Celebrating Foundational Concepts: 13 years!
Thirteen years ago, Jenn and I took a big leap of faith, at least to us it felt that way. Foundational Concepts began with a vision: to fill a gap in the Kansas City metro by creating a specialty clinic…
Scar Tissue Management: a little needle goes a long way
Scar tissue is a natural part of healing after surgery, injury, or trauma — but it doesn’t always heal in a way that supports normal movement and comfort. Often, scars create fascial restrictions, limit flexibility, and cause chronic pain long…
Caring for Scars after Mastectomy: Physical Therapy as a first line treatment.
Undergoing a mastectomy is a significant medical procedure that involves not only the removal of breast tissue but also the disruption of skin, fascia, muscle, and lymphatic pathways. While most people think of recovery in terms of healing incisions and…
From Ouch to Ahhhhhh: Physical Therapy for the Win After Mastectomy
Undergoing a mastectomy is a life-changing experience — physically, emotionally, and functionally. While the primary goal is to treat or prevent breast cancer, the surgery often comes with side effects that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. That’s…
The Role of Ultrasound Imaging in Physical Therapy for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Pelvic floor dysfunction is more common than many realize, affecting both women and men across different stages of life. It can present as urinary incontinence, bowel dysfunction, pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, or difficulties with core stability. Physical Therapy is…
Beyond Weakness: The Hidden Complexities of Stress Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is often thought of as a straightforward issue of a "weak pelvic floor. But for many individuals, the cause is far more complex and involves not only pelvic floor weakness but also pelvic floor muscle tightness,…
Strong from the Inside Out: Mastering the Deep Core for Lasting Stability
Lumbopelvic stability is the cornerstone of efficient, pain-free movement. At the heart of this stability lies a deep system of muscles often overlooked in conventional training or even in some rehabilitation programs: the multifidus, transverse abdominis (TrA), diaphragm, and pelvic…
The Psoas Muscle: Is It the Problem or the Messenger?
If you've dealt with chronic lower back or pelvic pain, hip tightness, or postural imbalances, you may have heard someone mention the psoas muscle. But is the psoas muscle truly the source of pain, or is it simply reflecting something…
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Disorders: new clinical practice updates
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has released a Clinical Practice Update addressing the gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations and autonomic or immune dysfunction in patients with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSDs). This expert review brings attention to an…
From Diaphragm to Pelvic Floor: The Pressurized Core Explained
The human core is a pressure system, and like any pressurized system, it must be carefully managed to maintain function and prevent breakdown. One of my favorite ways to understand this system is through the pop can analogy. Imagine your…
