Hello & Welcome to Today's Episode about all things Female Athlete with my friend and colleague, Ros Cooke. I had the pleasure of seeing Ros present on this topic at the POGP conference in Edinburgh last October.

In today's episode, we discussed

• pelvic health in sports
• the 6Rs framework for postpartum athletes and its application to broader pelvic health considerations. (Donnelly et al 2022 Reframing return-to-sport postpartum: the 6 Rs framework)
• we also explored how pelvic floor dysfunction can contribute to groin pain in athletes and emphasized the importance of integrating pelvic health into mainstream sports medicine practice.
• The conversation also covered ACL injury prevention in female athletes, with Ros highlighting that while hormonal factors may play a role, they are just one aspect among many including biomechanics, training environment, and overall athlete resilience.
• We both agreed that successful injury prevention programs need to be purposeful, meaningful, and integrated across all aspects of an athlete's training and lifestyle, with pelvic health being an essential component of this holistic approach.




I love needing out with clever people at this intersection of hormonal, pelvic & musculoskeletal health - and I think Ros is doing amazing things in this space to improve education, awareness and outcomes - you can find her on instagram @rosralph - you can find my continuing adventures in women's health there too @michellelyons_muliebrity

And...if you'd like to learn more about menstrual health AND pelvic health for young female athletes - you might enjoy my latest online course, 'The Menstrual Detective' and you'll get the mini course 'Pelvic Health for the Younger Female Athlete' FOR FREE!!! all the details can be found at CelebrateMuliebrity.com

Until next time, Onwards & Upwards! Mx

Hello & Welcome to today's episode, where I'm chatting with Dr Melissa Davidson about prolapse, avulsions and pessaries!

My guest today is a specialist physiotherapist in pelvic health, and we discussed her career journey, including her specialization in pelvic health in New Zealand, where she is the only registered specialist. She highlighted her expertise in advanced clinical practice, research, and leadership within the profession. Melissa also shared her experience conducting research in bioengineering at Auckland University, which revealed that physiotherapists' assessments of muscle tone and stiffness lack objective measurement methods, challenging traditional practices in the field...

We discussed the importance of evidence-based practice in pelvic health physiotherapy, particularly regarding prolapse and pain management. Melissa shared her experience conducting a PhD in bioengineering, which challenged many accepted beliefs in physiotherapy and highlighted the need to think outside traditional silos.

Melissa shared her experience developing and using a 3D model named Lily for patient education, discovering its effectiveness in helping patients understand complex medical concepts. She discussed her collaboration with bioengineers, noting that while the engineers were initially skeptical about her approach, they eventually recognized the value of her clinical perspective

We explored the diagnosis of levator avulsion and emphasized that a definitive diagnosis should not be made before 6-12 months postpartum, and we highlighted the importance of careful wording when communicating with patients about this condition, as the diagnosis can be devastating and there is currently no surgical fix.

Melissa discussed her approach to pessary management and training for physiotherapists, emphasizing the importance of medical clearance and speculum exams for assessing mucosal integrity. She explained the assessment process for avulsion injuries, including the use of a training model and peer-to-peer learning. Melissa also highlighted the need for informed decision-making during pregnancy regarding delivery options, advocating for patient autonomy and open discussions about birth plans.

We definitely agreed on the importance of using validated research and scientific terminology, rather than relying on subjective assessments or unproven treatments.

This was definitely a deep and rich conversation, that I really enjoyed...and I hope you will too!

Want to learn more about prolapse and other perinatal pelvic health issues, from a whole woman, evidence based, clinical reasoning from assessment to management perspective? And do it all online, with evergreen access to the course AND a private fb support group? Look no further! My new online course, Perinatal Pelvic Rehab, has you covered, from preconception through pregnancy to postpartum (including what we need to be aware of when someone is postnatal AND perimenopausal! - if you work with perinatal women aged 35+, you need to know this!). Visit CelebrateMuliebrity.com for all the course info!

Until next time, Onwards & Upwards, Mx

Hello & Welcome to the Podcast!

Today's episode is brought to you by my online course 'The Menstrual Detective' which also includes 'Pelvic Health for the Young Female Athlete'

This could be my favourite episode of 2026 (and yes, I know it's very early in the year to call it - but this chat is THAT GOOD!)

Today I'm delighted to chat with Dr Jenny LaCross and Dr Laurel Proulx about their super paper that appeared in the Autumn issue of the POGP, called 'Exploring the connection between the hip and pelvic floor in women with exercise-induced urinary incontinence: integrating clinical hypotheses with current evidence'

In this episode, we explore:

• the relationship between the hip and the pelvic floor (what is actually happening - this may surprise you...)
• exercise induced incontinence, especially in nulliparous athletes
• the other variables we have to consider, including REDs and Hypermobility
• the Pudendal nerve and its role in SUI




and much much more!! These researchers are creating conversations that are literally changing how we think about pelvic health - I can't wait to see where they go to next!

