KCP orthopedic and pelvic floor physical therapist Ashley Williams had the honor of serving on a panel of women’s health experts at a recent event discussing menopause in Charlotte.
On Saturday, March 22, a sold out crowd gathered at the Independent Picture House for a screening of the short film The M Factor. Organized by Jasmine Cutlip of Signature Wellness, the event was designed to bring awareness about menopause, a topic that impacts millions of women annually. The film featured leading experts from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, The Menopause Society, Mayo Clinic and more.
Created with the goal of helping women to feel more supported in their journeys to and through menopause, the film exposed many of the challenges that women face while being ignored, ridiculed and / or shamed, and ultimately left untreated.
The film attempts to “shred the silence on menopause” and be a part of a movement to foster change in a broken healthcare system.
In the panel discussion that followed, Ashley was joined by other experts in the field to discuss some of the challenges that they have seen in their respective practices from women who are menopausal or going through perimenopause.
Ashley talked about the role that estrogen plays in women’s bodies and the effects that declining levels can have on the musculoskeletal system. A weak pelvic floor, accompanied by urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, can be a common occurrence during these years. “But remember – ‘common’ doesn’t equal ‘normal’, and ‘not normal’ doesn’t mean ‘not fixable,” says Ashley. These common issues can often be dramatically improved or completely resolved with the right combination of exercises.
“Addressing the problem earlier is going to make your outcome so much better,” advises Ashley. She noted that many women begin experiencing some leakage postpartum and never seek treatment, thinking that to leak after childbirth is normal. These same women, who have been experiencing minor leakage for years, may be experiencing even greater issues with incontinence and prolapse in menopause. While it’s never too late to address the problem, clients are likely to experience results on a much quicker timeline when they seek treatment sooner than later.
We were thrilled to be a part of the event and plan to continue collaborating with other leaders in this field to educate women and provide resources for them in their perimenopause and menopausal journeys. If you’d like to learn more about working with Ashley Williams for issues such as incontinence, pelvic prolapse, painful intercourse, lower back pain, or other pelvic floor issues, please contact our office at 704-541-1191.
