LiveWell CNY Physical Therapy

If you have been dealing with bladder issues (or a pelvic floor issue) for too long or thought it was just part of life now— please don’t hesitate to reach out to our practice!

We specialize in working with women to overcome pelvic floor issues including bladder leaks and planning your activities around access to a bathroom.

We have intentionally set up our practice to do things differently than traditional PT so that you feel comfortable when addressing a condition that can be embarrassing to talk about.

Link in bio to request an appointment and we will be in touch!

⭐️ Get to know Courtney, our Office Coordinator! ⭐️

If you have been in for an appointment in the past six months or called our office you’ve already met her! Courtney is the one who welcomes you to your appointment and who you’ll speak with if you call our office. She is always working hard in the office and behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. Be sure to thank her for all she does!

⭐️ What do you love most about working at LiveWell?
I feel my skills I’ve learned from being a mom translate well to this job, and I enjoy being able to use those skills in a new way to help our patients feel at ease with the process of beginning and continuing PT. My hope when they enter our office is that they feel safe and comfortable, whether they are a new patient or have been coming here for a while.

⭐️ How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, playing games, reading books, listening to podcasts, and visiting coffee shops.

⭐️ Book you’re currently reading
Currently reading Righteous Prey by John Sandford. I love reading book series where you can see the development of the characters over time.

⭐️ Favorite summer activity
I’m more of a fall person but in the summer I do enjoy days of relaxing in the sunshine and trying all the ice cream places we can find.

⭐️ Did you know?
Since I was a kid, I’ve been collecting Monopoly board games. I probably have 25-30 and they take up a good portion of our game shelf.

Be sure to say hi to her the next time you’re in!

• D E D I C A T I O N • Did you know that over the past month Dr. Enas has completed 32 hours of educational training over 5 days in course: Level 3 Advanced Pelvic Floor- Prolapse and Stress Urinary Incontinence with Dr. Taryn Hallum from Australia?

Dr. Enas’ training concluded this past weekend where she traveled to NJ (and spent her birthday! 🥳) learning how to size and fit for pessaries (a conservative option for managing prolapse). We are thrilled to offer this service within our community in the near future and improve access to a much-needed treatment option for some people with prolapse or stress incontinence.

At LiveWell, we are one of the only PT practices in the area that specializes entirely in pelvic health which means we always prioritize staying up to date with the latest advancements in the field.

If you or someone you know has been dealing with urinary leakage or prolapse, fill out the link in bio to request an appointment with Dr. Enas!

If you are currently pregnant and seeking a trusted provider to help you prepare for birth and postpartum— request an appointment with our practice! Did you know we have a structured birth prep program that can be tailored to your goals for delivery and postpartum? Click on the link in bio to work with one of our pelvic floor therapists!

Join us for an IG Live Thursday March 14th at 8pm with Dr. Jordan Maxwell, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and Doctor of Chiropractic. The focus of our conversation will be about how acupuncture can be part of holistic approach to healing for women’s pelvic health and we will be covering topics including:
- common misconceptions about acupuncture
- women’s health diagnoses that would benefit from acupuncture
- signs and symptoms that indicate you should see an acupuncturist
- an overview of a first appointment
- a typical treatment plan and results you can expect
If you are pregnant, postpartum, in perimenopause, or dealing with chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, vaginismus, interstitial cystitis/BPS, pudendal neuralgia, sciatica, urinary leakage, overactive bladder, constipation, or IBS and are looking for more holistic options for healing—be sure to catch this Live! You won’t want to miss this!
Jordan grew up in Liverpool, NY and received his doctorate of chiropractic and a certification in whole foods nutrition at New York Chiropractic College. Dr. Maxwell earned his second doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine at Pacific College of Health Sciences in San Diego. During the course of his education he has received primary care physician training. Dr. Maxwell has taught nutrition, biochemistry, and physiology at the doctoral level; as well as been involved in academic research in genomics, diabetes, and psychology. He has received additional certifications and education in Usui Reiki, QHHT (hypnosis), and CPR.

