Lilac Physical Therapy

07/15/2026

It's been a little quiet on here for the last few weeks due to needing to spend my extra time on renewal requirements for licensure as well as for my Orthopedic Clinical Specialization. I'm happy to share this certification has been renewed for another 10 years!

Want to learn more about what it means? Check it out here: Orthopaedics | APTA Specialist Certification - Governed by ABPTS https://share.google/0DU9uUKAAj1zVTUpF

The first orthopaedics specialist certification examination was administered in 1989. As of July 2026, ABPTS has 26,508 board-certified orthopaedic health clinical specialists. All physical therapists are qualified through education, clinical experience, and licensure to treat a broad spectrum of sy...

06/23/2026

Tuesday Topic: Pelvic Organ Prolapse

June is prolapse awareness month.

What is prolapse?
•It is when the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, and/or re**um) change their anatomical position within the pelvis.
•The grade of prolapse is named for how much the anatomical position has changed, with higher numbers indicating a greater change.
•Symptoms include a bulge at the va**nal opening, feeling of heaviness/pressure in the pelvis, difficulty emptying bladder or leaking, low back or pelvic pain, and/or needing to provide counterpressure during bowel movements

What contributes to prolapse?
•Gender (the larger urogenital hiatus (area between the p***c symphysis and perineum) is larger in women with the additional opening of the va**na)
•Vaginal birth (urogenital hiatus has to get larger for baby to pass through)
•Significant changes in hormones (periods with lower progesterone and estrogen associated with postpartum and menopause lend to changes in tissue support
•Pressure management (inability to or difficulty with managing intraabdominal pressure effectively)

What treatments are available?
•Pelvic health physical therapy for improving muscle control and strength in the pelvic floor, abdominal, back, and hip muscles to help with pressure management, load transfer, and symptoms
•Pessaries (think about it as an ankle brace when you sprain your ankle-it can provide temporary or longer term support to the pelvic organs and help with anatomical position and/or symptoms)
•Hormonal support (locally with a topical cream or systemic with supplementation)
•If the above conservative measures are not successful in decreasing symptoms and improving function and quality of life, surgery is an option

The management of prolapse has changed a lot over the years. A multimodal approach is typically most successful through management and optimization of the modifiable factors of pelvic health.

06/14/2026

My heart has been heavy since hearing about Jordan and his family. Tragedies like this hit close to home, and my heart breaks for their family, and especially their sons.

I had the opportunity and privilege to get to know Jordan several years ago when his oldest son was young and he and his wife found out they were expecting their second. His love for his wife and sons was evident, and he was very proud of the family they were building. He was a good man, husband, and father, and I am so sad that his time in these roles was cut short.

One of the things I appreciate most about small communities is how they rally around those experiencing heartache and show up in times of trouble. Sharing this for that purpose, where this community is already showing up in a big way.

Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,
our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.

When we are called to part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives
our courage by the way;
while each in expectation lives
and waits to see the day.

From sorrow, toil, and pain,
and sin, we shall be free;
and perfect love and friendship reign
through all eternity.

Two beautiful friends, kids, parents were taken too soon from us Fri… Nicole Schuler needs your support for Honoring and Remembering Jordan and Sierra Walters

06/12/2026

Great info-Part 2!

06/12/2026

Great info-Part 1!

05/28/2026

Thankful Thursday: Support of Other Local Businesses

Shout out to The Napoleon State Bank for featuring small businesses who bank with them! Grateful for the support from you and others who support small businesses like mine!

I spotted this on their sign on my way through Napoleon and pulled over to capture it in Osgood ❤️

05/25/2026

Meet Your Provider Monday: Remembering the Why

Most of my Memorial Days since moving home have been spent remembering the fallen at our local parade and service. This is one of my favorite traditions in our small community, in addition to the graveside services conducted by the local VFW on the Sunday before Memorial Day.

Thank you to the men and women who sacrificed it all so we could live freely, and to their families who continue to carry the weight of their sacrifice.

05/15/2026

Thursday Thoughts: Impact of Cesarean Incison Closure on "Cesarean Apron"

A recent publication in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology highlighted a potential contribution to the development of the "cesarean apron" or shelf following Cesarean delivery. It proposes that if Scarpa's fascia, the fascial layer between subcutaneous and visceral fat, is not closed separately that scar tissue that develops effectively separates the migration/movement of fat between these areas above and below the in incisional scar, resulting in a line or a shelf.

So, if you've been struggling with still seeing a shelf despite lots of effort and a well-moving scar without restrictions, this could shed some light on why.

You can check out the publication here: The cesarean apron: description, proposed pathophysiology, classification, and prevention through scarpa fascia closure at cesarean delivery - American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology

The “cesarean apron,” also known as a cesarean bulge, pouch, or shelf, is a frequent but often overlooked postoperative deformity of the lower abdominal wall that may occur even after uncomplicated cesarean delivery. It is characterized by redundant skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue that over...

05/12/2026

Take Me Back Tuesday: Mother's Day

This time of year always stirs up all kinds of emotions and encourages reflection.

Personally, if I could go back to when I became a mother for the first time, I'd encourage myself to be more present in the moment, soak up the slow moments, not rush them, or myself, to the next milestone, and have more appreciation and grace for one another as we navigated new roles and all the firsts together.

When would you go back to? And what advice would you give to yourself (or others) navigating that phase of life?

Image from 3 AM with my first at six weeks old after trying to get him to sleep for the last hour while my husband worked night shift at the county jail.

05/08/2026

Friday Facts: Birth

Cesarean delivery: Incision through skin, subcutaneous fat, fascia with separation of re**us muscles (not cut), peritoneum, uterus, and amniotic sac.

Vaginal delivery: Cervix dilates from 0 to 10 centimeters and shortens from an average of 40 millimeters to 0 and levator ani muscles stretch to 3x their resting length.

No matter how you had your baby or babies, you and your body are amazing! All mothers deserve to have rehab after their bodies go through such an extraordinary feat to support their recovery and return to normal function.

Images used with permission from Pelvic Guru®, LLC as a Pelvic Global Member