Terri Sullivan Physical Therapy

Terri Sullivan Physical Therapy Pelvic floor specialist

Hormonal changes can have a big impact on your pelvic floor function. There are a few circumstances when that is most r...
10/21/2025

Hormonal changes can have a big impact on your pelvic floor function. There are a few circumstances when that is most relevant. During and after pregnancy there are definitely lots of changes in the hormones, which can effect the integrity of the pelvic floor. During menopause, the depletion of estrogen can cause a drying of the more external parts of the pelvic floor, resulting in pain and changes in the activation of the muscles. Also, the presence of endometriosis wreaks havoc on the pelvic floor muscles and tissues, which effect how they function. Lastly, a hysterectomy changes the levels of estrogen as well, resulting in many of the symptoms I listed previously. Do you have questions? I'd love to help! 253-649-4095.

Some people think that urine leakage during exercise is normal, but it's absolutely not. If you leak when you workout i...
10/18/2025

Some people think that urine leakage during exercise is normal, but it's absolutely not. If you leak when you workout it probably means you have either tightness or weakness of the pelvic floor, but it be due to another problem. When you have weakness and/or tightness of the hip, thigh, abdominal or back muscles, the effect is that your pelvic floor will not recruit appropriately during exercise. Also, if you have weakness in the legs, it can effect how the alignment of your pelvis is when you contact the ground, which can also contribute to leakage. Do you have questions? I'd love to help! 253-649-4095.

Pelvic pain can happen with women or men, those that are young or old, and without a specific incidence of injury. Phy...
10/17/2025

Pelvic pain can happen with women or men, those that are young or old, and without a specific incidence of injury. Physical therapy can help with managing the pain and giving the patient tools to help decrease their symptoms and improve their function. Do you have questions? I'd love to help! 253-649-4095

You've probably heard the term that everything is connected. It's especially true with the diaphragm and pelvic floor. ...
10/16/2025

You've probably heard the term that everything is connected. It's especially true with the diaphragm and pelvic floor. When the diaphragm descends during an inhale, the pelvic floor also descends and vice versa. If the diaphragm is not stacked over the pelvis in your posture, the 2 may become out of sync which can result in any of the listed problems. Also, if you have breathing dysfunction, the same might be true at the pelvic floor. Do you have questions? I'd love to help! 253-649-4095

Stretching is helpful for your muscles and joints and can help improve your mobility. The important things to remember ...
10/15/2025

Stretching is helpful for your muscles and joints and can help improve your mobility. The important things to remember is never to stretch to the point of pain, perform stretches actively, hold for 30 seconds to minute, and breathe into the area that you are targeting. Do you have questions? I'd love to help! 253-649-4095.

These are great tips for working on your pelvic floor muscles. I also have my patients breathe into their pelvic floor ...
10/09/2025

These are great tips for working on your pelvic floor muscles. I also have my patients breathe into their pelvic floor to help w/ relaxation and contract the pelvic floor during an exhale as the diaphragm and the pelvic floor work together. The other tip is to have patients think about breathing in 3 dimensions vs only into the chest, diaphragm or lateral ribs. Do you have questions? I'd love to help! 253-649-4095.

As the picture shows, there are many reasons why you should consider pelvic physical therapy. In addition, back pain, c...
10/09/2025

As the picture shows, there are many reasons why you should consider pelvic physical therapy. In addition, back pain, constipation, or in preparation for birthing a child are a few other circumstances in which pelvic P.T. can be beneficial. Do you have questions? I’d love to help! 253-649-4095

# gig harbor

Doesn't matter how small. It can really help you reach those bigger goals! Do you need some guidance? I'd love to hel...
10/08/2025

Doesn't matter how small. It can really help you reach those bigger goals! Do you need some guidance? I'd love to help! 253-649-4095

Patients seek out stabilization from a physical therapist for a variety of reasons. It can be to help decrease pain, im...
10/03/2025

Patients seek out stabilization from a physical therapist for a variety of reasons. It can be to help decrease pain, improve mobility, increase strength, and progress balance. I work with younger and older patients on stabilization so they can have improved confidence during activities and feel stronger during function. Do you have questions? I'd love to help! 253-649-4095.

I explain to my patients that there can be some soreness after their physical therapy session or after exercise. If it ...
10/02/2025

I explain to my patients that there can be some soreness after their physical therapy session or after exercise. If it is achy, it's likely just from working the muscles and it will resolve in a day or two. If there is sharp pain, that is a signal that something is wrong and you should stop. Always communicate with your physical therapist if something they performed during treatment or the exercises are increasing pain. Do you have questions. I'd love to help. 253-649-4095

We all wish that we could recover in a linear progression, but it usually doesn't work that way. Healing is like a roll...
10/01/2025

We all wish that we could recover in a linear progression, but it usually doesn't work that way. Healing is like a roller coaster; there are many ups and downs along the way, but usually the trajectory is positive. It's important to be patient and listen to your body, making sure not to push it too hard and stay the course. Do you have questions? I'd love to help! 253-649-4095.

There are a lot of benefits of stretching, but if you do it wrong it might make you feel worse. Always breathe while yo...
09/26/2025

There are a lot of benefits of stretching, but if you do it wrong it might make you feel worse. Always breathe while you stretch; in fact breathing into the area you're trying to stretch will help with relaxing that muscle. Form is imperative, so make sure you have good alignment. Warming up before stretching will prevent you from straining a muscle. Overstretching can happen if you stretch for a longer duration or beyond what is comfortable. Do you have questions? I'd love to help! 253-649-4095

Address

11505 Burnham Drive #302
Gig Harbor, WA
98332

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 7am - 4pm

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