Motivate Therapy

Motivate Therapy Our team of therapists specialize in pelvic, abdominal, and orthopedic conditions. We combine manual therapies with functional exercise. Change Starts Here.

We educate and empower through awareness of healthy habits. Our therapists work closely with your physicians to provide one-on-one customized treatments for a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our rehabilitation methods combine manual therapies with personalized training in a therapeutic exercise program. Because of our personal approach, we are better able to assess and address each patient’s

particular needs. Patient, physician and therapist work together as a team to provide motivation and individualized support.

07/31/2026

Dynamic motions can effectively stretch and strengthen the deep core, including the diaphragm. Movements such as Cat and Cow are great because they help the body and mind learn how to coordinate the breath when transitioning between positions.
Begin on your hands and knees. Wrists should be slightly forward of the shoulders, and knees under the hips. Inhaling, the back arches, lead by sticking the tail bone out towards the back of the head as it arches back, looking up at the ceiling. Exhale, tucking the tailbone in, arching the back up towards the ceiling bringing the chin towards the chest. Think of using the abs on the exhale to lift the p***c bone, arching the back as the tail is being tucked.

Repeat this sequence for about 5-10 complete cycles. Do this movement every day to gain control of your breath.

**Disclaimer: As with all exercise programs, when using our exercise programs and videos, you need to use common sense. To reduce and avoid injury, you will want to check with your doctor before beginning any fitness program. By performing any fitness exercises, you are performing them at your own risk. Motivatetherapy.com will not be responsible or liable for any injury or harm you sustain as a result of our fitness program, DVD, online fitness videos, or information shared on our website. This includes emails, videos and text. Thanks for your understanding.***

07/25/2026

Begin lying down on your back with the knees bent. Place a rice bag, book or light weight on top of your lower belly. Take 2-5 breaths and observe the movement of the rice bag.
Did it rise?
Place your fingers below chest line, on each side of the rib cage. Feel the fingers move apart and back towards each other during the inhale and exhale.
What finger movement pattern did you notice?
Pay attention to your chest. What pattern do you recognize during your breathing?
Ideally, you should be able to feel the rice bag rising, your fingers being pushed apart as the waist expands during the inhalation and everything falling back together (towards the belly button) during the exhalation. The chest and the fingers shoulder not rise up towards the face on inhale.
Gentle inhale through the nose. Gentle exhale through pursed lips seems to help the ease of the type of breathing, improving daily awareness and control.
Change begins with awareness.

It is important to release tension of muscles that are considered accessory breathing muscles. If these muscles are tight and hold tension, they will not allow you to complete a deep diaphragmatic breath.

Typically tension in the neck, shoulders, upper chest, ribs and trunk, as well as the back and spinal muscles can all affect one's ability to effectively breathe using the diaphragm. Releasing these muscles and retraining the use of them can significantly improve diaphragm breathing ability and bladder control.



physio-pedia.com/Muscles_of_Respiration

07/18/2026

One of the best ways to control urge of bladder (or bowel) is diaphragmatic breathing. Using this type of breathing BEFORE running to the bathroom is called the urge suppression technique. Use this technique when you feel a strong urge to urinate; allowing for YOU to be in control, NOT your bladder..
This technique consists of 4 simple steps when the urge arises:
Stop the activity that you are currently doing. Either sit down or stand still.
DO NOT rush to the bathroom.
Breath. Take 3-4 slow deep breaths. Focus on the sensations you feel with each breath.
Check if the urge is JUST AS STRONG:
YES- BREATHE, do not rush to the bathroom. Begin walking towards the bathroom. ONLY think about breathing the entire walk to the bathroom.
NO- the urge decreased- continue the activity you were previously doing and do not go to the bathroom, until the urge returns. Then follow steps above calmly walking to bathroom.

You Got This

🔥😍 Way to SelfCare! Therapy is a natural, conservative approach to SelfCare using your mind and body to heal itself thro...
07/14/2026

🔥😍 Way to SelfCare! Therapy is a natural, conservative approach to SelfCare using your mind and body to heal itself through awareness of habits. Ask Motivate today if it can help Change your life.

07/11/2026

Diaphragmatic breathing is a technique that consists of breathing effortlessly, not pushing the belly out or sucking it in. Consider the core like a balloon, expanding and contracting in four-dimensions.
During a breath in:
The belly rises upwards
The ribs expand laterally on the right and left side
The upper back expands outwards
Belly pressure moves down
Everything returns back to center on the breath out.

Shallow breathing, on the other hand, does not produce this 4D effect. Instead, it mainly moves the chest upwards, flattening ribs and belly. This breathing pattern does not allow for the lungs to fully expand, the pelvic floor to move as it should and the deep core to work to its full potential (which includes bladder control).

Resources: mana.md/should-you-worry-about-shallow-breathing/

07/04/2026

From our Motivate family to yours; Happy Independence Day!!!

07/04/2026

The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle under the ribs and separates the chest from the belly. Due to its anatomy, the diaphragm has two VERY IMPORTANT ROLES: breathing and posture (core stability and pressure management).

There is a connection between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor muscles. During the inhale, just like the diaphragm, the pelvic floor trampoline drops down towards the feet. This happens due to the increased intra-abdominal pressure and the guts move down to allow room for the lungs.

Viewing the connection between these 2 body parts, one can better understand how important it is to be aware of daily breathing patterns. Re-training your body how to properly use the diaphragm will help one feel "true" urge as well as controlling it in order to make it to the bathroom.
Next time a strong urge to use the bathroom occurs, try diaphragmatic breathing to calm the nervous system as well as improve deep core muscle control.

You Got This.

Resources:
PMC3731110
PMID: 30592726

06/27/2026

1. Breathing in- Inhaling, the diaphragm moves down, increasing your intra-abdominal pressure. The rib muscles assist in expanding the ribcage up and outward. This in turn causes the lungs to expand and air to get in. Important for pelvic health as the pressure moving down allows for the trampoline of the pelvic floor to move down. This is needed for bladder control.
2. Gas exchange- This process occurs inside the lungs. Simply, it is when the oxygen enters the bloodstream and carbon dioxide (CO2) leaves the body.
3. Breathing out- As the diaphragm moves back up (to its original dome shape) and the intercostal muscles bring the rib cage down and inward, the intra-abdominal pressure decreases. This is also needed for bladder control

**Important concepts to keep in mind are the pressure changes between the chest and belly during breathing. Sucking in the belly all day does not allow for this type of breathing and may affect pelvic floor function (the ability to hold to control urine).

Address

4920 East State Street, Suite 4
Rockford, IL
61108

Opening Hours

Monday 6:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 6:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 6:30am - 5pm
Thursday 6:30am - 5pm
Friday 7:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+18156371100

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