One of the many things I love about my work is the opportunity to interact with and treat a very wide variety of conditions. If I dealt with nothing but low back pain all day/every day, I would be bored rather quickly. Women’s health issues have always been a strong part of my practice, including pelvic organ prolapse. I recently came to know Sherry Palm, who heads a wonderful non-profit organization called the Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support, Inc. (APOPS). Sherrie acknowledges the benefit of myofascial release in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and even provides a list of MFR therapists on the website. Also, she has written a book, titled “Pelvic Organ Prolapse: The Silent Epidemic”. Myofascial release has the ability to address issues of tightness within the abdomen and pelvis which can lead to organ prolapse.
Please check out the APOPS website. There is a huge amount of information there that may benefit you or your clients.
For now,
Walt Fritz
Hello Walt,
I’m a massage therapist and love all the information you have to share, the one concern I have with APOPS site is that they are promoting Kegels. From my other research into prolapse conditions I’m convinced that there are better options. Please check out Katy Bowman’s interview from Mama Sweat.com called No More Kegels and also her website at alignedandwell.com She is a Bio-Mechanical Scientist who I believe has a deep understanding of the issues involved.
Here’s a link to one of her videos: http://pinterest.com/pin/238127899017698861/
Also another woman whose work I’ve recently been reviewing is Christine Kent who has written a book – Saving the Whole Woman and put out a DVD, First Aid for Prolapse. In them she encourages women to shift their posture as such:
Stand with your feet about six inches apart and pointing straight ahead.
Distribute your weight evenly between three points on the soles of your feet: below your big toe, below your little toe, and in the center of your heel.
Make sure your ankles are not bending in or out, but are directly over your feet.
Sense that your knees are directly over your ankles and are straight, but not bowed backward.
Relax your lower belly.
The abdominal wall will be pulled up instead of in.
This is a much more graceful and beautiful look than when the stomach is pulled in and the tailbone tucked under.
Lift your chest, while at the same time keeping your shoulders down.
The palms of your hands should face the sides of your thighs.
If they are facing the front of your thighs, rotate one shoulder back and then the other shoulder back so your arms are hanging at your sides.
The shoulders should be kept down and the upper back flat and broad.
In other words, your shoulder blades should not be pinched together.
This will allow your lumbar spine to expand on its own.
Pull up through the back of your neck and crown of your head.
Holding your body in this way may feel uncomfortable at first, but over time it becomes extremely natural and effortless.
She also encourages women to do Fire Breathing Exercises & yoga postures such as Downward Facing Dog.
While of course there may be issues with some of the musculature being in need of release & rebalancing as well as strengthening, I would love to hear your sense of what these other two women have to offer beyond Kegels.
Thank you,
Deborah Engisch-Platt, CMT
One other option which many women may find helpful is Arvigo – Mayan Uterine Massage – Which has been used for centuries to help women with reproductive/fertility issues, problems with menstrual cycles (heavy bleeding, etc.) uterine prolapse,fibroids & tipped uterus problems and so much more.
Hi Deb,
Kegel exercises remain the standard recommendation for the vast majority of physicians and therapists, despite their limited benefit. “Do No harm” applies, which I believe Kegels fit into, but there are many other methods of intervention, including those which you mentioned, as well as myofascial release, that can be of more benefit.