The Ins and Outs of Pelvic Floor PT answers the questions of what pelvic health physical therapy is, what common dysfunctions are often seen, why many have not heard of it, and how we can raise awareness and educate society. Pelvic Floor PT is a specialty that even physicians may not be aware of and therefore many patients may not know that it is an option to them. Urinary incontinence and frequency, pelvic pain, constipation, and many other dysfunctions can be treated with proper care by a pelvic floor physical therapy specialist. One of the biggest adversities this specialty must overcome is awareness. People in society may view their impairment as “normal” since it may be common to have leakage when exerting a force, for example. But while it may be “normal”, these dysfunctions are not common. This project’s purpose is to raise awareness of what this specialty can do and educate to be an advocate for others.

Meena Chetty was a great research partner and creative mind in this project. Meena had great vision and a unique perspective to Pelvic Health. Meena's support and knowledge was extremely impactful in the creation of this project.

Dr. Levenhagen was a wonderful resource throughout the entirety of the project. She has great experience as a physical therapist and a very wise perspective on how to best approach patient care. Her focus on viewing a patient holistically further motivated Paula to look deeper at the root causes of the lack of the awareness and why that may be occuring. Dr. Levenhagen was not only a brilliant resource, but an encouraging supporter.

Dr. Rhein was incredibly informative and impactful throughout the research process of this project. She sparked Paula's interest in Pelvic Health Physical Therapy and was extremely welcoming of any and all questions. Because Dr. Rhein graduated from the SLU Physical Therapy Program and is a current Women's Health Resident, she was able to give a great perspective on what pelvic health education looks like and what steps could be made to better it.