Motivate Therapy

Motivate Therapy Our team of therapists specialize in pelvic, abdominal, and orthopedic conditions. We combine manual therapies with functional exercise. Change Starts Here.

We educate and empower through awareness of healthy habits. Our therapists work closely with your physicians to provide one-on-one customized treatments for a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our rehabilitation methods combine manual therapies with personalized training in a therapeutic exercise program. Because of our personal approach, we are better able to assess and address each patient’s particular needs. Patient, physician and therapist work together as a team to provide motivation and individualized support.

05/23/2025

Your pelvic floor does not hold up your organs and stabilize your pelvis all by itself. It is part of a team of four muscles that lie three- layers deep within your trunk or core.

The pelvic floor, low back, low ab and diaphragm work as a team to control intra-abdominal pressure so that you don’t leak urine, loose organs, or have pelvic pain every time you cough, lift or stand up. Think of your core like a balloon or can of coke. Squeeze either one for too long or always in the same way and eventually something has to give. And as shown in this video, habitual clenching of the belly, back or hips can increase downward pressure on the pelvic floor. Overtime, this will affect those of us who may have reasons to have pelvic floor weakness such as after giving birth, a chronic cough, chronic back pain or a job that requires heavy lifting. Therefore one of the best ways to retrain your core in everyday life is diaphragmatic breathing.
Stay tuned to learn easy ways to incorporate this number one pelvic floor and deep core “exercise” into your life.
But for now, “when in doubt blow it out.” Try exhaling everytime you stand, lift or pick up objects from the floor.

05/01/2025

It is important to begin to incorporate proper body mechanics prior to baby arriving. One posture you will find yourself performing multiple times throughout the day is bending at the waist to perform different tasks (ie: changing diapers, picking up baby, kneeling at the bath tub, the list goes on). Mastering a hip hinging technique will recruit the correct muscles to save your back.

Here is a video demonstrating the proper ways to perform a hip hinge to apply to your new everyday tasks!

04/29/2025

When pregnant and breastfeeding hormones contribute to increased "stretchiness" of the ligaments that hold together your hips and backside. Therefore the hip, back and pelvic floor muscles often tighten up and therefore we move differently. The typical pregnancy "waddle" often uses compensations such as locking the knees as a way to step forward instead of stabilizing with the standing hip, especially the glutes. This exercise works on retraining the motion required to walk and stand on one leg at a time, something that gets much harder to do towards end of pregnancy. Yet, practicing this exercise during pregancy may help improve recovery and allow for good core function when returning to your favorite exercise routine, including walking, post-partum. This should be pain-free. Always consult with your doctor before performing new exercises or if pain is felt.

04/25/2025

Perineal massage is one wonderful way to help you prepare for a successful delivery. Do not perform if you are on vaginal rest. Best perform when you are most relaxed so try a hot shower or bath beforehand. Partner collaboration is encouraged. Make sure to use good communication to allow for an easy, low stress experience. Using diaphragmatic breathing is another great way to relax. Starting around 34 weeks, it can be performed up to 4 times per week. Ask your doctor or pelvic floor therapist if this massage is right for you.

04/21/2025

A very common symptom of pregnancy is constipation from either hormonal changes, growing baby, dehydration or lack of fiber intake. When constipation occurs, it can add a lot of pressure on your pelvic floor. Not only will you be feeling this added pressure, but so will your pelvic floor! This added pressure can cause issues such as increase in urinary urgency or frequency, leakage, increase risk of prolapse just to name a few.

As you can see, it is important to make some behavioral changes to avoid any issues of constipation. This can include investing in a squatty potty, increasing your fiber intake or speaking to your provider about any added supplementation to improve stool consistency such as magnesium. Trust us, your pelvic floor will thank you later!

04/17/2025

Congratulations soon-to-be mamas! Whether this is your first pregnancy or a consecutive one, you’re likely feeling the beginning of many bodily changes. It is truly amazing how differently our bodies react to each pregnancy. Our goal at Motivate is to help support and prepare you for these changes.

While you’re possibly feeling fatigued and/or nauseous, it is important to begin to prepare your body for all these changes you’re about to go through. Over this next month we will take you through our core pillars and the best ways to prepare yourself for this exciting journey!

04/01/2025

The pelvic floor muscles sling from your p***c bone to tailbone. But the side wall supports inside the pelvis are your hip muscles. These muscles are responsible for turning your hip and knee in and out which is needed for just about everything you do from walking, running, squatting and lifting. The muscles, nerves and blood vessels attach to the low back, sacrum, hip bones and hip joint. The sciatic nerve dives into your pelvis with the piriformis and then exits the pelvis as the pudendal nerve so hip tension can compress the nerves and effect function.
This stretch combines a well-known and loved low back stretch (childs pose) with stretching the rotators of the hip in a dynamic flow. Ideally this stretch will improve your back and pelvic health as well as improve blood flow to the areas responsible for enjoyable intimacy.

03/28/2025

Awesome Nerve Glide for Pelvic Health!!
The nerves of the lumbar spine (L1 through L5) house nerves that flow through the groin and innervate the muscles responsible for sexual and pelvic health. This video demonstrates a nerve glide for the ilioinguinal nerve. It has a long way to travel, along with your hip flexor muscle, and can easily get compressed at the groin crease and low belly for a variety of reasons such as prolonged sitting, biking or surgical scars such as hernia repairs and c-sections.
Impingement of this nerve can cause:
• pain in the upper medial thigh, l***a, sc***um, and inguinal region
• weakness in certain muscles
• burning pain, Numbness over the lower abdomen
• pain that radiates to the genitalia and into the inner thigh

Nerves need to glide and slide in order to function optimally. Along with postural awareness throughout the day try this simple nerve glide for a dose of pelvic health.

03/21/2025

Core, pelvic floor and back health are the same thing! Your muscles need blood flow to be happy and healthy so massaging and stretching your hips is essential for optimal core function. Your pelvic floor muscles are responsible for bowel, bladder and sexual function. This video demonstrates a self-massage technique on a male model to the urogenital triangle. The massage is the same for both men and women. Notice the small areas the nerve and arteries have to flow through. The area being massaged is the same area you sit on all day. This massage is especially beneficial for both men and women to perform if and when:
 Changes in sexual function especially post-menopausal
 After prostate surgery
 During and after pregnancy
 Chronic low back and hip pain
Notice any changes in flexibility or ease of movement in your back and hips afterwards. Now Go SelfCare.

Address

4920 East State Street, Suite 4
Rockford, IL
61108

Opening Hours

Monday 6:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 6:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 6:30am - 5pm
Thursday 6:30am - 5pm
Friday 7:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+18156371100

Website

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