvic Health worlds, get crafty with hand block carving and printing, and be outside in my backyard.Â
If people want to learn more, how can they get in touch with you?
If anyone wants to get in touch, you can find me at Spyre most days! I own Studio Rehab, a Physical Therapy & Pilates practice within Spyre, and I teach at Spyre:
Wednesdays 9-10am Multi-level Pilates mat,
Wednesdays 10:30-11:30am Baby & Me Pilates
Thursdays 12-12:30pm Beginners Pilates.
I have online booking available www.studio-rehab.com Â
Thanks Amanda for taking time to speak with me today!
I'm lucky enough to have Studio Rehab right down the hall from my office at the Spyre Center. Come check us out for your one-stop-health-shop!