Ashley Chandler, PT, DPT, CLT

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Ashley Chandler, PT, DPT, CLT

Crane PT | A boutique PT experience built around you on St. Simons Island, GA. Expert, individualized care—PT the way you want it.

Dr. Ashley Chandler is a physical therapist and yoga instructor who integrates traditional yoga asana with physical therapy interventions for wellness and rehabilitation. She first came to yoga accidentally in college and was hooked by how good she felt after a class. As she continued with her studies to get her doctorate in physical therapy her interest grew as she realized how applicable yoga could be across all populations. She pursued her yoga teaching certificate in 2009 as she was graduating from Duke with a clinical doctorate and began teaching yoga in a fitness environment. As her PT career progressed her love of yoga has matured and she continues to find daily that yoga is applicable for both rehabilitation and fitness in all populations. Through her experience teaching anatomy to local teachers in training she found that she loved sharing her anatomy obsession with others. She now offers one-on-one fitness evaluations, private instruction of yoga and workshops as well as her regular class schedule and clinical practice. This page will keep you updated to any relevant new research, where to find Ashley in the community and any other information that followers are interested in.

03/25/2026

Most people prepare for birth by focusing on the baby — but not on the tissues that have to stretch and recover.

Your pelvic floor (and perineum) plays a huge role in:
• how well you can relax and lengthen during delivery
• how your body manages pressure when pushing
• your risk of tearing
• how you recover postpartum

Pelvic floor PT during pregnancy can help you:
• learn how to relax (not just strengthen) your pelvic floor
• practice effective pushing strategies
• improve perineal mobility and tissue tolerance
• reduce fear and tension going into delivery

This often includes:
• guided breathing + pushing techniques
• movement and positioning for labor
• education on perineal massage (when appropriate)
• individualized assessment (because not everyone needs the same thing)

Preparation isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing the right things for your body.

If you’re pregnant and want to feel more prepared (and protect your recovery), DM me or book a prenatal pelvic floor session to create your plan.

03/19/2026

What is dry needling?

I sometimes describe it as the cousin to acupuncture. It uses the same very thin needles—“dry” just means there’s no medication involved—but the goals are different.

Dry needling is a tool we use to communicate with your nervous system and help your body release tension, tightness, pain, or protective holding patterns that are contributing to your symptoms.

It’s usually not the whole solution. We still want to understand why your body developed those patterns and address the root cause.

But it can be incredibly helpful for calming sharp, distracting pain—giving you relief so you can actually focus on the bigger work of healing.

03/13/2026

F***l incontinence is more common than most people realize, and many patients suffer in silence.

Clinical guidelines from the American Society of Colon and Re**al Surgeons recommend conservative treatments first, including pelvic floor rehabilitation.

Pelvic health physical therapy can help improve bowel control through:
• pelvic floor muscle training
• biofeedback
• bowel retraining
• pressure management

You don’t have to navigate this alone.

03/11/2026

Radiation therapy is an amazing tool in cancer treatment. It’s incredibly effective at targeting and destroying cancer cells. But something people don’t always hear about is that radiation can create changes in the surrounding tissues that show up much later.

Months—or even years—after treatment, some people start to notice things like:
• Tightness in the treated area
• Stiffness or decreased flexibility
• Aching or pulling with movement
• Swelling or heaviness
• Changes in posture or how the body moves

Why does this happen? Radiation can cause the tissues in the area to gradually become less elastic and more stiff over time, a process called Radiation Fibrosis. It’s very common, but it’s also very treatable.

The tricky part is that these symptoms are often delayed, so many people don’t connect them back to radiation treatment.

This is where an oncology physical therapist can make a huge difference. Specialists in Oncology Physical Therapy are trained to help restore movement in tissues affected by cancer treatment. Through hands-on treatment, mobility work, and targeted exercise, we help the body move better and stay mobile long term.

Think of it as maintenance for the tissues that worked really hard during cancer treatment.

The goal?
Less stiffness.
Better movement.
And continuing to live your life fully after cancer treatment.

Because surviving cancer is huge.
Feeling good in your body afterward matters too. 💛

03/10/2026

Vaginal estrogen cream is one of the most researched treatments for symptoms related to menopause — yet many women are still told little about it.

Here are a few evidence-based findings from large peer-reviewed studies:

• Large population studies have found no increased risk of breast cancer, stroke, blood clots, or colorectal cancer in women using va**nal estrogen.

• Research from the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study also found no increase in overall mortality among va**nal estrogen users compared with non-users.

• Studies following women with a history of breast cancer found no increased risk of breast-cancer–specific mortality in those who used va**nal estrogen after diagnosis.

• Vaginal estrogen has also been associated with lower rates of recurrent urinary tract infections, which can significantly impact quality of life and health in postmenopausal women.

Why?
Vaginal estrogen is low dose and primarily acts locally on the va**nal, urethral, and bladder tissues rather than circulating throughout the body at high levels.

For many women experiencing:
• va**nal dryness
• urinary urgency or frequency
• recurrent UTIs
• discomfort with intimacy

it can be an important part of treatment when prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Pelvic floor physical therapy and medical management together can help address the underlying changes that happen with menopause.

If these symptoms sound familiar, know that there are evidence-based options that can help. 💛

03/09/2026

Have you heard of va**nal estrogen cream?

Many women going through menopause notice changes like:

• va**nal dryness• irritation or burning• discomfort with intimacy• urinary urgency or frequent UTIs• bladder leakage

These symptoms often happen because estrogen levels decline during menopause, which affects the tissues of the va**na, urethra, and bladder.

