Q & A Jessica Dufault, DPT, Physical Therapist
(Originally posted November 7, 2019, updated August 3, 2020)
I'm so happy to be able to share this question and answer with Jessica Dufault of Mindful Motion Physical Therapy! She is an amazing orthopedic physical therapist who specializes in pelvic/women’s health, and is a WEALTH of knowledge about pelvic health in pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Read on to hear directly from Jessica.
Q: Would you please share a little about your background and what led you to specialize in women’s pelvic health issues?
A: There is a massive gap between a PT and a PT trained in women's health because we didn't get much pelvic/women's health education in PT school. As an orthopedic PT, I wanted to provide more specific women's health support and education and I saw there was a HUGE need for this. So, I started my long journey into pelvic health and wellness.
Q: Can you tell me a little about your clinic, and why you decided to go into private practice?
A: We wanted to be able practice and provide care in a way that was in the best interest of the client. We can have one-on-one time for 45-60 min to focus on each individual's needs. And, my husband has a business degree so we thought this was perfect for a private practice. He operates the business and I show up to take good care of my clients every day.
Q: What types of symptoms do women seeking your help usually present and how can you help?
A: I joke that I help with the 3 Ps. Pee, Poop and Pain. So, any concerns with urinary leakage or bowel incontinence. We also address pelvic pain, pain with sex, hip, SIJ or low back pain more effectively through our specialty training! Other common things we support are diastasis recti, c-section/perineal scarring and pelvic organ prolapse. We do this through a thorough evaluation, hands on techniques, education and of course, some homework which usually includes exercises.
Q: What other ways can physical therapy be beneficial during the childbearing years?
A: One big passion project of mine is getting pregnant women access to information that can help them during labor and delivery AND early access to information for supporting their bodies better during the immediate postpartum period. So many older women we see in our clinic say "I wish I had known about pelvic PT sooner". I want ALL women to have this info sooner!
Q: What can patients expect during their first visit if they come to see you?
A: We spend some time talking, getting a thorough history and discussing her needs and goals. We would do a formal evaluation which often times includes a pelvic exam (there is NO speculum or stirrups involved!). Once we have all the information we need, we can start to give her a program that is specific to her needs, even on the first visit.
Being a pelvic PT, I am super comfortable talking about a lot of personal things. It should be comfortable because these things are so common! The more we can talk about it, the less stigmatized it becomes and will help more women understand that they don't have to endure unwanted symptoms.
Thanks so much to Jessica for taking the time to participate in this Q&A! You can find her at Mindful Motion Physical Therapy here, and follow her amazing videos and other super helpful content on Instagram here, Facebook here, and Floor and Core Connection Facebook group here.