You can find Jenny on instagram as @jenn.lacross and Laurel is there too as @dr.laurelproulx - and of course you can follow my continuing adventures in women's health there too @michellelyons_muliebrity

If you'd like to learn more about how menstrual health and hormonal health and incontinence all intertwine, particularly for our younger female clients...then check out my online course, The Menstrual Detective, which includes the course Pelvic Health for the Young Female Athlete - all of the details for all of the courses can be found at CelebrateMuliebrity.com.

Until next time,

Onwards & Upwards! Mx

(and don't forget to #celebratemuliebrity!)

Hello & Welcome to today's conversation where I'm continuing the GLP1 conversation - this time I'm exploring the role of these meds in managing inflammation, MCAS, POTS, ME/CFS and the intersection of all of this with menopause and ageing.

I first got interested in this topic when I was creating my new online menopause course (Flourish! The Menopausal Toolbox) and I took a deep dive into inflammaging and menopause and nutrition, movement, stress management & lifestyle approaches (as well as pelvic rehab, obvs!)

I did a post on social media and Jessica responded and...here we are! Jessica has been in this space for a long time and brings a really interesting perspective and of course the evidence to support it too!

You can find her on social media as @jessrdrummond and of course at The Integrative Women's Health Institute

Want to learn more about this? There's a whole module on inflammaging in my online menopause course, including the research on GLP1 meds at menopause - along with other modules on musculoskeletal, metabolic and of course on pelvic health too!

All of the details (of ALL my online women's health courses) are at CelebrateMuliebrity.com or follow my continuing adventures in women's health on instagram @michellelyons_muliebrity

Until next time,

Onwards & Upwards! Mx

and don't forget to #celebratemuliebrity

Hello & Welcome to 2026 and the 100th episode of the podcast!! I'm excited and grateful to have reached this milestone and for all of the great conversations I've had with brilliant and clever clinicians and researchers - and I have some very exciting episodes coming up, with topics including prolapse, periods, female athletes, urinary incontinence, lumbopelvic pain and more!

Today, its all about GLP1 meds & what we need to consider when it comes to women's health from weight loss, inflammation, musculoskeletal and pelvic health and the particular implications for menopause as well

It is an exciting time to be working in women's health - how we can play a role in women's health & wellness & longevity, incorporating pelvic health as a strong foundation we can build on (and if you're NOT excited about working in women's health...you might be doing it wrong - but I've got a course for that - problem solved, just visit CelebrateMuliebrity.com )

I hope you'll consider joining me, either for the full Flourish! Menopausal Toolbox, where we deeply discuss the intersection of menopause, ageing & inflammation or with Pelvic Floor University for my class with them this Friday - you can join me live (and ask questions!) or access the recording afterwards

do let me know if YOU have a specific women's health topic you'd like me to cover on the podcast - you know me, any excuse to nerd out!! (bonus points if it includes constipation ;)

I hope you have a happy and healthy 2026 - I'm excited to continue the women's health evidence based conversation, both in all of my online courses, at upcoming live events and of course here on the podcast

See you next time

Onwards & Upwards! Mx

(and don't forget to celebrate muliebrity!)

Welcome to today's episode, with my friend & colleague, Dr Carina Siracusa

In today's  conversation, we focused on discussing dysautonomia and its implications for pelvic health, as well as the role of the autonomic system, the overlap of issues including POTS, MCAS & hEDS…and of course we talked about bowel health (shocker!) and the chapter we wrote on GI dysfunction in female athletes for Grainne Donnelly’s new book ‘Sports Medicine & the Pelvic Floor’ which is coming out in early 2026 (available for pre-order now!)

In this conversation:

• ​we explored how dysautonomia manifests in pelvic floor dysfunction, bladder and bowel issues, and its connection to conditions like POTS and EDS.
• ​The conversation covered diagnostic approaches, medical management strategies, and the importance of considering the autonomic nervous system in pelvic health treatment.
• ​We also discussed the broader role of physiotherapy in addressing both physical and mental health aspects, emphasising the need for therapists to recognise when to refer patients to other specialists while maintaining their scope of practice.
• ​The discussion highlighted the evolving nature of physical therapy practice and the profession's growing recognition of the importance of mental health and lifestyle factors in patient care…and much more!

You can find Carina on Instagram as @carinadpt and of course you can find me there too as @michellelyons_physio

If you’re listening to this before the end of December, a reminder that my winter sale is still on for a few more days - you can use the code PF75 for a €75 discount on any of my online courses - all the details are at CelebrateMuliebrity.com 🥳🥳🥳

Wishing you all the happiest of festive seasons! Mx and of course, Onwards and Upwards for 2026!! #celebratemuliebrity

What a treat this conversation was for me! I had the pleasure of listening to the fabulous Prof Angie Doshani at the POGP conference in Edinburgh in September - she absolutely rocked the stage and gave an intensely thought provoking presentation on the importance of personalising pelvic health, taking into account cultural, ethnic, religious and language considerations.

In this conversation, we talked about:

• Culturally Sensitive Pelvic Health Support
• Clinical Communication Strategies for Pelvic Pain
• Patient Self-Assessment for Diverse Care
• Supporting Women in Culturally Appropriate Pelvic Health Spaces
• Enhancing Medical Communication with Technology
• and much more!

