Pelvic Floor Therapy
The pelvic floor is made up of a group of muscles that form a sling or hammock at the base of the pelvis and are a part of the group of muscles commonly called the ‘core’. These muscles help to support the internal organs and help to manage the control of urine and feces. They also play a vital role in normal sexual function. A pelvic floor physical therapy evaluation will be uniquely tailored to your individual needs. Dr. Guarin combines her specialized pelvic floor training with her years of physical therapy practice skills to design an individualized treatment plan.
Common conditions treated (but not limited to) include:
Urinary/fecal incontinence
Urinary urgency/frequency
Prolapse: (pelvic pressure) cystocele, uterocele, rectocele, urethrocele
Dyspareunia (pain with intercourse)
Sexual pain and dysfunction
Vaginismus
Pelvic pain/dysfunction (tightness and pain)
Coccydynia
Pubic symphysis dysfunction
Vulvodynia
Vestibulitis
Endometriosis
Interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome)
Pain from hemorrhoids, fistula, anal fissure
Perineal/episiotomy scar
Pudendal Neuralgia
Post-operative care: hernia repair, hysterectomy, myomectomy, gender affirmation surgery
Postpartum Physical Therapy
As a mother of two beautiful boys, Dr. Guarin holds a special place in her heart for women during the perinatal period. It is her goal to provide the best care to women during this monumental time in their lives. All women should be given the proper information during this transitional time regarding healing, optimizing health and promoting strength through the healing process. It is the hope that prenatal and postpartum physical therapy will become standard of care in the near future.
It has become the accepted idea that pelvic pain and incontinence are normal during and after pregnancy. Though they may be common, pelvic pain and incontinence are NOT normal! Pelvic floor rehabilitation encompasses much more than just Kegel exercises. It has been found that up to 88% of women are not able to perform a proper pelvic floor contraction or Kegel correctly without proper instruction. Dr. Guarin will perform a complete review of your medical history, pregnancy history, musculoskeletal evaluation (including the strength of your pelvic floor through internal examination), and lifestyle assessment. Every woman should learn to properly reconnect their core with their pelvic floor after the significant changes that occur during pregnancy, labor and delivery.
Common conditions treated (but not limited to) include:
Pelvic floor dysfunction, strengthening, and prevention
Postpartum pain and weakness
Pelvic girdle pain: pubic symphysis dysfunction, sacroiliac pain, coccyx pain
Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) rehabilitation and prevention
Urinary incontinence
Sexual dysfunction (pain with sex, inability to orgasm)
Prolapse
Back and hip pain & weakness
Upper back and neck pain
Cesarean section scar pain and mobilization
Perineal scar/episiotomy scar pain and mobilization
Fecal incontinence
Difficulty connecting to core
Vestibular Physical Therapy
Dr. Guarin offers vestibular rehabilitation for people with dizziness, vertigo or imbalance of peripheral origin. That means it originates in the inner ear’s vestibular system, which aids in controlling balance and spatial awareness.
Dr. Guarin creates a rehabilitation plan based on your medical history, vestibular exam and the results of any sensory, hearing or imaging tests performed. Dr. Guarin is a specialist in treating vestibular conditions (with over 17 years of experience), is board certified in neurology and certified in vestibular physical therapy. She uses physical movements to enhance the body’s natural ability to respond and adapt to dizziness. Over time, you may stop feeling dizzy in response to movements that used to trigger dizziness, vertigo or imbalance.
Dr. Guarin may recommend gaze stabilization exercises, balance exercises and functional strengthening exercises in order to make you feel more steady and less dizzy. These exercises use specific head eye movements to help your brain adapt to changes in the vestibular system. She will encourage you to practice these exercises at home to enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation.
Common conditions treated (but not limited to) include:
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Vestibular hypofunction
Meniere’s disease
Layrinthitis
Vestibular neuritis
Acoustic Neuroma (post resection)
PPPD
