Regional interdependence is a term that I first learned while taking a course called Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) back in 2011. It was a term that I was unfamiliar with, despite my many years of practicing as a physical therapist at the time. It helped me understand that the origin of pain in the body may or may not come from the area of pain. Sometimes you have to be sort of like a detective by tracing back when and where the problem actually originated.

As an orthopedic and pelvic health physical therapist, I often get asked: “Why does my shoulder have anything to do with my pelvic floor?” The short answer is that everything is connected, especially when it comes to postural support, breath mechanics, and core stability. And one often-overlooked muscle that plays a pivotal role in this full-body connection is the serratus anterior.

If you’ve ever worked with a physical therapist for back pain, hip issues, or even stress incontinence, you’ve probably heard us talk about your core. But as someone who works at the intersection of orthopedics and pelvic health, I want to zoom in on two (often-overlooked but absolutely vital) players in your core system: the diaphragm and the pelvic floor. These two structures live at opposite ends of your torso, but they function as a team.

When most people hear "pelvic floor," they often think Kegels. And when they hear “core,” they picture six-pack abs. But as a pelvic health physical therapist, I can tell you it’s way deeper than that, literally and figuratively.‍ One of the most common things I hear from clients is: “I had no idea the pelvic floor was part of my core.” And honestly, I get it. Most of us grew up doing crunches in gym class, not learning how to breathe or engage our pelvic floor. But let’s change that.

Posture can absolutely influence the function of your pelvic floor muscles. When people think about posture, they often focus on their shoulders, neck and back. But one of the most overlooked aspects of posture is how it affects the pelvic floor. Whether you are struggling with incontinence, pelvic pain, core weakness or any other sign of pelvic floor dysfunction, your posture may be playing a bigger role than you realize.

Exercise has long been proven to relieve low back pain (LBP). Many studies show that being physically active is a better approach than avoiding movement when it comes to addressing chronic LBP. As a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Pilates Teacher, I have many years of experience helping people in the Atlanta area overcome chronic pain by incorporating Pilates exercises into their treatment programs.

Let me start out by explaining my background and my “introduction” into Pilates. I started at Activcore almost 2 years ago with little to no Pilates experience. I was an orthopedic PT, just starting my journey into pelvic health and women’s health as well. I was introduced to my now manager, Jessica Gowen, who if you know her wears a lot of hats (and wears them all exquisitely I might add).

If you suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction, Low Pressure Fitness (LPF) may be the answer to your problem. LPF is a holistic movement system that combines breathing, posture, and low-impact exercises to improve core strength and pelvic health. The practice uses "hypopressive" breath techniques, which involve controlled breathing phases that create a suctioning effect, activating deep core muscles and the pelvic floor.

I love Pilates! So naturally, I think that it is an awesome modality for most physical therapy diagnoses. But it has been shown to be especially beneficial for people with scoliosis. I was trained by Polestar Pilates and their principles are: breath, axial elongation, movement integration, organization of head, neck and shoulders, spinal articulation, centering, control, flow and precision.

I'm excited to announce that I have officially joined Activcore and that I will be offering pelvic health services at the Bernardsville, NJ location starting on January 13, 2025.‍ So here's a bit about me...‍ I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) who specializes in pelvic health, women's health, orthopedics and manual therapy. I received my DPT degree from Rutgers University in 2018.