Steamboat Physical Therapist Addresses Pelvic Health Issues

The sun rises over the Yampa River, casting a warm glow over the sleepy town of Steamboat Springs. Locals are sipping coffee, getting ready for another day in the mountains. But for some women, the beauty of the surroundings is overshadowed by discomfort, pain, or embarrassment - all related to problems with their pelvic floor.

Physical therapist Bobbi Franco, with UCHealth SportsMed Clinic, is on a mission to educate women about the importance of pelvic health. She explains that the pelvic floor is a collection of muscles that create a sling or hammock at the base of the pelvis, playing a crucial role in daily life. "The muscles run from the pubic bone to the tail bone, and side to side between the sitz bones," Franco says. "They function to help us hold and release urine and feces, provide a very important sexual function and are also an important part of our deep core muscles."

Issues like urinary or fecal incontinence, frequency and urgency, pain with going to the bathroom or having sex, and even chronic low back or hip pain can signal that something is wrong. These problems can arise at any time but are especially common during pregnancy, childbirth, and after giving birth. Franco notes that she sees many older women who have been experiencing incontinence since they had their kids twenty or even fifty years ago. "I see a lot of older women who wish they had had this service when they were pregnant or early postpartum, and have been having incontinence since they had their kid twenty or even fifty years ago," she says.

Sitting at a desk all day can also cause dysfunction in deep core muscles, and stress should not be underestimated as a contributing factor. "Stress and anxiety are actually some of the biggest causes I see, especially for urinary urgency," Franco explains. "Just like we get a lot of tension in our neck and shoulders when we’re stressed out, we can get the same thing in our pelvic floor."

Franco encourages women to talk to their primary care provider about symptoms and not hesitate to ask for a referral for physical or occupational therapy. "I tend to be the last stop for a lot of people, and I hear a lot of, ‘I wish I had done this earlier,'" she says. Pregnant women don't have to wait until after giving birth to receive treatment. Franco can start training muscles, provide coaching on labor positions, and work on pain management strategies during pregnancy.

In an initial appointment, Franco asks questions, tests muscle strength, and does further examinations as needed. "I think there’s a misconception that we have to do internal work, but that’s never something you have to do," she reassures. Patients return for visits as needed and work on exercises at home. Franco's goal is to incorporate pelvic floor exercises into daily life, making it easier to maintain good habits. "My goal is always to incorporate pelvic floor exercises and activities into your daily life and existing activities – how you’re lifting, walking, doing stairs," she says. "We do those things a hundred times a day and we don’t want to do them wrong a hundred times a day."

As the day unfolds in Steamboat Springs, women are going about their daily routines, some of them struggling with pelvic health issues. But with education and awareness, they can take control of their health, and Franco is there to guide them. The sound of the Yampa River flowing gently in the background serves as a reminder of the beauty and strength that can be found in the human body, and the importance of taking care of it.