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​Autumn is typically a busy time of the year, filled with enjoying the cool-down from summer, taking in the fall foliage, and of course the C-K Autumnfest. There are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities in our area this time of year.

However, this also means winter is around the corner. Although beautiful as well, it unfortunately causes unwanted accidents and injuries due to colder temperatures, ice, and snow. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury in adults aged 65 and older. In fact, CDC’s most recent data shows 33.1%(117,435 people) of the older adult population in West Virginia fell in 2020, a number that has slowly continued to rise over the previous decade. Other injuries may be due to shoveling snow or vehicle accidents on icy roadways. We are going to discuss a few things to think about to try and decrease your risk for falls and injury this winter and remain active indoors if shut-in.

Icy Sidewalks
All falls are dangerous and can lead to fractures or head trauma that negatively impacts one’s health and even finances due to subsequent treatment for the injury.

• Wear appropriate footwear with good traction.
• Pre-treat icy walkways with salt when able.
• Use an assistive device such as a walker, cane, or walking stick to improve your stability.

Shoveling Snow
Shoveling snow is a demanding task and creates not only orthopedic injuries but, according to a study from the Canadian Medical Association Journal, men are 16% more likely to be hospitalized from a heart attack and 34% more likely to die from one after a heavy snowfall.

• Take frequent breaks to cool down, recover, and rehydrate.
• Bend your legs and lift and avoid twisting your back while shoveling to avoid injury to your back.
• Use more ergonomic shovels to help ease the lifting process.

Be Active Indoors
Take advantage of your local gym, YMCA, or consult with a physical therapist to stay active indoors.

• Developing an appropriate home exercise program with the help of a physical therapist is a great way to achieve your goals and maintain some activity while indoors. This could focus on strength and endurance for shoulders, knees, back and/or any other joint that you would like to address.
• Low impact workouts such as cycling, swimming, yoga, and tai chi are great ways to help improve endurance, strength, and balance.

Overall, when exercising at home or on your own in a gym it is important to listen to your body and know your limits. You may need to adjust activity level based on tolerance. If you feel joint or muscle pain reach out to your physical therapist. If you have chest pain with lifting or shoveling snow, seek medical care immediately or call 911.

Stay safe and stay active!

​Symptom severity is dependent on the type of prolapse and the stage/severity. Your provider (Gynecologist or PT) will determine the severity of the prolapse, and it is labeled by a staging system. Stage 0- Stage 4. Stage 0 is no descent or no shift of the organs. Stage 4 is a complete prolapse, with bulging completely outside the vagina. 

Like many other musculoskeletal conditions, treatment for pelvic organ prolapse includes surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. 

Pelvic floor physical therapy is often utilized as the first line of treatment. By performing specific exercises, we can improve the strength and coordination of the pelvic floor musculature, which can reduce your symptoms and improve your overall quality of life. 

A pelvic floor PT can perform a thorough evaluation to assess your pelvic floor and determine a treatment plan to improve your symptoms. 

For more information regarding this topic, feel free to message us or schedule a consultation with Taylor, our pelvic health PT, to find out if you would benefit from physical therapy. 

​Taylor Scott, PT, DPT

An initial evaluation (first visit) with a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist will last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour, typically. 

• The evaluation will begin with a thorough medical history talking about symptoms and concerns
• We will go over an anatomy review of the pelvis, hips, and spine in regards to muscles, joints, nerves, organs, and connective tissue.
• We will perform an orthopedic examination, including examination of the spine and lower extremities. 
  • This will likely include assessment of range of motion, flexibility testing, and assessing your strength with manual muscle testing.
  • Depending on your symptoms and your history, we might palpate structures like your abdomen, scars (C-section, abdominal surgeries), spine, hips, and other bone structures. 
• Next, if consent is provided by the patient and if time allows, we would perform an internal examination of pelvic floor musculature. 
  • An internal examination is not a speculum exam, it is one gloved finger assessing muscle tone, your ability to contract and relax the pelvic floor, strength, and endurance. 
  • An internal examination is not required to treat the pelvic floor, but there is great value in being able to palpate the muscles directly, which will provide information about the cause of symptoms and the most effective way to treat them. 
  • Patients or the PT may defer internal examination to the second visit if time, comfort, or other factors are limiting. 
• At the conclusion of the evaluation, you will be provided with a home exercise program (HEP), which typically includes 1-3 exercises to work on the observed limitations during your examination. 
  • HEP are individualized and tailored to each patient's needs. 
• Pelvic floor patients are generally seen once every week in the clinic to allow adequate time to work on prescribed HEP.