Why Pelvic Health Became My Passion
My Journey Into Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Like many physical therapists, I started my career in orthopedic physical therapy. While I enjoyed helping patients recover from injuries, I found myself wanting to spend more time with patients and provide a deeper level of care than traditional outpatient settings often allowed.
Everything changed when I took my first pelvic floor physical therapy course through Herman & Wallace.
I was immediately fascinated by the complexity of the pelvic floor and the profound impact pelvic floor physical therapy could have on people’s daily lives. From bladder leakage and pelvic pain to pregnancy, postpartum recovery, constipation, and pelvic floor dysfunction, I realized this specialty offered an opportunity to help people with conditions that are often misunderstood or overlooked.
From that moment forward, I knew I had found my specialty.
Becoming a Mom Changed My Perspective
My perspective deepened even further after becoming a mother.
I welcomed my daughter in 2015 and my son in 2017, and suddenly many of the topics I discussed with patients every day became part of my own experience.
Recovering from a vaginal delivery, returning to exercise postpartum, navigating pelvic pain, and adjusting to the physical demands of pregnancy and motherhood gave me a greater appreciation for the challenges many women face.
Those experiences strengthened my belief that pelvic health care should be accessible, personalized, and focused on helping people return to the activities they love.
The Many Ways Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Affects Daily Life
One of the reasons I love pelvic floor physical therapy is that no two patients are exactly alike.
Some people seek treatment for bladder leakage when exercising. Others are struggling with pelvic pain, constipation, urinary urgency, pregnancy-related discomfort, postpartum recovery, pain with intimacy, or symptoms they’ve been told are simply a normal part of aging.
The reality is that many pelvic floor symptoms are common, but they are not always normal.
Helping patients understand the connection between their symptoms and pelvic floor function is often the first step toward meaningful improvement.
Why I Love Being a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
One of the most rewarding parts of my work is seeing patients regain confidence and return to activities they thought they had lost.
Whether someone tells me:
“I didn’t leak at all this week.”
or
“My pain is finally gone.”
those moments never get old.
Watching people improve their quality of life, regain confidence, and feel comfortable in their bodies again is what makes pelvic floor physical therapy so rewarding.
Why I Created The Healthy Pelvis
When I founded The Healthy Pelvis, my goal was simple: create a pelvic floor physical therapy practice that gives people the time, attention, and flexibility they deserve.
Life is busy, especially for parents, and healthcare should not create additional stress. I wanted to offer one-on-one pelvic floor physical therapy that fits into real life while providing individualized care focused on each patient’s unique goals.
Through in-home pelvic floor physical therapy, patients can receive expert care in a comfortable and familiar environment without the added stress of traveling to a clinic.
Helping People Get Back to Living Their Lives
At the heart of everything I do is a simple goal: helping people return to the activities they enjoy without pain, fear, leakage, or limitations.
Whether that means returning to running, exercising comfortably, traveling without worrying about bathroom access, enjoying intimacy, or simply feeling confident in daily life, helping people achieve those goals continues to inspire me every day.
And I still love pelvic floor physical therapy just as much as I did after that very first course.
Resources
For additional information about pelvic floor physical therapy, pelvic floor dysfunction, pregnancy and postpartum recovery, and pelvic health, the following resources may be helpful:
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Pelvic Health
Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute
National Association for Continence (NAFC)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
These resources can provide valuable education, but they should not replace an individualized evaluation with a qualified pelvic floor physical therapist.
Take the First Step Toward Feeling Better
Pelvic floor symptoms can affect every aspect of daily life, from exercise and work to relationships, confidence, and overall well-being.
At The Healthy Pelvis, Melissa Scholl provides personalized, one-on-one pelvic floor physical therapy focused on helping individuals better understand their symptoms, improve function, and return to the activities they enjoy most.
The Healthy Pelvis provides in-home pelvic floor physical therapy throughout Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, Villa Park, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, and surrounding western suburban communities.