Vaginal estrogen is a low-dose medication applied locally that helps restore the health and elasticity of these tissues.

Unlike systemic hormone therapy, it works primarily in the va**nal and bladder tissues and is often recommended by physicians to help with symptoms related to genitourinary syndrome of menopause.

When combined with pelvic floor physical therapy, many women experience improvements in bladder control, comfort, and pelvic health.

If you’ve been dealing with symptoms like dryness, irritation, or urinary changes, it may be worth discussing va**nal estrogen with your healthcare provider.

Menopause changes your body — but you still deserve to feel comfortable and confident in it. 💛

03/07/2026

STOP PUSHING. BREATHE YOUR P**P OUT. 🚨💩

Yes. I said what I said.

If you’re holding your breath, clenching your abs, and pushing like you’re trying to win a prize—your pelvic floor is doing the exact opposite of what it needs to do.

P**ping works best when you:
🫁 exhale slowly
😮‍💨 let your belly soften
🚪 allow the pelvic floor to open
🚫 do NOT strain like you’re in labor

Think: fogging a mirror, not blowing up a balloon.
P**p responds to calm, not chaos.

If “breathing your p**p out” sounds unhinged…
But pushing hasn’t worked?
Your pelvic floor might need retraining.

— a pelvic health PT who wants you off the toilet in under 5 minutes

03/06/2026

Menopause changes more than just your hormones.

It can also change your pelvic floor.

Here are 5 things many women notice during or after menopause:

-Needing to rush to the bathroom more often
-Leaking urine when you laugh, cough, or exercise
-Vaginal dryness or discomfort with intimacy
-Feeling pressure or heaviness in the pelvis
-Constipation that seems harder to manage

These changes happen because declining estrogen can affect the bladder, pelvic muscles, and connective tissue.

But many women are never told that pelvic floor physical therapy can help.

With the right guidance, you can improve bladder control, support your pelvic organs, and feel stronger and more comfortable in your body again.

Menopause is a transition — not the end of feeling strong and confident.

If you’ve been experiencing these symptoms, you’re not alone. 💛

03/03/2026

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month 💙

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. — but it’s also one of the most preventable with proper screening. Cases under the age of 50 are increasing by 1-2% annually, now being the leading cause of cancer death for men under 50 and second for women.

According to the American Cancer Society, screening is recommended starting at age 45 for average-risk adults. Earlier screening may be needed if you have a family history or certain risk factors.

🚩 Symptoms you shouldn’t ignore:
• Persistent changes in bowel habits (constipation, diarrhea, narrowing stool)
• Re**al bleeding or blood in stool
• Ongoing abdominal discomfort or cramping
• Unexplained fatigue or anemia
• A feeling of incomplete emptying

Many people have no symptoms in early stages — which is exactly why screening matters.

Where does physical therapy fit in?

Pelvic health physical therapy plays an important role:
• Managing bowel dysfunction (constipation, f***l urgency, incontinence)
• Supporting recovery after colorectal surgery
• Addressing pelvic pain and scar mobility
• Helping patients regain core strength and function after cancer treatment
• Managing radiation-related pelvic floor dysfunction

If you are navigating symptoms, preparing for surgery, or recovering after treatment, you do not have to just “live with it.” Conservative, specialized care can make a meaningful difference in quality of life.

Screening saves lives. Early detection changes outcomes. And rehabilitation matters at every stage of care.

If you have questions about pelvic symptoms or recovery after colorectal treatment, I’m here to help. 💙

03/02/2026

What does it look like when you come in, here’s the overview. What our space looks like and how our first day will proceed. More details of the actual evaluation to come soon!

02/25/2026

What is Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

Pelvic organ prolapse happens when the muscles and tissues that support your bladder, uterus, or re**um get weak or stretched. This can cause one of your pelvic organs to drop or press into your va**na, which might feel like:
• A heaviness or pressure in your pelvis
• A bulge or something “falling out”
• Trouble with bladder or bowel control

It’s more common than you think, especially after pregnancy, childbirth, or with aging. The good news? You don’t have to just live with it. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help strengthen your muscles, reduce symptoms, and improve your quality of life.

You deserve to feel comfortable and confident in your body! 💪

02/24/2026

📍 Finding Us Made Easy!

We’re located at 103 Brunswick Ave, St. Simons Island, just behind the main roundabout and Southern Soul. 🌀 The roundabout can make our spot a little tricky to see, so make sure to check the map before you come!

Can’t wait to see you! 💛

1: follow the arrows to get to us behind the roundabout
2: Our building shares a lot with St. Simon’s Dental Center, you’ll see the big Bernie’s Massage sign and know you’re in the right spot. We’re in the upstairs left suite
3: a view from our parking lot out to the main roundabout.

Address

103 Brunswick Avenue, Suite 215
Saint Simons Island, GA
31522

Website

http://cranept.com/

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My Story

My name is Ashley Chandler.

I’m a mom, physical therapist and yogi.

I treat patients at Advanced Physical Therapy Solutions in Fayetteville, NC which is a small private practice clinic full of amazingly smart clinicians.

I graduated PT school in 2009 from Duke University thinking I would work in inpatient CVA rehabilitation, 9 years later I am now working in an outpatient orthopedic clinic loving my population of oncology rehab, lymphedema management with a little pelvic floor and vestibular dysfunction sprinkled in. You just never know what life will bring.