Lakeview Regional Medical Center provides a full spectrum of women’s health care services, including gynecology and obstetrics, advanced imaging for breast health, and now rehabilitation for pelvic floor dysfunction, including both pelvic pain and incontinence. Chronic pelvic pain is one of the most common medical problems affecting women, while urinary incontinence affects 25 million Americans, of which 75% - 80% are women.
Katie Baird, PT, DPT is a therapist at Lakeview Regional Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Department with specialized, advanced training in pelvic floor rehabilitation. Katie works closely with the medical team to provide an evidence based, multidisciplinary approach that is tailored to meet individual needs for healing pelvic floor dysfunction. Lakeview Regional’s Rehabilitation Department is the only therapy center in the area to provide this unique service that caters to the special needs of women. In many cases, rehabilitation is an excellent option for patients who wish to avoid surgery.
Common diagnoses include: urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, prenatal rehabilitation, post partum rehabilitation, pre and post bladder suspensions and pre and post pelvic surgeries.
“Many patients are too embarrassed to talk about these problems, and on average they wait 6 to 7 years from the first time they experience symptoms until they obtain any treatment,” states Baird. “But today, the pain they feel is not something they have to live with.”
Treatment techniques for pelvic floor dysfunction include pelvic floor strengthening, manual therapy, biofeedback, electrical stimulation, bladder retraining, therapeutic exercise and postural re-education. Katie received her Bachelor of Science degree from Vanderbilt University and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She recently began the CAPP (Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Physical Therapy) certification process for Women’s Health physical therapy through the American Physical Therapy Association. Katie is passionate about physical therapy and patient education, and she is excited to launch this much needed program to treat this special population.
“Contrary to popular belief, incontinence is not a normal part of aging, nor is it a normal consequence of childbirth,” states Baird. “With appropriate physical therapy, many pelvic floor disorders are at least treatable, and in many cases curable.”
Pelvic rehabilitation is covered by the majority of insurance plans, making it accessible to nearly all patients. To contact the physical therapy department for an evaluation, please call (985) 867-4054.