Menopause Client Case Study
This month, we're excited to share a new series of case studies featuring our clients' journeys. Each story highlights unique challenges, goals, and the transformative impact of our personalized Pilates, physical therapy and pelvic health programs. From overcoming chronic pain to achieving peak performance, these case studies showcase the dedication and progress of our clients and how our team’s expertise supports them every step of the way. Stay tuned to be inspired by the real-life results we've helped our community achieve!
Client Story:
A 52-year-old woman who loves playing tennis started experiencing pain in her left hip and lower back. She also noticed an increase in the urge to pee, occasional leakage, and discomfort during intimacy. She went through menopause a year ago and over the last five years, gained some weight around her belly and lost muscle in her arms and legs. Although she thought she had urinary infections twice in the past six months, tests came back negative.
Her fitness routine included playing tennis twice a week and taking 20-minute walks twice a week, but did not include any strength training. Her primary goal was to get rid of the hip and back pain, reduce discomfort during intimacy, and stop the frequent urge to pee along with occasional leakage. She also desired to succeed in improving overall fitness and physique.
How Did Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and Pilates Help?
To address her hip and back pain and other pelvic health concerns, we began with 8 sessions of pelvic floor physical therapy. Our first session was a comprehensive head to toe assessment of her range of motion, strength, posture, joint alignment and an internal pelvic floor exam. We discussed her medical history in detail. This information helped to identify potential sources of her symptoms as well as other areas of dysfunction that may contribute to her overall health and wellbeing. Findings were tightness and weakness in the pelvic floor, weakness and restricted range of motion of the lower back and hips, particularly on the left side of her body, and abnormal breath patterns likely linked to poor rib and diaphragm mobility.
Initially, treatments blended hands-on techniques to reduce pelvic floor tone, neuromuscular retraining to reconnect the brain with the control of the pelvic floor musculature, and education surrounding lifestyle contributors to urinary urgency and frequency through a bladder diary. She was taught how to strengthen and relax these muscles at home to continue progress between sessions.
As the length and tone of her pelvic floor musculature improved, we transitioned our focus on the strength of the pelvic floor and surrounding hip, low back and core musculature. This was accomplished through a blend of targeted pilates and resistive strength training exercises over the course of 12 sessions. In the studio, we utilized the pilates equipment to provide support and neuromuscular feedback that the body needs to re-train movement patterns. At home, she performed mat pilates exercises with small props to mimic the equipment, guided by our on-demand video library of classes and our custom home program app. These exercises targeted her hips, pelvis, and lower back, helping her get stronger and more stable. She was incredibly diligent and committed to her “homework” and it was reflected in her incredible outcomes. In just 3 short months…
The Results:
Her hip and lower back pain were gone in 8 weeks.
The urinary urgency and leakage resolved in 10 weeks.
She was back to playing tennis pain-free and could enjoy her walks without worrying about leaks.
She continued with Pilates and other exercises, gaining confidence and strength, especially during menopause, to maintain muscle tone, bone health, and balance.
This work was not a “fast fix” for our client, but after having symptoms for a few years, she was shocked to be pain free and still doing the activities she loved without leaking or urgency. Her success can be attributed to her commitment and focus to the exercises and lifestyle modifications suggested by our expert team. It was a honor to guide her through this journey and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
Hoping to give pilates or pelvic floor physical therapy a try? Learn more here and book a free discovery call with us today to discuss your unique symptoms.
