📝 Episode Summary:

In this episode of the Essential Pelvic Health Podcast, Laura Rowan welcomes Lynn Schulte, pelvic health physical therapist and founder of the Institute for Birth Healing, for an in-depth conversation about OASIS (obstetric anal sphincter injuries), postpartum pelvic changes, and colorectal health. Drawing from 35 years of experience, Lynn shares her perspective on patterns she has observed in the postpartum pelvis and how understanding the relationship between the bones, muscles, fascia, and nervous system can help clinicians take a more comprehensive approach to care. 

Laura and Lynn explore the importance of looking beyond muscle tension alone, including the role of sacral flexion, the pelvic outlet, and the anal sphincter complex following vaginal birth. Lynn walks through her approach to assessment and treatment and emphasizes the importance of addressing bony positioning alongside soft tissue work. They also discuss trauma-informed internal assessment, patient consent, anal fissures, sphincter tension, and strategies clinicians can consider when working with complex postpartum presentations.  

The conversation also highlights the value of interdisciplinary collaboration between occupational and physical therapists and the need for continued education in colorectal and postpartum pelvic health. For clinicians who want to deepen their understanding of the postpartum body, this episode offers a thought-provoking look at assessment, clinical reasoning, and treating the person as a whole.

💬 Topics Covered:

•  🤰 Understanding OASIS (obstetric anal sphincter injuries) and postpartum pelvic health 
•  🦴 How vaginal birth can affect the sacrum and pelvic outlet 
•  🔍 Recognizing sacral flexion and other postpartum pelvic patterns 
•  💪 Why addressing the bones and soft tissues together may be important in pelvic health treatment 
•  🩺 Assessing the external and internal anal sphincter 
•  🧠 The connection between pelvic structures, pain, the nervous system, and whole-person care 
•  🌿 Approaches to anal fissures, sphincter tension, and challenging postpartum presentations 
•  🤝 The importance of trauma-informed care, clear consent, and patient comfort during internal assessment 
•  👩‍⚕️ Collaboration between OTs, PTs, and other pelvic health professionals
•  📚 The importance of hands-on colorectal and postpartum education for pelvic health clinicians 

🔗 Learn More:

Explore additional pelvic health education and resources through Essential Pelvic Health Education, including CR-MATT colorectal training for clinicians looking to expand their knowledge of colorectal assessment and treatment.

You can also learn more from Lynn Schulte and the Institute for Birth Healing, including her postpartum courses, Birth Healing Summit Podcast, and Birth Healing Intensive program. Lynn encourages clinicians to stay curious about what the tissues are communicating and to look beyond a single tight muscle to understand the bigger picture behind a patient's symptoms.