Dr. Chelsea Schwegman, PT,  DPT

My initial interest in pelvic health began while I was in physical therapy school. My sister was pregnant with her first child and was experiencing pelvic pain early on. Frustrated that my schooling did not cover this topic in much detail, I helped her the best I could at the time to find relief for the remaining five months of pregnancy. Fast forward, now working with spine pain every day, I began noticing a pattern. Women were telling me about low back pain and incontinence that they had endured for 5-20 years. The story was always, “it began when I was pregnant…when I delivered my children… it never went away.” After hearing this for almost a year, I officially began the journey into women’s health physical therapy. The pelvis has a close relationship with the spine and subtle modifications can impact quality of life. I want to educate women on how they don’t have to settle for pain in exchange for having a family. Furthermore,there are ways to find relief with reproductive conditions such as PCOS or Endometriosis.

Earlier this year I became Pelvic Floor Level 1 certified through Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. I’ve taken courses on Pregnancy and Postpartum Rehabilitation which addresses conditions such as pelvic girdle and low back pain during pregnancy and postpartum, diastasis recti, cesarean scar release,  incontinence, and mastitis. I’ve also taken courses in visceral mobilization of the abdomen with plans to complete the reproductive course next year. I’m currently learning more about therapy for reproductive conditions to expand my knowledge and skill set for a more inclusive approach to women’s health.