Pelvic Floor Discussion
The pelvic floor is responsible for supporting the function of urination, bowel movements, sex and pregnancy and delivery. It also keeps the bladder, intestines and reproductive organs in place. These muscles may weaken as we age and experience different life events such as childbirth. Join the experts for this one-hour discussion on the anatomy, hormonal changes, rehabilitation of the pelvic floor, and more. Read about the experts below.
Dr. Rebecca Nelken, OB/GYN
Dr. Rebecca Nelken is a pelvic and reconstructive surgeon. She is one of the few physicians to be board certified in both OB/GYN and Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. She has two practice locations, Century City and Santa Monica. Dr. Nelken is also an Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology and Resident Education Specialist at the USC Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Nelken’s major areas of research include pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence and medical education. She has published extensively in peer reviewed journals, and authored book chapters on various subjects related to women’s pelvic health.
Deena Goodman, Physical Therapist
Deena Poll Goodman, PT, WCS, BCB-PMD is the Founder and Director of Goodman Physical Therapy, Inc in West Los Angeles. She specializes in urology, gynecology, obstetrics, and orthopedics, and is one of only a few physical therapists in Southern California who specializes in women’s and men’s pelvic floor dysfunctions. Goodman’s clients include men and women who want to feel better in their body whether or not they are recovering from an injury, women who are pregnant and those who want to bounce back into shape after having a baby, athletes who want a new and effective approach to their exercise regimen, patients with pelvic and sexual pain, anorgasmia, and pelvic floor dysfunctions.
Laura Wilson, Natural Pilates Founder
Laura’s knowledge of the body is truly unparalleled in her field. This kinesiological acumen has both given her an edge in fitness and served as the catalyst behind the creation of her own unique brand of Pilates instruction. Laura has taken the classical repertoire developed by Joseph Pilates over 70 years ago and infused it with her approach of viewing the body (as well as the various forces acting upon the body), targeting muscles with creative programming and exercise order, giving hands-on cues, and adjusting repetitions and tension. Laura’s approach helps clients “tune in” to their own bodies and trains current and future Pilates instructors to develop a deeper understanding of the body’s musculature and biomechanics, in order to effectively program individualized sessions based on anatomy, movement patterns, and goals.