ABOUT
INTRODUCING THE RARELY TALKED ABOUT, OFTEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED AND WILDLY MISUNDERSTOOD FOUNDATION OF A HEALTHY LIFE: YOUR PELVIC FLOOR.
What is Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Pelvic Floor Therapy is a specialized form of therapy aimed at addressing and alleviating issues related to the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues of the pelvic floor. This intricate network supports vital organs like the bladder, rectum, and uterus, and plays a pivotal role in functions like urination, bowel movements, sexual activity, and childbirth.
Just as we might experience issues with other muscles in our body, the pelvic floor can become weak, tight, or imbalanced. Whether due to aging, surgery, childbirth, or other factors, these disruptions can lead to discomfort, pain, and various functional issues.
Pelvic Floor Therapy involves a combination of manual therapies, exercises, biofeedback, and education to empower individuals to understand and regain control over their pelvic health. It provides non-surgical solutions to address conditions like urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, and other related issues.
Under the guidance of trained professionals, patients can embark on a journey to enhanced well-being, reclaiming confidence, and comfort in their daily lives. Whether you’re dealing with postpartum challenges, age-related changes, or any other pelvic concerns, Pelvic Floor Therapy offers a holistic and effective approach to your health and healing.
How We Work
At Health Elevated we firmly believe that you are more than just a set of symptoms or dysfunctional muscles that need to be stretched or strengthened. That is why we practice using an integrative health approach. Instead of just focusing on the diagnosis we take a step back to look at the whole person, their lifestyle, habits routines as well as their physical function, and then we work with you, the person with your individual concerns, routines, habits and goals.
Whether your goal is to have the best possible pregnancy, birth and postpartum, or to recover your relationships by addressing the pelvic pain that has been preventing you from making meaningful connections or feeling the freedom to take a roadtrip, go to the grocery store or have a fun day out without worrying where the bathroom is or if your pants are going to show if you leaked a little.
To us, you’re not just another diagnosis. We prioritize listening, and truly addressing your concerns. It’s our commitment that by the end of your evaluation, you’ll feel empowered, equipped with a clear action plan, and ready to regain control of your life.
A few things that make us different…
WITH CONCIERGE IN-HOME TREATMENT OPTIONS, WE COME TO YOU!
We bring pelvic health services to the comfort of your own home. And because we accept patients without needing a doctor referral, there is no more wait TIMES either.
CURRENTLY SERVING THE SOUTWEST MICHIGAN REGION
VIRTUAL OR IN OFFICE APPOINTMENTS ALSO AVAILABLE
1600 Niles Avenue | St. Joseph, MI 49085
NO DOCTOR REFERRAL NEEDED
This means you can skip the waitlist and get an appointment scheduled for when it is convenient for you, not 6 months from now when it is convenient for the overbooked healthcare system.
No more waiting for months to see the doctor.
WE OFFER FLEXIBLE CARE OPTIONS AS A FEE FOR SERVICE PROVIDER
Our cash-based model allows us to spend more time with patients to ensure they reach their goals.
Seeing an out of network occupational therapist comes with several benefits, including:
1. Increased flexibility: By offering out of network rehabilitation services we often have more flexibility in setting our schedules, which means that we can often see you sooner and for longer or more frequent sessions than hospital based clinics.
2. No insurance restrictions: When you work with Health Elevated, you don’t have to worry about insurance restrictions or limitations on the number of sessions you can have. This allows us to provide more personalized treatment and greater freedom in exploring different treatment options.
3. More personalized care: As an out of network therapy practice we have the freedom to spend more time with our clients, getting to know them on a deeper level and tailoring their treatment plans to meet their specific needs and goals.
4. More privacy and confidentiality: Out of network therapists are not required to submit client information to insurance companies, which means that clients can enjoy greater privacy and confidentiality.
5. Greater focus on quality of care: By not having to worry about insurance billing and paperwork, we can focus more on providing high-quality care and building meaningful relationships with you, our clients.
I do not process health insurance directly, but as a courtesy I do provide with all of the paperwork and information that you need in order to submit for direct reimbursement of services paid through your out of network health insurance benefits.
In insurance lingo, this is called fee for service or more commonly cash based provider.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN A SESSION
At Health Elevated, our sessions run anywhere from 60 to 75 minutes and are tailored to meet your unique goals.