Save the date! Next Saturday, February 24th we will be putting on a workshop at Glow Yoga in Fayetteville (Wegmans plaza) all about incorporating the pelvic floor into your yoga practice! 🧘 Not a yogi? Feel free to grab a spot anyway- the workshop will be jam-packed with practical info that can be applied to confidence in engaging your pelvic floor and core in any type of exercise! Anyone with a pelvis (everyone) welcome! See you there!

✨Client Review ✨ Have you been dealing with pain for too long? Been told that it’s just part of your new normal or holding out to see if it will get better with time? This is your sign to prioritize your pelvic health in 2024. Reach out by filling out an appointment request form (link in bio) to see what’s possible with working with us. Dr. Enas has limited availability remaining for new clients in January!

Save the date! Monday Jan 8th at 6pm I will be speaking at CNY Doula Connection’s January Birth Basics Meeting about how pelvic floor PT can help during pregnancy to prepare for a smooth labor and delivery. CNY Fertility, Intrepid Lane, Syracuse. See you there!

Did you know that we offer a customized birth prep program at LiveWell? It includes detailed instruction in:
⭐️staying active or starting an exercise program during pregnancy
⭐️breathing techniques for labor
⭐️exercises for hip and pelvic mobility to ensure a smooth exit for baby
⭐️positions for labor
⭐️feedback on how to coordinate pelvic floor muscles lengthening in a variety of pushing positions
⭐️how to coordinate your breath and pelvic floor for effective pushing
⭐️instruction in exactly how to perform perineal massage to help prevent risk of severe tearing
⭐️alternative pain management options to use during labor
⭐️help with creating your birth team and birth plan
⭐️how to optimize recovery during the first 6 weeks postpartum
Are you hoping for a smooth labor and delivery and want to feel confident in your birth plan? We love supporting any type of labor and delivery plan and our goal is to introduce you to all of the options available so that you can feel confident in your decisions when it comes time to deliver- because we all know nothing about pregnancy and delivery ever goes exactly to plan! Fill out an online appointment request form (link in bio) to learn more about our birth prep program!

We are hosting a LIVE interview🎙️ discussing the TRUTH about diastasis with Ellen Petosa, CPT (certified personal trainer) this Thursday 10/5 at 8pm EST on Instagram. We will be discussing topics including:
✨ why diastasis involves so much more than just "the gap"
✨ the reason why DR is not an exercise death sentence
✨ overlooked aspects of addressing a diastasis postpartum
✨ the #1 thing you're missing in your exercise routine
✨ what exercises help and which to avoid
✨ why quick fix programs often don't work
✨ the reasons behind why you've been doing everything right and still don't see results
✨ and more! (be sure to submit Q's this week in our stories!)
Ellen is a NASM certified personal trainer who specializes in pre and postnatal fitness and mobility training. She's a mom of 2 (a 3 year old and a 6 month old). Her own pregnancy and postpartum experiences have driven her to learn as much as she possibly can about how to support women through a lifetime of fitness.
Dr. Julie is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who has taken advanced training to specialize in pelvic floor physical therapy. She decided to open a physical therapy practice that specializes entirely in women's pelvic health conditions after witnessing through her own fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum experience how frequently pelvic floor conditions are overlooked or dismissed.

Not sure what to expect out of pelvic floor PT? Here is a general overview of the steps involved when working with a pelvic floor PT at LiveWell.
⭐️You will leave your first appointment, or evaluation, with a better understanding of your pelvic health and how it relates to your symptoms as well as a step by step action plan to help reach your goals.
⭐️We are one of the only PT practices in the area that specializes entirely in the treatment of pelvic floor conditions and that provides full length (hour-long) follow up sessions for every visit. Our treatment is tailored to your unique situation but often combines hands-on internal and external treatment and instruction in how to level up your exercise program each session.
⭐️We will provide detailed instructions for a few specific things to work on at home to see continued progress between sessions.
⭐️We check in with weekly appointments initially until your symptoms start to improve. If any questions arise between sessions, communication with our office is simple and just a call or email away.
⭐️We truly believe in a total body, holistic approach to treatment to ensure long term continued success!
➡️We have very limited openings for new clients left in October. Click on the link in bio to fill out an appointment request or call our office at 315.256.0037

⭐️Fun Friday!⭐️ The first day of Autumn officially starts tomorrow so we are getting excited for all that the change in season brings! 🍁🍂 Here are some of our favorites- let us know your answers in the comments!
And if your pelvic health is impacting your ability to enjoy fall activities, head over to the link in bio to fill out an appointment request and get in to see a pelvic floor PT this season!

