Amy Topshee Physiotherapy

Here’s why I don’t use the word contraction - it’s only part of the story. The sensations you feel during labor that allow your baby to pass thru the birth canal, thru your pelvis, and into this world are the muscles of your uterus tightening + releasing.

Hold your fist out, tighten it into a ball, and then release, allowing the muscles of your hand to relax completely - that is a ‘contraction’.

Contracting is only half the story. And, in a way, it’s the easier half because your body contracts on its own - it’s the relaxation half that most of us find it hard to tap into. When in pain our instinct is to tighten up, squeeze, hold our breath and scrunch our face and clench our jaw - but, during labor, it is being asked of us to do the opposite: breathe deeply, relax our face, jaw, and tongue, and bring release to our pelvic muscles thru movement and vibration. To relax thru pain is not instinctual, and something that I encourage all mamas to practice.

Rather than focusing on contracting what else can we call them? Waves, surges, and rushes are words that more accurately describe the push and pull of labor, and encourage mama to ebb and flow with the sensation. To close her eyes, feel the rise, breathe thru the build, sway and moan with the peak, and then gently and lovingly move thru the release.

Although changing the name of the experience will not take the pain of labor away - I do believe it helps put mama in the right frame of mind to navigate each rush (my ‘word’ of choice). And, if you’ve labored before, you know that frame of mind is an essential piece of the puzzle for bringing baby earthside!

Want to keep the conversation going and receive more support? Sign up to be notified when my course The Mama Pathway, a complete pregnancy, birth, and new mama experience, opens up!

📸 PhotoCred:

https://www.juliewiebept.com/leaks-with-lifting/?mc_cid=49cfd17079&mc_eid=cc356913f6

% Leaks with Lifting: Is it ever OK? - Julie Wiebe PT re Is there a situation where leaks with lifting are okay? Asking for a friend. Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Keep reading.

💗Heart exploding after chatting family and physio with this gem of a human 🤩👑👑

She gives the best virtual hugs 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

Reach out if you've been trying to book in with me.

I can find room for you.

https://youtu.be/d4h26a05b_c

The 5 functions of the pelvic floor Why are the pelvic floor muscles so important? SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2fle0WBRead more about pelvic floor dysfunction: https://kineticlabs.ca/blog/complete...

It seems to me we need to talk more about perimenopausal and postmenopausal symptoms.

Just because they are common place doesn’t mean you just have to live with them.

There are some very effective treatments, but laser may not be one of them. At least not when measured 12 months after just 3 treatments as compared to a sham group in this population.

Effect of Carbon Dioxide Laser vs Sham Therapy on Women With Postmenopausal Vaginal Symptoms This randomized clinical trial examines the efficacy of fractional carbon dioxide laser for the management of va**nal symptoms associated with menopause.

Happy !
International Non-Binary People's Day is July 14

💛🤍💜🖤

So excited to be taking this course on Pelvic Health Care for Trans and Gender Diverse People.
Learning more to serve you better!

IWK to open first multidisciplinary endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain clinic in the Atlantic Provinces IWK Health is set to open the first dedicated multidisciplinary endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain (CPP) clinic in the Atlantic Provinces. The clinic will include a gynecologist, anesthesiologis…

Curvy Girls Hiking: cutting the intimidation factor from hiking — Healthy Tomorrow Foundation  Have you ever wanted to try an outdoor group adventure but second-guessed it and yourself because you thought you wouldn’t fit in, be able to keep up or would look silly to others? This may hit close to home. Know you’re not alone. These worries stop many of us from trying new experienc

Postpartum Expectations: Moms Get Back on Bikes & Boards - Mountain Life Sea to Sky Corridor mothers share the unique and sometimes unexpected realities around the postpartum return to bikes and boards.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/endometriosis-lacking-research-1.5910342

She was in agony since age 13. Many didn't believe her. Then a B.C. hospital diagnosed her with endometriosis | CBC News Over one million women in Canada have endometriosis, advocacy group EndoAct says. It can cause internal scarring, infertility and searing pain. But much about the condition is still unknown.

Just listened to this last night and found it so refreshing! Lots of lovely insights including the permission to drop the “zombie zen”.
Love it Sah!

https://resources.soundstrue.com/podcast/sah-dsimone-becoming-spiritually-sassy-awaken-your-megaboss/

Sah D'Simone: Becoming Spiritually Sassy: Awaken Your Megaboss - Sounds True Sah D’Simone is a spiritual guide, meditation teacher, transformational speaker, and bestselling author. Born in Brazil, Sah moved to the US when he was 16. Today, he leads a heart-based healing movement rooted in tried-and-true techniques, pioneering a spiritually sassy approach in which joy and ...

S*x boosts long-term survival hopes for heart attack victims, a new study shows

'Birthing a nation' during a pandemic: Indigenous doulas try to maintain practices and protocols from afar | CBC News Birth is a sacred ceremony in Indigenous cultures, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made following some protocols challenging.

I’ve missed you!
Lots of new safety precautions and screening to do, but still so excited to start treating patients in person again starting June 8💛

In response to COVID-19, all services at Amy Topshee Physiotherapy are now temporarily suspended.

Thank you for your support with this decision. Wishing you peace of mind and good health in the days ahead.

Take care, and I hope to see you soon!

A notice for all my patients:

At Eastern Tides the health of our staff and patients is our number one priority. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic we are implementing a strict sanitation policy to prevent the risk of infection in addition to our regular cleaning procedures.

We are here to meet your health care needs but ask that if you are not feeling well, have been in an airport, or have been in close contact with those who have, please notify us so that we can assist with re-booking your appointment. There will be no penalties for cancellations.

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to email us or leave a message at 902-897-3338.