As well as being a consultant obstetrican/gynaecologist, Angie is a researcher, professor and a driver of change, as well as the developer of the Janam app, which is leading the way in developing a digital knowledge base to support women's perinatal pelvic health, in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way (currently available in English & 6 other languages).

I don't say this lightly but this may have been one of my favourite conversations on the podcast - thought provoking, challenging and inspirational. Let me know what you think!

(and just a reminder...if you're listening to this podcast in December...you can use the code PF75 on any (all!) of my online courses, from female pelvic pain, to oncology, from menstrual to menopausal health, bowel health to back pain...but only until Dec31st! All of the course info is on my website CelebrateMuliebrity.com or follow along for my continuing adventures in women's health on instagram (@michellelyons_muliebrity) or...my online group for women's health clinicians on Facebook, Global Pelvic Physio

Thanks for listening, let me know what YOU think and until next time...Onwards & Upwards! Mx #celebratemuliebrity

Welcome to today's episode where I had the pleasure of chatting with Anna Maria Mazzieri about the intersection of manual therapy in the treatment of pain, a biopsychosocial approach and working through a trauma informed lens

👉We talked about the role of touch in helping people reclaim their body schema, moving from disembodiment to embodiment, how trauma, especially Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs), can cause and perpetuate persistent pain

👉Why manual therapy shouldn't be a nociceptive input but rather a strategy for helping people reframe their relationship with their bodies, particularly when they have widespread chronic pain

👉What happens when we touch people in a therapeutic environment

👉We also talked about the 'how' of why manual therapy works and how we can explain it to the people we are working with, with compassion AND with evidence based, trauma informed viewpoint (no more hurting people!)

👉’Touch is sensory evidence of you being YOU’

👋👋👋

Anna Maria teaches at the ST School in the UK (@theist school on instagram) - she offers both in person and online classes - highly recommended!

💝💝💝

And a reminder that my Winter Sale is now on - use the code PF75 at checkout to save €75 at checkout on ALL of the online course at CelebrateMuliebrity.com

Until next time, Onwards and Upwards! Mx #celebratemuliebrity

Hello and welcome to today's episode where I had the pleasure of chatting with Dr Erin Locati, where we talk about all things peripartum, especially in the context of high risk pregnancies

Erin is an acute care physical therapist in Texas, specialising in pelvic care for high-risk pregnancy patients.

In this conversation, we discussed the criteria and complications associated with high-risk pregnancies. We also explored exercise recommendations for high-risk pregnant patients, the challenges of managing stress in obstetrics, and the importance of person-centered care and documentation in peripartum care.

Topics included:

High-Risk Pregnancy Care Planning

High-Risk Pregnancy Myths Debunked

Guidelines for Safe Pregnancy Exercise

Evidence-Based Obstetrics Communication Strategies

Medical Deviation and Legal Implications

Postpartum Care and Social Support

Peripartum Care and Patient Connection

And more!!

You can find Erin on instagram as @erinlocati_pt (and I’m there too @michellelyons_muliebrity)

💝💝💝

Want to learn more about Perinatal Pelvic Rehab? And save €100? Today (Sunday) is the last day of the opening weekend of my Winter Sale - use the code thanks100 at checkout 🥳🥳🥳

All the course info is at CelebrateMuliebrity.com or send me a DM on instagram

Until next time, Onwards & Upwards! Mx #celebratemuliebrity

Hello and welcome to today's conversation with Andrew McCauley, a clinical specialist physiotherapist in lower limb/strength & conditioning, from Ireland and now based in the UK

In today's conversation, we talk about Andrew's journey as a physio, a coach and an educator, teaching therapists how to communicate effectively, especially around integrating strength and conditioning principles into rehab (and why I think he's a covert pelvic physio...)

We talked about the importance of being a good communicator, especially when working with people in pain, building trust and creating a safe space, for discussing sensitive topics such as pelvic health.

We also explored the principles of strength and conditioning, focusing on the importance of understanding concepts like stability and progressive overload. Andrew talked about how easy it can be for us to overlook the basics, but how we can effectively conduct strength training exercises without equipment, highlighting the need for effort and proper rest (we also discussed how we can intersect the worlds of pelvic health and strength training)

We discussed exercise prescription strategies, how to adapt exercises based on patient characteristics and goals and how to get really good at asking better questions...as well as Therapist Anxiety Syndrome (you'll have to listen to find out more!)

Andrew is all about empowering patients through clear goal setting and enhancing physio education and practice - I'm excited to be a student on Andrew's upcoming course, integrating coaching principles with strength and conditioning principles. His course in Ireland will be in beautiful Sligo but he teaches all over the UK as well - all the details on his instagram @procaresports

Here’s the link to the paper Andrew mentioned: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37414459/

🥳🥳🥳

Want to learn more about helping women at every age and stage? My online courses, from The Menstrual Detective to Perinatal Pelvic Health to The Menopausal Toolbox, Breast Cancer to Pelvic Oncology, Back Pain to Bowel Function are all available at CelebrateMuliebrity.com and you can follow my continuing adventure in women's health on instagram @michellelyons_muliebrity

Until next time, Onwards & Upwards! Mx