Endometriosis and Vocal Health: Insights from Dr. Ginger Garner

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What if the pain you've been living with for years was dismissed as normal? Join us as we sit down with Dr. Ginger Garner, a celebrated physical therapist and lifestyle medicine expert, who courageously shares her long-overdue diagnosis of endometriosis at age 50. Dr. Garner opens up about the impact of cultural conditioning, medical gaslighting, and limited access to care on her journey, and how integrative medicine became a beacon of hope, leading to the births of her three miracle children. Her evolution from orthopedics to pelvic health emphasizes the need to normalize discussions around pain and resilience.

Ever wondered how your pelvic floor impacts your voice? This episode provides an eye-opening exploration into the connection between vocalists' pelvic health and their voice. Dr. Garner reveals how early voice training techniques like pelvic tilts can shape posture and breath control, and how pain from conditions such as endometriosis can alter a singer's tone and inflection. We hear an engrossing account of a singer contending with the physical changes of pregnancy, highlighting how these shifts influence vocal performance and why this understanding is crucial for all singers.

The narrative takes a poignant turn as we delve into the story of a young mother navigating postpartum challenges without proper guidance. Despite her background in exercise physiology, she faced significant issues with urgency, frequency, and leakage post-childbirth, shedding light on the gaps in postpartum care within the U.S. healthcare system. Dr. Garner passionately discusses the importance of an integrative and trauma-informed approach to women’s health, advocating for better community support and medical care. This episode is a rallying call for empathy, education, and systemic change in how we address chronic pain and trauma in women's health.


More about Ginger:


Dr. Ginger Garner is a doctor of physical therapy (PT, MPT, DPT), board certified in Lifestyle Medicine (DipACLM) and retired athletic trainer (ATC-ret) with post-doctoral training in functional and integrative medicine, dry needling, and rehabilitative ultrasound imaging. Ginger has spent 26 years teaching integrative and lifestyle medicine internationally, speaking at over 30 conferences worldwide. She is the author of multiple book chapters and 2 medical textbooks, Medical Therapeutic Yoga and Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine in Physical Therapy, from which she developed certifications for PT's and OT's in therapeutic yoga and lifestyle medicine. 


Based in Greensboro, NC, Dr. Garner runs Garner Pelvic Health and Living Well Institute, is the host of the Living Well Podcast, and is raising 3 sons. She is active in community service and holds leadership roles for American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Academy of Pelvic Health, APTA North Carolina, and American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Additionally, she is a mentor and thought leader in areas like voice to pelvic floor connection, rehab ultrasound imaging, and trauma-informed practice. Visit Dr. Garner at her clinical practice, www.garnerpelvichealth.com, Institute, www.integrativelifestylemed.com, and on Instagram and YouTube @drgingergarner.com

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