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Yoga at Home

CARA HARTOON

PURE PELVIC PT

ABOUT PELVIC FLOOR PHYSICAL THERAPY

Welcome to Pure Pelvic PT! We're a pelvic only physical therapy establishment treating all the extra personal functions of the body: pee, poop, pain, pregnancy, and sex. 

A lot of patients get referred to pelvic PT and have no idea what it is or what a session will look like. Questions like these are common: ​Pelvic floor physical therapy: What is it? What are the session's like? How do I prepare for the initial eval? Can I bring someone with me? Will it hurt? What if it's hard for me to talk about these problems? A brief summary follows. For more info, contact Cara!

Pelvic floor physical therapy is much like any other type of PT, just in a more personal region and addressing more personal dysfunctions. We address biomechanical, neuromuscular, myofascial, autonomic and behavioral factors all contributing to one's dysfunction. Pure Pelvic PT uses a chronic pain approach to pain conditions to allow for an enduring improvement of symptoms; pain is so much more than a simple tissue injury. For a lot of people, discussing personal issues like sex life, bowel movements, incontinence, etc is tough. That's ok! These topics are treated openly with respect and zero judgement. Dressing in comfortable clothes that allow for gentle exercise is best. Initial evaluation involves an external exam of the low back, hip, and pelvic region (we must examine the parts that are bothering you) and often an internal vaginal or rectal exam. No stirrups or speculums are used and, unlike other internal exams, the patient is in full control of the process. If the patient is too uncomfortable, the exam stops. Period. Bringing a support person is just fine but eventually one-on-one will allow for both the patient and PT to focus on therapy. Sometimes exam and/or manual therapy is a little uncomfortable but, again, the patient always dictates tolerance. Bottom line: we need to get you back to living your life without these issues. 

Cara Hartoon PT, DPT, PRPC, RYT, ACSM-EP

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Dr. Cara Hartoon is a pelvic floor physical therapist with 11 years experience treating male and female pelvic dysfunction. Cara emphasizes empowering patients to take an active part in their rehabilitation and always uses a “laid back” and accepting approach to patient care. Cara uses a holistic treatment approach considering not only physical dysfunction but also behavioral, emotional, and lifestyle factors. Collaboration among clinicians is of high priority in Dr. Cara's practice and she encourages open communication among all of a patient's wellness team.

Education includes her BS in Clinical Exercise Science from University of Texas at Arlington, her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and her Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC) from Herman & Wallace. She is a licensed physical therapist, ACSM certified exercise physiologist, registered yoga teacher, and group exercise instructor.  Continuing education includes work thru the Barral Institute, Herman and Wallace, APTA, the Integrative Dry Needling Institute, and Yoga Alliance affiliates, among others.

CONDITIONS TREATED

FEMALE

  • Dyspareunia (pain with sex)

  • Vaginismus

  • Vulvodynia

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse

  • Urinary/Fecal Incontinence

  • Generalized Pelvic Pain

  • Paradoxical Pelvic Floor Activation

​MALE

  • Erectile Dysfunction

  • Orchalgia

  • Penile Pain

  • Urinary/Fecal Incontinence

  • Post Prostatectomy Complications

  • Paradoxical Pelvic Floor Activation

 

PRENATAL & POSTPARTUM

  • Vaginal Delivery Preparation

  • Pelvic pain during and post pregnancy (osteitis pubis, pelvic floor myalgia, dyspareunia, perineal pain, etc)

  • Prenatal Yoga

  • Urinary/Fecal Incontinence

  • Post C-section Abdominal Pain

  • Post Partum Reconditioning

  • Diastasis Recti

TREATMENT TECHNIQUES

  • Manual therapy

  • Integrative Dry Needling

  • Pelvic Neurologic Reeducation

  • Manual & Tech Biofeedback

  • Electrical Stimulation

  • Autonomic Retraining

  • Behavior Modification

  • Mind-body Focused Therapeutic Exercise

  • Education

ONLINE BOOKING COMING SOON

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PAYMENT

As a small private practice, Pure Pelvic PT is a fee for service establishment. This allows the therapist to spend their time focused on one-on-one patient care without having to address time-intensive health insurance related issues.  A superbill (itemized medical receipt) with all information required for self-filing is provided after each session.  Full payment is due before session begins. Methods of payment include: credit card, HSA card, cash, money order, Paypal, Venmo, Zelle and Square. In certain circumstances, set rates can be modified. Always feel safe talking to me! Just shoot me an email. drcarahartoon@gmail.com

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