Get to know our local health and wellness professionals in the Twin Cities. We asked local physical therapist Bethany Hansen to share a little about her business and what she loves about working and living in the Twin Cities.
Tell us about your business. What do you do?
I am a physical therapist and I specialize in all things pelvic health. That means I have a doctorate degree in Physical Therapy and 17 years of extra training and clinical work with people who have problems in the area (and close to) the pelvis.
This could be bladder or bowel dysfunction, pelvic pain, abdominal pain, low back/hip/SIJ/coccyx pain, pregnancy and postpartum issues, prolapse, painful intercourse, endometriosis, etc.
What drew you to this work?
There was such a huge need! At my first job we had a 3 month wait to see any pelvic health PT because there were so many patients in need. This work can be such a huge help, but still is so unknown and not well understood.
Even in the beginning of my training I would hear things like “I’ve been to 4 doctors already and this is the only thing that has helped me” or “I never thought I’d be able to have sex again” because they didn’t know about their body, how it functions, and what needs to be done to help them.
The body works as a whole, with neighboring parts playing off of the others, so to see results, people need to work with someone who has experience and knowledge in all of them – not just some of them but ignore a group of muscles because they are located “down there”.
What do you love about your job?
Educating people about their body and teaching them things they didn’t know. I love when I finish a new patient visit, and we are walking to the front door, and they give me a big smile and say, “thank-you, I have learned so much!” I love when I am able to empower them to work on their issues in a collaborative way. I also spend a lot of time normalizing the lingo used to describe symptoms, problems, and dysfunctions that people have. It’s not TMI!!!
What results can people see when they work with you? What’s possible?
No longer leaking urine with exercise or laughing, coughing, or sneezing, improved quality of life, activity level and pain with various pelvic pain diagnoses, improved strength and stability, return to exercise post-injury, deconditioned, or postpartum, and the ability to have reduced or no pain with sex, are some of the few.
What do you wish more people understood about what you do?
A pelvic floor physical therapist is just like an orthopedic physical therapist with extra training. If a patient comes in and has hip pain, an orthopedic PT might assess the obvious – hip, glute, knee, foot/ankle, etc. but the pelvic floor specialist will also assess the pelvic floor and it’s relationship with the hip. We don’t just have tunnel vision for only the pelvic floor – we have to treat above and below the dysfunction and treat the body as a whole!
What’s fascinating you right now?
Learning about the inner-workings of social media, Google, SEO, etc. I am a clinician and a newbie to being a business owner – so it’s all learning for me!
What does self care look like to you right now?
I’ve started meditating daily and am doing a regular breathing routine – 2 things I would have never said that I would commit to a few years back!
What do you love about living and working in the Twin Cities?
I’m from Chicago and moved here 8 years ago, so I have to say the traffic is way better here! I love that people embrace the winter, outdoors year round, and there are so many awesome places to hike and bike. I also love where I live – so many parks, walk to restaurants and shops, and easy access to lakes and bike trails.
Favorite local restaurants?
Hola Arepa, Colita, Naviya’s Thai Brasserie, and Red Wagon Pizza
Other favorite local businesses in the Twin Cities?
Wild Rumpus Blooma Vinegrette Home Grown Foods Smitten Kitten
What’s your favorite social media platform, and where can people connect with you on social media?
How can people work with you?
In-home or in-studio visits (I work out of Blooma), and you can book an appointment here.