Show Notes HOST Melody Hartzler | | Book Appointment AROUND THE TABLE Becky Parr | | Visit Website AROUND THE TABLE Kristen Schulte | Visit Website In Today's Episode In this episode of Table Talk, Melody sits down with physical therapists Becky Par and Kristen to explore the evolving role of physical therapy in women’s health, athletic performance, and whole-person wellness. They discuss everything from pelvic floor dysfunction and postpartum recovery to inflammation, injury prevention, and why physical therapy should be viewed as proactive healthcare—not just rehab after surgery or injury. Key Take Aways Physical therapy is preventative care, not just rehab. Annual PT check-ins can identify movement dysfunctions before they become injuries. Pelvic floor dysfunction is common—but not normal. Symptoms like urinary leakage, pelvic heaviness, constipation, and postpartum pain are treatable. Women’s health challenges are often multifactorial. Stress, inflammation, nutrient depletion, hormones, and caregiving demands all impact healing and performance. Cash-based PT models allow for individualized, holistic care. Longer visits create space for root-cause problem solving and collaboration across healthcare disciplines. Female athletes need specialized movement support. Proper pressure management, biomechanics, and strength coordination can prevent issues like leakage and injury during training. Topics Discussed 00:00 – Welcome + Guest Introductions Melody introduces Becky and Kristen and sets the stage for a conversation on women’s health physical therapy. 00:43 – Becky’s Journey into Pelvic Health PT From orthopedic sports medicine to specializing in pregnancy, postpartum care, and pelvic floor rehabilitation. 06:39 – Kristen’s Athletic Background + Founding PT 212 How her own injury and frustrating rehab experience shaped her patient-centered PT philosophy. 11:00 – Why Traditional PT Models Fall Short Insurance limitations, protocol-driven care, and why both guests built cash-based practices. 16:30 – The Hidden Health Burden Women Carry Stress, caregiving, inflammation, nutrient depletion, and why women often delay their own care. 24:05 – Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Explained Common symptoms, postpartum recovery, menopause-related pelvic changes, and available treatments. 31:48 – What is a Pessary? How pessaries support pelvic organ prolapse and help women return to exercise safely. 35:39 – Menstrual Cups + Pelvic Floor Health Addressing common concerns and proper usage considerations. 37:42 – Female Athletes: Injury Prevention + Performance Optimization Why PT assessments can improve efficiency, strength, and movement quality. 41:00 – Why Leaking During Exercise Isn’t “Normal” Pressure management, movement corrections, and simple fixes for common issues. 45:29 – How to Find the Right Physical Therapist What to look for in a PT: individualized care, athletic understanding, and treatment philosophy. 51:28 – Final Thoughts + Resources Why PT belongs in every woman’s long-term wellness plan. Resources Mentioned Table Talk Podcast — Resources & Links Our Guests' Practices Dr. Becky Parr, PT, DPT — Resilience Physical Therapy (Dayton, OH; orthopedic & pelvic/women's health, in-person, mobile & telehealth): https://resiliencept.net Dr. Kristen Schulte Adkins, PT, DPT — Physical Therapy 212 (Troy, OH; sports/orthopedic PT, Classical Pilates, growing pelvic health): https://www.physicaltherapy212.com The PharmToTable Team - Functional Medicine Providers Website: https://pharmtotable.life/provider Find a PT in Your Area APTA "Find a PT" directory: https://www.choosept.com/find-a-pt APTA Pelvic Health PT locator (for pelvic/women's health specialists): https://www.aptapelvichealth.org/ptlocator-womens-health Becky's tip for vetting a PT: Use the locator to find someone in your area, then call the clinic and ask to speak with the therapist. Ask about their treatment philosophy and their specific experience treating athletes like you — the biomechanics of each sport differ, so a great runner's PT isn't automatically a great fit for a volleyball player. Read the therapist's bio first, and look for a provider who'll meet you where you're at and get on board with your goals. Therapies & Approaches Discussed Pelvic floor physical therapy Pelvic floor muscle training Biofeedback therapy Real-time ultrasound (transabdominal/transperineal imaging) Pessary support devices Functional movement screening Running gait analysis Manual therapy (hands-on treatment) Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) Nutrition and hydration support
