Women's Health Professional

Today's Date: Tuesday, January 06, 2009

New Program Designed To Help Women Take Control of Their

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

A combination of physical therapy knowledge and a pelvic floor disorder diagnosis created a new exercise program aimed at strengthening weak pelvices.

Tasha Mulligan is a physical therapist, athletic trainer and mother of three. After giving birth to her first child, Mulligan's pelvic floor began to weaken, which led to a grade three prolapse of her bladder.

She began to search for solutions, but found it difficult to find good information and to make matters worse, she found that even broaching the subject with her closest friends and family was somewhat taboo.

"I was afraid and confused," said Mulligan. "I had always been very active and I didn't know if this was something I'd have to deal with for the rest of my life."

Very simply, Mulligan was not willing to accept her diagnosis as a life sentence. She used her physiological training to create a new physical therapy program to treat her disorder. Now, she is bringing her “life changing program” to the women who suffer from pelvic floor disorders, including incontinence, through an in-home program used independently or in concert with a physical therapist, entitled Hab It Pelvic Floor.

"I was very surprised by how few resources were available for thetreatment
of pelvic floor disorders," said Mulligan. "I was fortunate to have the physiological training to approach the problem and the solution more clinically, which resulted in a physical therapy program that literally changed my life. The goal of Hab It Pelvic Floor is to provide expert instruction that focuses on the specificity of each exercise for maximum benefit. Whether done independently or in conjunction with a physical therapist, this program is a good first course of treatment for anyone
suffering from a weakened pelvic floor."

The National Institutes of Health and Kaiser Permanente recently conducted a
study of 4,000 women, 80 percent of which had given birth. The study, published in the March 2008 edition of Obstetrics & Gynecology, found that 37 percent of women reported suffering from one or more pelvic floor disorders.

Pregnancy and childbirth can trigger incontinence, as can menopause, when
the loss of estrogen is thought to weaken bladder-control muscles. According to studies published in Neurological Urodynamics and Urology, over a woman's lifetime, 11 percent are likely to have pelvic surgery for urinary incontinence, and 29 percent will have multiple surgeries for pelvic floor disorders.

"This very thorough video can enhance patients' understanding of the function and anatomy of the pelvic floor and how pelvic floor exercises and improved posture can have a positive impact on incontinence and pelvic support," said Dr. Sandra Valaitis, Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

"By watching the demonstrations of appropriate posture and practicing along
with the lessons, patients can gain a better understanding of their condition and begin to achieve better control of their pelvic floor dysfunction,” she said.

The pelvic floor responds to exercise in a similar way as the rest of the body. It takes four to six weeks of performing the exercises consistently, three times per week, to see the neuromuscular adaptations that are required for increased strength and control.

"Tasha Mulligan is one of those rare people who found her genius in matching
her vast skill set with her life's work," said Mark Kaufman, president of AthletiCo, the Chicago-based leader in out-patient orthopedic rehabilitation. "She excels at the interface between the patient and clinician; and all of her patients know they have someone who is 100 percent committed to their recovery and rehabilitation. Tasha was able to translate that commitment and expert direction in the Hab It Pelvic Floor program."

Hab It Pelvic Floor consists of three key components:

A brief anatomy overview to help women understand which muscles they
are working and why they matter, along with direction on properly doing the
"famous" kegel contraction and facts about why the kegel exercise alone is
not sufficient for most women.
Importance of and instruction to achieve proper posture in pelvic
floor alignment in order to use your bony structures to give your pelvic
floor the most support possible.
Four pelvic floor workouts which are delivered in two formats:
- Version one includes visual and aural cues and precise instruction,
  much like someone would experience when working one-on-one with a physical
  therapist (exact length varies, but workouts range from 13 to 29 minutes).
- The second version offers slightly less instruction for once the
  exercises are mastered.

For more information, please visit: www.hab-it.com.

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