Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services | Gibson gets it! | Spring/Summer 2019

GibsonHospital.org 12 Story contributed by Kelly Cooke, PT, DPT, Outpatient Clinical Coordinator, Gibson Area Hospital Therapy Services MY EXPERIENCE with pelvic floor therapy began at the end of graduate school with a course specific to women’s health topics. Shortly after graduating and starting my position with Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services (GAHHS), a colleague expressed the need for a pelvic floor therapist in the Gibson City area. I jumped at the chance, and after intensive coursework, I began successfully treating patients for incontinence, separated abdominal muscles, and pelvic pain with the help and guidance of Gibson’s consulting therapist and my professional mentor, Lauren Mansell, PT, DPT, CLT, PRPC, CYT. However, I did not truly appreciate the benefit and vital importance of pelvic therapy until I became pregnant with my son in 2017. I began experiencing extreme back and hip pain when I was in my second trimester. Walking, lying down and standing up were incredibly painful. With my clinical background and professional relationship with Lauren, I was able to minimize the pain with PELVIC THERAPY “There is no greater joy inmy profession than helping another person achieve function by decreasing pain, incontinence and dysfunction. I amso honored to be able to work with Kelly in helping provide this service to the patients of Gibson Area Hospital.” —LaurenMansell, PT, DPT, CLT, PRPC, CYT Help for prenatal and postpartum