Meet Ashwini Kale, PT, PhD

Pelvic Health Rehab has always been a topic which interested me ever since my rural posting in graduate school. The problems were so commonly present in women, but even talking about them was considered a taboo, let alone treatment for them. I was empathetic towards this situation and always wanted to do something to change this scenario. This made me take up postpartum physical therapy along with the sociocultural aspects towards its practice in India, as my doctoral study.

I have been striving hard to change the perspective and outlook of women and their pelvic health. The postpartum cultures, traditions, attitudes, and beliefs are so strongly rooted in Indian women. Moreover, exercise is considered a taboo in the puerperal period which made this a herculean task. The toughest challenge was to persuade the caregiver (mother-in-law, husband, dai) the importance of postpartum physical therapy as the postpartum mothers were not allowed to decide for themselves. Going to a grassroot level and bringing out such positive changes among the women gave me immense satisfaction. My passion for working in this field grew even more. As a mother of two, and experiencing these problems myself made me even more optimistic about the need for practice in this clinical arena. Ever since, I have been trying to make women identify, speak out and seek treatment for their pelvic problems, as they would for any other body problems. It had become a habit of women to consider these problems a part and parcel of life.

To be CAPP certified was a dream for me ever since I had developed a passion for women’s health when I was a PT student, as this was the highest quality certification in the field of pelvic health. It wasn’t easy for me to pursue this course being an overseas candidate. Receiving this scholarship was a dream come true. The Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy has provided me the opportunity for the best education possible in this field and to serve the community in an even better way. Now, there’s no turning back. Serving the community and taking pelvic health to a newer level in India and especially among those for whom these services are far to be known is what I am aiming for.

Thank you APTA , Academy of Pelvic Health!!!

Written by Ashwini Kale PT, PhD

About the Author: Ashwini Kale is an Associate Professor working in MGM Institute of Physiotherapy, Aurangabad, India. She has a passion for women’s health and has been working in the field for 10 years. She advocates the practice of postpartum physical therapy against the strong cultural beliefs and traditions.