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Pelvic floor dysfunction. Diastasis. Returning to sport.

There’s a lot of noise online about what postpartum women should or shouldn’t do—and most of it is confusing, fear-based, or missing the bigger picture.

In this episode, I’m joined once again by Gráinne Donnelly—Advanced Practice Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, Doctoral Researcher, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy. She brings a powerhouse combo of clinical and research expertise to the messy, nuanced world of postpartum rehab and performance.

This conversation is a must-listen for clinicians, coaches, and postpartum athletes who want evidence-informed guidance with real-world application.

We talk about:

🔹 How running mechanics and compression garments impact performance and symptoms
 🔹 Navigating diastasis recti with nuance—not fear
 🔹 The influence of social media on exercise messaging and body image
 🔹 Supporting persistently symptomatic athletes (and why it’s not always about fixing everything)
 🔹 The role of internal exams and ultrasound in guiding care
 🔹 Moving beyond generic protocols to truly individualized rehab
 🔹 And why listening deeply to your patient matters more than a checklist

We also get real about how misinformation spreads online—and how to stay grounded in actual evidence without losing the human side of care.

Time Stamps

1:00 Introduction

2:50 pelvic floor dysfunction in athletes

8:55 controlling variables and where to start

14:20 what we can take away from research

17:38 assessing patients and using evaluations

24:00 getting buy-in from your patients

30:19 social media and available information

39:30 treating the individual, not the problem 

51:20 encouraging activity sooner

55:30 rapid fire questions

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

CONNECT WITH GRAINNE:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/absolute.physio/

X: @ABSPhysio

The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.

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