Our comprehensive evaluation is the first step in your journey with us, where we dive deep into your health history and current concerns to create a personalized plan that works for you.
During your treatment sessions, we combine hands-on therapy, movement, and expert education to help you achieve your goals. We’re here to support you every step of the way, Let us help you elevate your health and wellness!
COMMONLY USED TREATMENTS
I use a variety of hand-on techniques including, myofascial and visceral mobilisations, cupping, gua sha, kinesiotaping. These techniques all have one thing in common. I am not trying for a quick fix or muscle reset but the goal of these techniques is to engage in a conversation with your nervous system and by getting the brain’s attention your natural healing ability takes over and the work then sticks.
HOW WE ASSESS
At Health Elevated, our sessions run anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes and are tailored to meet your unique goals.
Our comprehensive evaluation is the first step in your journey with us, where we dive deep into your health history and current concerns to create a personalized plan that works for you.
There are different options to assess specifically the muscles of the pelvic floor, each option will be explained in depth and then you can decide what is the best fit for you. A pelvic floor assessment can be done externally through clothing, feeling the muscles and how they work, visually by watching how the muscles contract and relax and it can also be done with an internal vaginal or rectal exam.
A pelvic floor therapy internal exam is very different to a routine gynecological exam (speculums are nowhere to found in my office) a gloved finger is used to assess the different layers of the pelvic floor which can be felt through the vagina or rectum. An internal exam requires consent each and every time it is performed and if this is not for you there are lots of treatment options to explore.
Movement: Our bodies are designed to move. But over time we develop patterns and habits that do not support us, this can happen during or after pregnancy, with chronic pain or surgery.
My yoga training and 20 years in physical rehabilitation allow me to read your movement patterns and curate exercises that make sure you feel good doing them and support you to keep moving.
As a Pelvic Health Occupational Therapist I am an expert in roles, habits, routines and I am an educator at heart. I believe 100% that you are the expert in your body, but years of pain, dysfunction and misinformation can disconnect you from your body. I am here to support you in becoming your own body detective and empower you to continue to thrive after we have finished working together
THEREPUTIC RELATIONSHIP
ABOUT YOUR THERAPIST
Meet Amy!
Amy Underwood is Southwest Michigan’s premier Pelvic Health Occupational Therapist.
As the founder of Health Elevated, Amy specializes in pelvic health services for people who are ready to get out of survival mode, trust their body and love their life again.
Amy received her occupational therapy degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2005, and in 2018 she narrowed her focus to healing pelvic floor issues. Since then has continued to round out her education, understanding and approach to the human body by studying pelvic health with Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. She is a member of AOTA, ISSWSH and certified by NBCOT.
With almost 20 years of experience providing physical rehabilitation services across the globe, Amy has treated a wide range of conditions including stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, and orthopedic injuries, and has now helped thousands of adults and children of all ages create breakthrough results and outcomes that significantly improved their immediate quality of life, while empowering them with tools to permanently overcome their health challenges.
Amy is widely regarded by her patients as not just an expert, but also an advocate for helping them regain control, confidence, and comfort in their body.
When it comes to dealing with uncomfortable conversations about pelvic health, no topic is too taboo, and she skillfully talks to her patients about long term solutions to non-discussed and frequently dismissed concerns (without bringing in any shame or shoulds!)
Amy’s clients know and love her for her ability to listen deeply, and to look outside of common diagnosis for the root cause, and then help them solve the problem in a way that works for them. She believes that just because something is common does not mean it is normal, or that you should have to live with it for the rest of your life.
She believes that for many pelvic floor issues that have been previously dismissed as normal, there is help and hope. which is why she offers personalized, hands-on and proven treatment plans that focus on helping her patients get to feeling better starting with the first visit.
In her free time, she enjoys having and planning new adventures with her husband, Larry, and their two young children, Charlie and Esme. Past adventures include attending international circus festivals in Australia, enjoying island life on Maui and frequent trips back home to Dublin, Ireland.
Amy is passionate about raising the bar in pelvic health, and she approaches her work by focusing on whole body health and balance, and designs workable treatment plans by placing emphasis on the individual’s entire life and what is important to them.