⭐️ Fun Friday Fact! ⭐️ Comment your guess below and then swipe for the answer! Happy Friday! 🎉
If you or someone you know is having difficulty with anything related to peeing, p**ping, pelvic/period pain, or s*xual function- give our office a call 315.256.0037 or submit an appointment request through the link in bio! Your pelvic floor will thank you 😊

🎉 Join me in welcoming Dr. Enas Eraqi, PT, DPT to our team at LiveWell! 🎉 Enas has been local to the area and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for treating women with pelvic floor conditions. She will be accepting new clients starting in September. Swipe to get to know a little more about her and click on the link in bio to request an appointment and get on her waitlist for the fall!

So you’ve decided it’s time to see a pelvic floor PT— now how do you find an amazing one? Unfortunately the term “pelvic floor therapy” can mean a wide range of things. Pelvic floor PT is provided by a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) who has taken additional advanced training in the internal assessment and treatment of pelvic floor muscles. The questions above can help to ensure you find a PFPT who is knowledgeable, professional, and most importantly who you feel comfortable and connect with.
1. In my opinion, the ability to internally assess and treat the pelvic floor muscles is critical to the treatment of pelvic floor conditions. Don’t bother wasting time in pelvic floor therapy with anyone who can’t provide this type of info for you. It would be like trying to perform a surgery blindfolded- it’s a complete guess.
2. You want the provider you’re seeing to be truly specialized in treating pelvic floor conditions- therefore the vast majority of their caseload should reflect that!
3. Follow ups should be an hour long. Many practices schedule 15-30 minute follow up sessions or overlap you with other patients. This leaves you feeling too rushed and doesn’t allow time for both hands-on and exercise based treatment in one session.
4. It should be so much more than just a job, a whim, or because their boss wanted them to start a program. Listen for passion in their voice and their “why”!

We are growing! We are seeking the next great fit to join our team here at LiveWell. Currently seeking part-time and full-time pelvic floor PT positions. If you resonate with our mission and values please reach out or check out the full posting on Indeed to learn more!

📣We are a small, women-owned cash-based pelvic floor PT practice in Syracuse NY looking for our next amazing team member! 📣
If you value:
⭐️hour-long treatment sessions
⭐️highly motivated patients
⭐️minimal documentation
⭐️working with active women who are dealing with pelvic floor conditions
⭐️internal pelvic floor muscle assessment
⭐️whole-body evaluation and treatment
⭐️professional growth and mentorship
⭐️autonomy
⭐️holistic treatment approach
⭐️providing a long-term solution
New grads who have made the decision to pursue a career in pelvic health welcome to apply!
Head to our job posting on Indeed for all the info!
Email [email protected] with a resume and cover letter demonstrating that you have visited our website if interested!

Return to running 🏃🏻‍♀️ in 2 months while minimizing your risk of injury and progressively loading your deep core system! 🙌 This is a plan I created for myself (and have used variations with former clients!) when building back up to a 30 minute run postpartum. This would also be a great progression to use when returning from an injury as well! I recommend aiming for ~3x/week and avoiding running back to back days to allow a “rest” day, active recovery, or cross training between running days. For example, week A you would walk 4 minutes, run 1 minute and then repeat that circuit 6 times (bringing you to 30 minutes). Stay at that 4:1 ratio for 3-4 runs or until it starts feeling easier and then progress to the week B intervals. Monitor for new or worsening pain, leaking, or pelvic heaviness and if it persists- reach out to a pelvic floor PT experienced in working with runners for an in-depth evaluation and customized return to run plan!

When they say it takes a village…this is the list of resources I’ve used since Natalie was born! Not to mention the pediatrician, Obgyn, pelvic floor PT, and friends and family I’ve talked to or texted for advice! The first four are local to the Syracuse area. Here is a little more detail about each:
• Mother Loving Fitness: 8 week online postpartum exercise program with two personal trainers who specialize in women’s fitness
• Syracuse Lactation: private practice IBCLC who is AMAZING at figuring out the why behind breastfeeding issues, support for mom and baby with feeding goals- breast, bottle, supplementing you name it!
• Kukenberger Chiro: pediatric bodywork for baby (super gentle!) but also treats mom during pregnancy and postpartum
• Thrive Spot- pediatric speech, language and feeding specialist who started a caregiver support group for parents of children age 0-1 at the Y in Manlius
What support/resources did you use postpartum?

