In our weekly feature section, Pelvic Rehab Report is proud to present this interview with newly certified practitioner Erica Vitek MOT, OTR, BCB-PMD, PRPC
Describe your clinical practice:
I have two outpatient based practice locations. One is located right next to the Marquette campus in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at Aurora Sinai Medical Center. The second location that I offer pelvic rehabilitation is in a suburb of Milwaukee at the Aurora Women’s Pavilion, Franklin. I treat women and men and also have taken the Pediatric course with Herman and Wallace and am working on marketing that area of my practice. I also have a special interest in Parkinson disease. I am specially trained in amplitude based exercise for people with Parkinson disease and am a certified LSVT BIG provider and faculty member of LSVT global certifying clinicians in this treatment around the United States and internationally. The area of pelvic health fits in very nicely with this population as the research demonstrates approximately 60% of people affected by Parkinson disease experience urinary incontinence and 80% experience constipation.
What/who inspired you to become involved in pelvic rehabilitation?
I attended college at Concordia University in Wisconsin. A local occupational therapist who had been practicing pelvic floor therapy for some time came to one of our foundational courses to demonstrate different niche practice areas. The demonstration revolved around the use of biofeedback. I was so intrigued that I could demonstrate concrete information to patients for learning. However the primary reason of intrigue was being able to have such an enormous impact on a patient’s quality of life. Treating bladder and bowel issues, being my primary initial interest, has grown into an amazing pelvic rehabilitation practice encompassing all areas of pelvic health.
What motivated you to earn PRPC?
When I attended the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Floor Level 3 course, we were told there was a certification in the works. I was already in the process of perusing my board certification in biofeedback for pelvic muscle dysfunction, but was intrigued in the vast amounts of knowledge beyond that. I wanted to be able to demonstrate to my patients that I had put in the effort to go above and beyond to ensure I had the knowledge and resources to rehabilitate their very private and sensitive conditions. I feel that having the certification not only demonstrates my expertise in pelvic health but my dedication to patient’s well-being and healing.
What patient population do you find most rewarding in treating and why?
Daily, I observe impact being made in all patients that I see as is reported by all of my colleagues treating pelvic health issues. I truly feel compassion for these patients and love to share in their joy of improvement. Patients that are able to avoid surgery or recover from surgery with the help of pelvic floor therapy is extremely rewarding. Treating patients with Parkinson disease and pelvic floor dysfunction is also an important part of my practice and most rewarding for many reasons. The movement issues that these patients are dealing with, such as hand tremor resulting in difficulty with clothing adjustment for toileting, muscle stiffness/rigidity and balance issues resulting in difficulty getting up out of bed or chairs and ambulating to the bathroom safely, as well as slowness/bradykinesia delaying arrival to the bathroom can be life altering. These patients and their caregivers may become socially isolated. It may be hard enough to manage these conditions at home therefore going to others homes, out in public, or on vacation may become overwhelming or impossible. Pelvic rehabilitation can have a profound impact on independence, community participation, socialization, and personal relationships. Many times sexuality issues experienced by people with Parkinson disease had not yet been discussed, so what an opportunity for us as pelvic rehabilitation specialists to address this.
Learn more about Erica Vitek MOT, OTR, BCB-PMD, PRPC at her Certified Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner bio page. You can also learn more about the Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification at www.hermanwallace.com/certification.
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