63. Birth Injuries, Pubic Symphysis and Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

In this episode of The V Hive, I am joined by Ronit Sukenick, a pelvic floor physical therapist based in both New York City and Westchester, New York. Her physical therapy career began at New York Presbyterian Hospital and her interest in this field started after she, herself, experienced the pain, disability, and helplessness of pelvic girdle pain and subsequent pelvic floor dysfunction during and after both of her pregnancies.

Help was hard to find, as few physical therapists had the requisite training to recognize and treat pelvic floor dysfunction. In 2012, after the birth of her second child and with a newfound passion and focus on this underserved specialty, Ronit established the Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University. She opened a private practice in 2016−RS Physical Therapy in Irvington, NY, where she treats male and female patients with various pelvic floor/lumbopelvic dysfunction. She has since left New York Presbyterian Hospital this past April to build her practice.

In this episode Ronit shares her personal story in depth and we discuss various pelvic floor disorders that can happen as a result of pregnancy, and how they can be treated. She also explains what women can do to prevent birth injuries, in addition to how mothers can stay resilient in despite of chronic pain.