After working in traditional physical therapy settings, I began to notice a pattern that didn’t sit right with me. Many patients were being scheduled in fast-paced clinics where appointments were short and therapists were often responsible for multiple people at the same time. While that model can work for some types of care, it rarely allows the time needed to truly understand a patient’s story, movement patterns, and goals. Physical therapy is most effective when there is space to listen, assess the whole body, and guide someone through movement with intention — not when care feels rushed or divided.

At the same time, I saw many women navigating pelvic and musculoskeletal concerns that were frequently dismissed, minimized, or misunderstood. Issues like bladder leaks, pelvic pain, painful intimacy, persistent low back or hip pain, or core weakness after pregnancy were often brushed off as “normal after having kids.” Many women were told these were things they simply had to live with.

But these concerns can have a real impact on daily life, confidence, exercise, and overall wellbeing — and in many cases, they are very treatable with the right guidance.

I also began to see another group of women facing similar challenges during perimenopause and menopause. Hormonal changes can affect connective tissue, muscle strength, and joint health in ways that many people don’t realize. Conditions such as frozen shoulder, tendon irritation, joint stiffness, and persistent orthopedic pain are increasingly recognized as part of what some researchers refer to as the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause. Yet many women experiencing these changes are not told that hormonal shifts may be influencing their symptoms, and they are often left searching for answers.