Looking forward to sharing more about how pelvic floor PT can heal the issues we believe we “just have to live with” after having kids! Join this support group for caregivers of children ages 0-1. A different professional speaks each week at the meetings. Starts Nov 10th 9:30-11am at the YMCA in Manlius, link to sign up is in bio!
with
・・・
Our third professional is Dr. Julie Berube, Physical Therapist and founder of LiveWell CNY Physical Therapy . She specializes in Pelvic Floor and postpartum PT, and will serve as important reminder to prioritize your health and wellness as the postpartum parent!

The first meeting is November 10th 9:30-11 at the Manlius YMCA.

Registration link: https://operations.daxko.com/programs/redirector.aspx?cid=5222&pid=2634&sid=111869

YMCA members are free, non members $5 for the 6 week session. Big siblings are welcome!

Have you ever considered seeing a pelvic floor PT for a 6 week postpartum appointment? Have you been “cleared” for return to exercise and in*******se at 6 weeks postpartum but felt discouraged and defeated when you actually went to attempt it? Have you ever brought up concerns with your healthcare provider only to have it dismissed as “normal” with a “wait and see” approach for healing? There 👏 is 👏 another 👏 option!
•6 Week Postpartum Appt with Pelvic Floor PT•
✅ 60 minutes
✅ Discuss labor/delivery and postpartum goals/concerns
✅ Total body movement evaluation: posture, alignment, abdominal wall, breathing, hips, core, back, rib cage
✅ Discuss strategies for the tasks you now do 1000 times a day caring for baby: bending to crib, lifting car seat carrier, posture for feeding
✅ Internal exam of the pelvic floor muscles: how they turn on/off, coordination, strength, endurance
✅ Internal exam of any tension points causing pain or tightness in pelvic floor muscles
✅ Examine healing of C-section scar or perineal tearing
✅ Action plan for healing
✅ Specific safe exercise progression to return to the type of exercise you love the most
The best part is you can see a pelvic floor PT for this appointment (in New York State) without needing a referral/script!

Introducing the newest team member to steal our hearts at LiveWell! 🎉 Meet Natalie Rae Berube! 💕 Its been a little over a week and I’ve already started some gentle and rehab for myself! I can’t wait to share more about my postpartum experience through my lens as a pelvic floor PT. We are all settling in and doing well! 🥰

The office is currently closed for my maternity leave and will reopen Feb 2022. We are expecting baby girl to make her debut sometime in the upcoming couple weeks! This is your PSA to be sure to set up an appointment with a pelvic PT in pregnancy and postpartum- even if you have the “typical back pain” in pregnancy or “only mild tearing” postpartum. The truth is, a pelvic floor PT can help you stay active during pregnancy and stay ahead of the aches and pains. We can help you learn breathing patterns for labor and how to prepare your perineum for delivery. We can help you feel like yourself again after a C-section or a vaginal delivery. We can help make that first postpartum p**p and return to in*******se not quite so scary. Looking forward to sharing the news of her arrival and more about my experience going through pregnancy as a pelvic floor PT over the upcoming weeks!
📸 .ludlow

Did you know that you can change the way you breathe to calm anxiety, relieve pain, cope with early/active labor, prevent injury and also get more out of your core workouts? Head over to our latest blog post livewellcnypt.com/blog that breaks down the different techniques to tap into the hidden power of your breath!

In case you’ve missed it in our stories…we’ve been bumpin’ around here lately! 😉 Baby girl Berube will be joining our team at the end of August!

😱 For the majority of women, abdominal separation will slowly heal postpartum, but without specific exercise, 1/3 of women will still be dealing with diastasis recti at a year postpartum! To read more about diastasis recti (DR), signs you may have one, the truth about crunches, and how to heal your DR, check out the latest blog on our website- livewellcnypt.com/blog
Sperstad JB, et al. Br J Sports Med 2016;50:1092–1096. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-096065.https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/50/17/1092.full.pdf