« Rehabilitation

Incontinence & Pelvic Therapy

Treating bladder, bowel and pelvic floor conditions for men, women and children

Man and woman walking outside

HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital offers specialized treatment for men, women and children with our pelvic therapy program. 

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support your reproductive and urinary tract, including your bladder, uterus or prostate, and rectum. These muscles attach to your pelvis, tailbone and sacrum. In addition to providing support, they also help with bowel and bladder control as well as function.

When the pelvic floor muscles are not working correctly, such as being too weak or unable to relax fully, they often cause pain as well as other symptoms such as urinary/fecal incontinence, or difficulty with emptying the bladder or bowel completely. These issues significantly impact daily life. 

Common causes of pelvic floor dysfunction can include: infections, pregnancy or childbirth, prostate disorders, chronic stress/anxiety, poor posture, back issues, trauma or surgery.

Men and women in a yoga class

How Can Pelvic Therapy Help?

Pelvic dysfunction can affect anyone regardless of their gender or age, including children. Left untreated, many of these conditions can lead to low self-esteem, withdrawal from physical activity and withdrawal from social situations and personal relationships.

Conditions/symptoms that pelvic therapy can help include:

  • Urinary and fecal incontinence
  • Urinary urgency/frequency/retention
  • Fecal urgency/frequency
  • Constipation/incomplete emptying
  • Post-prostatectomy dysfunctions
  • Pelvic pain
  • Pelvic organ prolapse
  • Prenatal & postnatal care
  • Painful tailbone/coccydynia
  • Post-cancer care
  • Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder
  • Painful intercourse

What To Expect

A physical therapist will ask questions regarding your pelvic floor, past medical history and current condition/lifestyle. Your pelvic floor evaluation may include a posture assessment, evaluation of core muscles and screening for any muscle or joint problems, including pain, that may be contributing to your condition.

Adult assessments may include observation of vaginal/rectal area and an internal assessment of the pelvic floor strength and/or external pelvic floor sensors. Each patient will receive individual and specific exercises to improve weakness, tightness, posture, lack of flexibility, bladder retraining, behavior modification, etc.

Treatment may include but is not limited to biofeedback, manual therapy, soft tissue and/or joint mobilization, mobilization, and educational instruction. Treatments are not affected by menstrual cycle. You and your therapist will discuss recommended treatment and frequency of return visits based on your needs and the evaluation findings.

Return visits allow us to monitor your progress and allow us to advance your exercise program as appropriate.

Active participation in your therapy is very important. We will be partners in achieving the goal of improving your health. We need your assistance in developing meaningful goals that will lead to a successful program.

Please feel free to call us if you have any questions or you can ask at your
appointment time.

We provide a confidential, one-on-one physical therapy session in a private treatment room with a private bathroom. No specific clothing is required. We want you to be comfortable. If needed, we do have gowns.

Meet the Team

Morgan Hoene, PT, DPT

Morgan Hoene, PT, DPT

Morgan Hoene, PT, DPT, graduated from Maryville University with her doctorate in physical therapy in 2020. After one year of working at St. Anthony’s, with a focus on general orthopedic therapy, Morgan received her Level 1 Herman and Wallace pelvic floor certification and since then, has completed additional continuing education focusing on increasing her knowledge and skills to better serve the vast pelvic floor population.

Morgan is dry needle certified and is eager to continue to add to her list of certifications. She both men and women of all ages, including children. Morgan has a passion working with this population and bringing awareness about the benefits of pelvic floor physical therapy to the public.

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Jessica Mottashed, PT, DPT

Jessica Mottashed, PT, DPT

Jessica Motashed, PT, DPT, graduated from Missouri State University with a doctorate in physical therapy in 2017. Since graduating, she has had a focus in pelvic floor rehabilitation at HSHS St. Anthony’s Hospital. Jessica has completed certifications of Level 1, Level 2A and Level 2B from the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute.

In addition, she also has advanced certifications for trigger point dry needling and ASTYM. Jessica has an interest in treating both men and women with a wide variety of diagnoses, including bowel and bladder dysfunction, pelvic pain, pain with intercourse, incontinence, prolapse, prenatal and postpartum care.

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Leah Passalacqua, PT, PRPC

Leah Passalacqua, PT, PRPC

Leah Passalacqua, PT, PRPC, is a board certified pelvic rehabilitation practitioner with close to 30 years of clinical experience. In looking for better outcomes, she has dedicated her time to exploring how different types of physical therapy can improve the quality of life for her patients. Her focus for over 20 years has been outpatient pelvic health for men and women of all ages.

She continues to further her education and has received numerous pelvic health certifications including Pelvic Floor Capstone. In addition, she has advanced training and certification in myofascial release, dry needling, ASTYM, strain counterstrain, visceral mobilization, and numerous other orthopedic applications.

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Caitlin Sudkamp, PTA

Caitlin Sudkamp, PTA

Caitlin Sudkamp, PTA, has an associate degree from Lake Land College and has over 13 years of experience in physical therapy. She has been with HSHS St. Anthony’s Rehabilitation and Well-ness for over 11 years. She is trained and certified in pelvic floor therapy, along with ASTYM, Dartfish, Blood Flow Restriction as well as many other orthopedic certifications, including a background in treating collegiate level athletes and runners.

Caitlin enjoys treating all aspects of pelvic floor physical therapy of both men and women with a strong interest of pregnancy/postpartum care, pediatrics and perimenopausal patients. She has received numerous pelvic floor certifications including Level 1, 2A and 2B, as well as pediatric play skills through the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. She is a credentialed clinical instructor for the American Physical Therapy Association.

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Getting a Referral

HSHS St. Anthony's has physical therapists with advanced training and specialization in identifying and treating the multiple contributing factors of pelvic floor dysfunction. 

Questions & Referrals

Anyone experiencing one or more symptoms should talk to their doctor about their concerns. A referral with your doctor is recommended prior to scheduling an appointment.

HSHS St. Anthony's accepts most insurances and your insurance benefits can be checked before your evaluation.

For questions or more information about how you may benefit from pelvic therapy, contact HSHS St. Anthony’s Pelvic Health Specialty Clinic at 217-347-1243.

Treatment

Once a patient has been evaluated, a treatment plan will be personalized and may include computerized biofeedback, manometry training, and/or balloon training.