Pelvic Floor Therapy in Charleston
If you aren’t sure who to turn to for abdomino-pelvic symptoms then you are in the right place. I spent more than a decade as a pelvic health specialist in a diverse neighborhood in Chicago, working with people of all gender, racial, ethnic and sexual identities. I’ve been training PTs and OTs nationwide to help resolve the shortage of pelvic rehab specialists. Now located in Charleston, SC, my mission is to make sure that you feel safe, seen, and heard. Only then can we create a plan for how to harness your body’s natural restorative processes so you can feel and function better, living a more meaningful life- one that doesn’t feel so limited by symptoms.
Pelvic Floor Treatment Charleston, SC
Treatment is always individualized–designed for and with the patient. All people deserve to be able to modulate:
-Bladder control
-Bowel control & gastrointestinal function (Children may be seen for bowel or bladder issues with a guardian)
-Sexual function & wellness (consenting adults or teens with parental consent)
-All of the above & daily life tasks without the limitation of pain
Care is trauma-informed and informed consent is ongoing– we will continually check in to make sure you are happy with the treatment plan or make adjustments where they are needed so that you feel good about your progress.
You Don’t Have to Suffer in Silence
For too long, people have lived with pelvic health issues thinking nothing could be done, except for surgeries or meds that may come with a new set of problems. My mission is to empower people with tools they can use right away to support pelvic wellness. Knowledge is power, and understanding what is going in in your own body is key!
After a thorough evaluation, I take time to explain what is contributing to your symptoms and what we can target for treatment. I spend 100% of your appointment time 1:1 with no distractions. Between visits I may ask you to track certain variables or check in using a 2-way messaging app so that you get the utmost value out of each session and need fewer visits overall.
You will be learning what kind of support your body needs in order to support optimal function, and how to provide it the conditions it needs to thrive. These are tools that will serve you a lifetime!
Catherine Lewan Physical Therapy is an out-of-network cash-based service. I offer a superbill so that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. By removing insurance as the primary payer, we eliminate their restrictions and you regain agency in your healthcare. As a practitioner, I am not limited to a certain number of minutes/visits or certain diagnoses or specific treatments I can or can’t do. We decide together what is best for you so that you get what you need–better outcomes in fewer visits.
If you are in an area where a rehab specialist is not available, or if you have tried PT without optimal results, please reach out. Further progress is possible with a different approach, even via telehealth.
Expert Physcial Therapist for Men,Women, Children— All Ages and All Genders:
The Pelvic Floor is the Floor of the CORE
The pelvic floor does note act alone. It is intimately connected to the abdominals, the intrinsic low back muscles, and the diaphragm.
To effectively work with the pelvic floor, we need to also address the core container and the breath!
Of course, there are traditions that have been utilizing the core and breath for a long time, which make it easy to adapt certain practices once you know what it is that your body needs.
For example, if your pelvic floor/core is tense and the tissues don’t move as well as they should, deep slow breathing practices might be a good place to start. Stimulation of the vagus nerve prepares the nervous system to move into rest, digest, and restore mode. Even if you ultimately need strengthening, it is easier to strengthen when you have appropriate rest breaks!
If your pelvic floor is not contracting with enough force or at the right timing with other muscles, then a practice that adds contraction coordinated with breath and movement is more appropriate.
After an examination and thorough history, I individualize a plan that is unique for that person and will help them reach their goals.
Small group exercise classes are available to supplement PT– if you are interested, let me know and we can discuss which classes would be appropriate for this stage of your wellness journey!
Specialized care for:
Bladder Issues: Bladder frequency and pain, urinary leaks, stress or urge urinary incontinence, trouble emptying the bladder, nocturia (waking multiple times at night to use the restroom), post-void dribble, bladder prolapse
Bowel Issues: Constipation, fecal leakage/incontinence, bowel irregularities associated with abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, fecal urgency, incomplete evacuation, rectal prolapse, painful abdominal bloating, dyssynergic defecation, pediatric constipation
Abdomino-Pelvic Pain: Tailbone pain, groin & hip pain, interstitial cystitis, painful bladder syndrome, genital pain, pain with sexual activity, vulvodynia, pelvic congestion/venous disease, endometriosis, vaginismus, anismus, pudendal neuralgia, proctalgia fugax, chronic pain, post-cancer treatment pain, post-surgical abdomino-pelvic pain, top or bottom surgery management and scar mobility
Pregnancy & Postpartum: Pre-natal wellness and preparation for birth, prenatal yoga for labor prep, managing pelvic girdle pain, pregnancy pain, diastasis recti, pelvic organ prolapse, low back pain, SI joint pain, scar management, and C-section and vaginal recovery of core and pelvic floor strength and confidence
Male Pelvic Concerns: Pain management, chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, pain with sex, hip pain, lower back pain, groin pain, tailbone pain, diastasis recti, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, post-prostatectomy incontinence and sexual health
Sexual Health: Difficulty with arousal or orgasm, pain associated with sexual activity, pain with penetration, perimenopause/menopause symptoms, recovery from trauma associated with sexual abuse or assault
Catherine Lewan, PT, DPT, C-IAYT, ERYT-500
Your health. Your choice. Your care.
📍 In-person in Charleston, SC | Virtual and Telehealth options available
Have questions? Let’s chat! Contact me to see if this is the right fit for you