• What is Women's Health Physical Therapy?
• Testimonials
• About Dr. Rivka Friedman
• Allcare Women's Wellness Center: Mission & Vision Statement
• Additional Information
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Hi. For those of you who do not know me my name is Dr. Rivka Friedman and I am a physical therapist specializing in women's health also known as "pelvic" or "urogynecologic" physical therapy. I evaluate and treat dysfunctions of the pelvic floor muscles. There are two main problems or categories for pelvic floor problems, "underactive (weak) pelvic floor muscles" and "overactive (spasmed) pelvic floor muscles."

Women with weak pelvic floor muscles may experience:

• Urinary Incontinence
• Fecal Incontinence and/or Flatulence
• Prolapse (Dropped Uterus, Bladder Or Rectum)
• Discomfort or Pressure in the Pelvic or Vaginal Area that may or may not Interfere with Intercourse
• Difficulty Fully Emptying Bladder
• Chronic Constipation

Women with spasmed pelvic floor muscles may experience:

• Dyspareunia (pain with intercourse or inability to consummate marriage)
• Various Pelvic Pain Syndromes Including:
  • vaginismus
  • vulvodynia
  • vestibulitis
• Urinary Urgency and Frequency
• Chronic Constipation

Physical therapy can also ease symptoms of various gynecologic conditions by relaxing the pelvic floor muscles and/ or by improving muscle balance throughout the body. This includes:

• Interstitial Cystitis
• Endometriosis
• Painful Bladder Syndrome
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Very often women with these kinds of problems try various medications or other methods with little relief and may be facing surgery. Two reasons for this is that 1) 50% of women who are told to "do kegels" by their doctor are doing them incorrectly and thus they need more help and 2) pelvic pain syndromes are poorly understood in the medical community so many women have trouble finding the help they need. Physical therapy may avoid the need for medications and surgery in many patients.

Please feel free to add any comments to this discussion or you can e-mail me with any questions at
rfriedman@ allcarept.com.

To whom this may concern,

I'm an otherwise healthy 30-year-old female who had suffered with urinary frequency and urgency issues for years. Over the course of time I had seen every type of specialist, from Uro-Gyno physicians to Allergists to Holistic healers. None of them where able to provide me with any relief or cure.

I had just about resigned myself to arranging my life around this condition (i.e., not drinking enough, only attending events where I have easy access to restroom) when I was referred to Dr. Rivka Friedman. In a matter of weeks the symptoms and issues I had struggled with for years dissipated.

Dr. Friedman is extremely knowledgeable in her field and respectful of any sensitivities or mental discomfort I may have had. I feel completely at ease with the therapy and with talking to her about these very personal matters.

I know now that there is no need to live with these conditions. After suffering for years and then finding relief I would strongly recommend Dr. Rivka Friedman's services to anyone else who may have urinary urgency or other female health issues.

Sincerely,
G.B

From a woman with painful intercourse:

"At Allcare Women's Wellness Center I receive excellent care. Dr. Rivka Friedman is extremely dedicated to each and every patient. Her kindness and sensitivity along with her vast knowledge of 'women's health' put me at ease right from the start. She hasn't let me down. Together we are achieving what my husband and I once thought 'impossible.' I highly recommend her and the entire staff. At Allcare I feel right at home."

Thank You!
B.K.

Rivka Friedman, PT, MS, DPT is an alumnus of SUNY Downstate's Doctor of Physical Therapy program, graduating with honors. In addition to completing fieldwork in Coney Island Hospital and Augustana Lutheran Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Rivka had the unique opportunity to study manual therapy techniques with Ofir Isaac, PT, MS, Owner of Allcare Physical Therapy, as part of her doctoral training. While working as a physical therapist at Allcare Physcial Therapy, she has had much success in treating orthopedic conditions such as neck pain, back pain, pinched nerves and more.

Rivka has expanded her practice to include Women's Health, completing courses with the American Physical Therapy Association Section on Women's Health and the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. She has successfully treated patients with conditions such as urinary incontinence and pelvic pain, drastically improving their quality of life. Her combination of manual therapy experience, knowledge of women's health conditions and understanding of the needs of the Jewish community enable her to provide comprehensive solutions for her patients in a compassionate manner.

Our Mission:

Our mission is to provide superior physical and emotional support to women with various pelvic dysfunctions, as these problems usually have a significant impact on a woman's quality of life. We aim to provide treatment options that complement medicine thus bridging the gap in women's healthcare. Working together with physicians, we can treat a wide spectrum of feminine conditions with efficacy and sensitivity in a natural manner, avoiding medications and surgery. At Allcare Women's Wellness Center, women can feel comfortable expressing their difficulties in a warm and modest environment with a female provider.

Our Vision:

Our vision is to be the Brooklyn hub of Women's Health and Wellness. Our goal is to be a multidisciplinary center aimed at treating the woman as a whole. Our center will be comprised of a group of female providers working in collaborative fashion, including Physical Therapists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nutritionists, Massage Therapists, and Fitness Instructors, assuring we address every aspect of a woman's condition.

• Allcare Women's Wellness Center Newsletter (Vol. 1)
• Pelvic Pain Brochure
• Urinary Incontinence Brochure
• Pregnancy and Post-partum Brochure

Allcare Women’s Wellness Center
1213 Avenue P
Brooklyn, NY 11229
Phone: 718-339-6885
Fax: 718-339-0945
e-mail: rfriedman@ allcarept.com