Newsletter & Blog

Tension in the sacrotuberous ligaments hinders pelvic mobility, causes misalignment of the pelvis, sacrum, or coccyx & may result in tension in the pelvic floor muscles, hamstrings,or cause compression to the pudendal nerve. This results in less efficient vaginal delivery/childbirth, low back pain, or pelvic pain. In this image an external palpation of the sacrotuberous ligaments in all-fours position is achieved. This image is taken while attending a seminar on breech position in pregnancy. Other positions to assess the ligaments might be prone (our pregnancy treatment tables have removable b[...]

Hip pathology can be a cause of chronic pelvic pain - many patients with pelvic pain and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction have an underlying or related hip disorder. Here is an image of us performing a hip mobilization using a mobilization belt. This technique helps to relax the hip muscles, reduce pain, improve range of motion, reduce joint compression, and stretch the hip. Studies show that a number of patients with chronic pelvic pain have hip impingement syndrome (FAI - femoral acetabular impingement). There are 3 types of FAI. CAM deformity (or camshaft), Pincer, or combined CAM & Pinc[...]

One structure that is a common cause of tailbone pain is the anococcygeal ligament. This ligament attaches the anal sphincter to the coccyx. Your physical therapist should be palpating for pain, tension, thickening, and integrity. Many times this ligament is damaged or sprained from a fall or other trauma and can be a causative or perpetuating factor in coccydynia, chronic pelvic pain, sexual pain or pelvic floor overactivity in men and women. Here we are performing a palpation assessment of the ligament and if needed manual therapies such as cross friction massage and myofascial release[...]

At Pamela Morrison Physical Therapy we use advanced manual therapies for pelvic pain in male and female patients. Here we are treating a male with chronic pelvic pain/chronic prostatitis. The target muscle we are treating here is the obturator internus. This muscle is located in the obturator fossa of the pelvis and is innervated by L2-4 nerve. We are performing a myofascial release technique using ischemic pressure (whereby manual pressure is placed on the muscle for prolonged amount of time) and having the patient perform an active movement of the hip into external rotation repeatedly. This[...]

At Pamela Morrison Physical Therapy a patient is trained to use surface electromyography (sEMG) pelvic floor muscle biofeedback. Patients with diagnoses: Vulvodynia, Interstitial Cystitis, Pudendal Neuralgia, Chronic Prostatitis, Endometriosis, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome usually have pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. The muscles tighten, shorten, and tender points or trigger points can develop causing more pelvic pain. sEMG biofeedback can help determine how up-regulated the muscles are via surface electrode stickers or internal probes. The patient then learns to relax their pelvic floor musc[...]

We treat newborns and infants with torticollis, molding, movement impairments, digestive issues, umbilical hernias, diastasis recti, and nursing/latching challenges. Here you see us using craniosacral therapy and integrative manual therapy on a 3 month old. The mom reported that her baby favored head posturing and turning her head left since delivery. Evaluation also revealed left Temporomandibular (TM) joint restriction and moderate impaired movement of her right hip from a quadriceps spasm/guarding following a vaccination injection into the thigh a few days earlier. The finding of the TM joi[...]

The presence of deep pain in the buttock or posterior hip which is caused from non-discogenic and extrapelvic entrapment of the sciatic nerve is called Deep Gluteal Syndrome.  Prior in medicine deep pain in the buttock was referred to as Piriformis Syndrome.  This is because the main muscle palpated which was painful in the deep buttock or posterior hip is the piriformis muscle.  However, many more structures are in the deep buttock area that can be a cause of or contributing factor to deep pain in the buttock. The sciatic nerve runs through the sciatic notch underneath the piriformis in most [...]

Dr. Pamela Morrison contributed a chapter entitled "Musculoskeletal Conditions Related to Pelvic Floor Muscle Overactivity" to this just published book on Overactive Pelvic Floor Muscles. Overactive pelvic floor muscle dysfunction was previously termed pelvic floor muscle hypertonicity. It is a major cause of pelvic pain and can be related to or caused by other musculoskeletal issues. Congratulations to the editors Talli Yehuda Rosenbaum and Anna Padoa and to all others who made contributions! [...]

Patient experiencing chronic eye/ocular migraines 2-3 times per week also has concurrent chronic pelvic pain. After undergoing craniosacral therapy and integrative manual therapy sessions with us she has 1 week relief of migraines and significant reduction in pelvic pain. She has referred to us as "healing hands" and we are thrilled that she is on her road to wellness. Treating globally can help ease pain throughout the entire body. For more information about our work with craniosacral therapy here: https://www.pamelamorrisonpt.com/description-of-services/craniosacral-therapy/ For [...]

While it’s a good idea to stay physically fit during pregnancy, staying true to the exercise regimen you followed before you became pregnant might not be the best course. Dr. Pamela Morrison, PT, a specialist in women’s health, offers some valuable advice on which exercises can help and which are best to avoid as you prepare for the most comfortable, productive birthing experience possible. Click here for the full article.[...]