Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy and Naturopathic Medicine

Overview

In order to support our patients towards their goal of pelvic health, collaboration with healthcare professionals in all realms is often warranted. In this online physiotherapy course, the ways in which naturopathic medicine can be integrated into care with your patients to support their pelvic health will be discussed.

Objectives

In this online course you will:

• Review what naturopathic medicine is, the modalities commonly used, and the scope of practice.
  
  
• Learn common conditions that can complicate care with Pelvic Floor Physiotherapists:
• Trophic scar tissue from C-sections and episiotomies
• Vaginal thinning from hormonal imbalances that cause pain with internal work
• Recurrent yeast infections that cause patient discomfort
• Hormonal dysregulation causing an up-regulation of cytokines and inflammatory markers that upregulate the sympathetic nervous system
• Chronic constipation or diarrhea despite basic nutritional and lifestyle changes
  
  
• Learn common ways in which Naturopathic Medicine can collaborate with Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy to optimize patient’s pelvic health goals:
• Compound creams to aid in the breakdown of scar tissue from episiotomies, estrogen-based creams for vaginal thinning
• Anti-fungal creams, probiotic suppositories & internal treatments for yeast infections
• Hormone testing and treatment for endometriosis, metrorrhagia, menorrhagia, peri-menopause & menopause
• Acupuncture to upregulate the parasympathetic nervous system
• Re-establish a healthy gut microbiome

Presenter: Dr. Crystal Chanderbhan – Naturopathic Doctor

Dr. Crystal Chanderbhan, ND is a board-certified naturopathic doctor with a special interest in gut health, stress management, and pelvic floor health. In addition to private practice, she teaches midwifery students at Ryerson University, medical doctors at the University of Toronto, and nurses at the Women’s College Hospital how to conduct a well-person pelvic examination since 2007. She is also the founder of Durham region’s largest community acupuncture program, bringing accessible and sustainable community-centered healthcare to Pickering since 2017.

Having completed the McMaster Contemporary Medical Acupuncture program in 2015 and completion of level 1 and level 2 of pelvic floor therapy through Pelvic Health Solutions,  common modalities that Dr. Chanderbhan, ND uses to restore balance to her patients include acupuncture, pelvic floor therapy, dietary modifications, mindfulness, B12 injections, bio-identical hormones, neutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical compounds.

Throughout the core of her practice, the focus is always patient-centered while ensuring evidence-based practices are implemented. Dr. Chanderbhan, ND believes that all forms of healing have their time and place, and as such, collaboration with other healthcare practitioners frequently occurs to ensure that patients receive optimal care to help them achieve their health goals.