I’m celebrating the season of three years with Patient PT! Three years post-graduation from PT school, three years after my first two pelvic PT trainings. Did you know that all pelvic PT training is continuing education? This means that I’ve not only earned my doctorate, but spent several weekends in lectures and hands-on labs to build my knowledge of the pelvis and hone my PT skills.
Being a Pelvic PT helps me treat more holistically. I have advanced knowledge of the structure and function of not only bones and muscles but also nerves, vessels, connective tissue, and organs in the pelvis and abdomen. My 3D picture of the body is sharpening constantly, thanks in large part to the Visible Body 3D anatomy software that most of my clients would recognize. I’m grateful for Patient PT Founder Dr. Clark’s insistence that it’s a vital tool. I couldn’t agree more!
As of this spring, I’m eligible for the Certification of Advanced Practice in Pelvic Health Physical Therapy. I’m thrilled to apply for this advanced certification, which recognizes 112 hours in continuing pelvic physical therapy education after graduation. This journey has been the culmination of ten years of work, starting in 2015 with those daunting math and science prerequisite classes. I’ve taken the core pelvic health courses covering urinary incontinence, prolapse, bowel dysfunction, pelvic pain, and neurologic conditions. I’ve also taken Gynecologic Visceral Manipulation, Special Topics in Men’s Health Physical Therapy, and Pride+Pelvises.
Starting out, I knew I wanted to spread non-invasive pain relief strategies with individual clients and communities. I’ve felt long-term, nagging pain and I’ve felt that pain resolve through therapeutic exercise and lifestyle modifications (aka, PT treatment). My passion lies largely in helping others feel that resolution too. I’ve been disconnected from my body, felt the desire to be a floating head. Lately, I’ve started to feel something more like integration, building compassion for my body, seeing us as a team rather than adversaries.
Before my PT education, I had a background in community pelvic education. Once I found out about Pelvic PT, I knew that I would incorporate that into my practice. I knew I was passionate about competent care for LGBTQIA2S+ people, and that I would work to offer that. Indeed, I’ve spent many hours in continuing education courses to provide competent, trauma-informed care to queer and trans clients starting in 2020. I relate well to people on the neurodiverse spectrum, so I could have guessed that I would build a practice for them.
I didn’t know, however, that I would build a niche caring for people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and those on the hypermobility/dysautonomia/
My PT education was rigorous and comprehensive, notwithstanding “special interest” areas like EDS. I graduated feeling capable, but it’s only through experience that I’ve come to confident. I’ve seen countless patients meet their goals, get out of pain, and get back to activities they love. Sometimes the treatment is quick and straightforward. Sometimes we do a lot of investigative problem solving. I’ve now been practicing long enough that clients have come back with different pains or movement goals. Some have continued preventative wellness visits to prevent future issues, which I love. I’m a resource, a guide, and – most importantly – a nerd. My curiosity is endless. To keep my PT license, I’m only required to do 22 hours of continuing education every two years. Multiply that by 5 and maybe we’re near what I’ve done. I never get sick of learning or passing that knowledge on to others. I can’t wait to see what the next three years will bring!