We encourage you to boost your immunity by eating well, sleeping well, getting fresh air, and embracing the slowness.
Take care and see you soon.

“signs of degeneration are present in very high percentages of healthy people with no problem at all”

There is a lot more to pelvic health than just doing your kegels😊

8 pelvic floor exercises that are better than Kegels They can help you get flatter abs and alleviate low-back pain.

I’m loving this book way more than expected!

So many great quotes to choose from, but here is a taste:

“Sometimes people resist letting go of self-criticism-because it can feel like giving up hope that you could become a better person, but that’s the opposite of how it works. How it really works is that when you stop beating yourself up, you begin to heal, and then you grow like never before”

No task more daunting:

Posted • Nervous about your first poo after baby? We can help with 3 tips!

1. Deal with Constipation

We get it, in the last few weeks of pregnancy your diet might not have been stellar. During labour you probably weren’t really allowed to drink. And pain medications certainly don’t help the bowels. Well, now that you are on the other side of delivery, help yourself out. Follow your doctor’s or midwife’s recommendation for improving stool consistency. If they prescribe you a stool softener you might want to follow their advice. But also remember to stay hydrated, slowly return to eating fiber, and get walking, even in just short bouts, once it’s safe. These can all help to get the gut moving and to create a softer poo after baby.

2. Toilet Posture

What? You didn’t know that there was a difference between the positions you choose while doing number twos? Well there is! When toilets are too tall for someone, it can make it difficult to relax the back half of the pelvic floor. Ideally, we want knees that are (at least) slightly higher than hips, and a neutral low back. Slouchy positions are not great. By placing a simple foot stool under your feet, you can elevate your thighs to a better position. So, do quick check when you are next on the toilet. Do you need to go up on your tiptoes to get your knees higher than your hips? If yes, then a step for your feet is great! Any step will do, but we love the squatty potty.

3.Support your stiches!

Here’s a big one ladies! Nervous about bearing down through some pretty tender tissues when you poo after baby? Pretty common. Try wrapping your finger tips in toilet paper and placing them over your va**nal area. You are meant to give gentle support to your stitches. What about C-section mothers? You can take a small pillow or rolled towel and gently press it over your abdomen to support the abdominal stitches.

Hopefully these 3 tips will give you a bit more confidence about how to poo after baby!💩👶

“We may want to move toward a more individualized approach aimed at normalizing the pelvic floor function for each man”

Kegel Exercises After Prostate Surgery Called Into Question - Renal and Urology News Pelvic physical therapy may be more appropriate than Kegel exercises in managing post-radical prostatectomy pain and stress urinary incontinence, according to a new study.

Cl****is and p***s anatomy. If you don’t know, now you know. It’s all the same embryologic origin!
Nerdy talk 🤓: “The male sc***um and female l***a majora come from the same embryonic structure called the l***ascrotal fold. The paired dorsal erectile tissues called the corpora cavernosa are found in both the p***s and cl****is. The head of the p***s and cl****is both come from the embryonic ge***al tubercle.” Ken Saladin, Emeritus professor of biology and author.
It’s important to know that there can be variations of this AND the actual gender that someone identifies with is related to a variety of factors including the brain and hormones - not just how the external organs present.
Unlike the p***s, the cl****is usually does not contain the urethra and is therefore not used for urination. There’s a separate urethra and opening that is still very close to the cl****is and associated nerves. The cl****is also usually lacks a reproductive function. But as Urologist Dr. Helen O’Connell states “It boils down to rivalry between the s*xes: the idea that one s*x is s*xual and the other reproductive. The truth is that both are s*xual and both are reproductive." She also believes that the urethra and va**na are related structures (which makes sense, right!?), forming a cluster with the cl****is- the primary location of female s*xual function and or**sm.
Pretty cool, huh? What are your thoughts? Hit like if you like this anatomy talk. 😉
Baskin, L.S., Differentiation, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diff.2018.08.001.
https://urology.ucsf.edu/sites/urology.ucsf.edu/files/uploaded-files/attachments/4_s_development_of_the_p***s_and_cl****is_1-s2.0-s0301468118300938-main.pdf

O'Connell HE, et al. J Urol. 2005.
Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function
8th Edition. Kenneth Saladin (and quora quote).

IG: pelvicguru1

51 might be the average age of menopause, but symptoms of perimenopause can begin 10 or more years before this. Let's start this conversation earlier!

Take menopause seriously, support group urges after women report doctors 'diminish' concerns | CBC News A B.C.-based group is "cracking open" the discussion on menopause and demanding better health services for older women after a recent report indicates they're not getting the health care they need and that doctors "diminish" their concerns.

Are you getting a bike for Christmas?

Here’s a great reason to consult your friends at Bike Monkey/ Ice Monkey or Hub Cycle for their expertise.

Movember - Men’s health!
Did you know that, according to a 2014 review, the most commonly reported symptom of male cyclists is erectile dysfunction?
Gentleman, don’t be afraid to keep riding though!! The reviewers also noted that saddle type and position of the rider had more effect on resultant s*xual dysfunction than simply participating in cycling itself.
This is good news because those things can be changed!
If you are logging a lot of hours on the bike, the take home is this:
🚴🏽‍♂️Invest in a saddle that limits compression to the perineum
🚴🏽‍♂️be sure your bike is properly fitted
🚴🏽‍♂️be aware of your positioning and mix it up (i.e. get out of the saddle occasionally).
Yes, I realize that if you’re a competitive cyclist, you’ve already addressed these things but fine-tuning your setup further can optimize performance both on the road and in the bedroom.
Offseason training can be a great time to sort this out and to address any symptoms of s*xual dysfunction you may have developed during the competitive season.
*xualhealth *xualdysfunction *xualfunction