How My Journey into Pelvic Health Influences My Career

My journey into pelvic floor physical therapy started when I was a physical therapy student. I was shadowing a physical therapist during school when she brought me to a pelvic health appointment. Before shadowing this appointment, I did not know what the pelvic floor really was. I was embarrassed, I had a bachelor’s degree in biology which meant I took anatomy and physiology, and I understood where the muscles were, but not all their functions and roles in the body. Furthermore, I did over 100 hours of physical therapy shadowing at various sites and had never encountered this type of physical therapy. In addition to this embarrassment over my lack of knowledge from an educational perspective, I was also embarrassed on a personal level. While I listened to the patient in front of me, I heard her verbalize the symptoms I had been experiencing for years. Over the years I had mentioned symptoms to close friends and family, but I never mentioned them to my medical provider, as I was never directly asked about them. During these years, I often felt isolated and sad about my symptoms, unaware that there was any type of treatment or help available. Now, months into a doctoral program for my future profession, I was finding out that I could get help for my own symptoms and that as a physical therapist, I could help others with similar experiences.

I use my own experience and previous feelings of embarrassment and isolation to guide me as I treat and talk with patients. I often ask during their initial evaluation how they feel about their symptoms. When this question is answered I often hear words like embarrassed, alone, anxious, annoyed, depressed, isolated, frustrated and broken. Occasionally tears accompany these words. In return, I let patients know all their symptoms are valid and understood, as I had felt similarly in the past. I also then remind them what they are experiencing is not uncommon regardless of how isolated they feel. In fact, according to the International Urogynecological Association, 7-40% of the population have some type of pelvic floor disorder. 1 While this fact can be comforting for patients, it still can feel isolating to experience symptoms that people do not discuss or ask you about. I use my feelings of embarrassment and isolation to empathize with
patients who have similar feelings.

Upon reflection of my original feeling of embarrassment, I also found a feeling of hopefulness. I felt hope for myself and my symptoms, but also hopeful and joyous that I found a very distinct passion in my career field. I felt hopeful that not only could I learn the information, teach, and treat patients, but I also realized I could empathize with them. I felt a passion to prevent other people from experiencing symptoms without hope, and I felt a passion to never let them feel alone or embarrassed in their journey. When I have a patient who comes in feeling any of the above-listed negative feelings, I do my best to give them the hope that I felt when I first shadowed them. The specialty of pelvic health physical therapy is something I am proud to be a part of, promote, and learn more about in the future.

1. Emotional, Mental, and Social Aspects of Pelvic Floor Disorders and Urogenital
   Pain. Your Pelvic Floor. https://www.yourpelvicfloor.org/conditions/emotional-
   mental-and-social-aspects-of-pelvic-floor-disorders-and-urogenital-pain/

Author: Samantha Janssen, PT, DPT, 2024 CAPP Scholarship Recipient
Author Bio: My name is Samantha Janssen and I currently work as a pelvic floor physical therapist for TRIA in Minnesota. I have enjoyed learning about everything pelvic health-related since being a student at Des Moines University. I enjoy spending my free time hanging out with my family and friends, traveling, working out, and reading a good book.