Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Delcambre.
Hi Claire, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was 19, I started experiencing a cascade of symptoms including irregular periods, chronic fatigue, rapid and unexplained weight gain, significant bloating, constipation, and severe depression. I bounced from specialist to specialist seeking answers. I suggested to an endocrinologist that I thought I might have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and he laughed, saying I didn’t look like a “typical PCOS patient” (whatever that means). He indulged me and ran the tests, and to his surprise – not mine – I had PCOS. Living with a chronic condition opened my eyes to the glaring flaws of our medical system. For each symptom, I was sent to a different specialist who didn’t communicate with the other specialists I had seen. I wasn’t a person, I was a symptom. This began my journey through health care, later pursuing my doctor of physical therapy degree from Mercer University, specializing in pelvic health and working with girls and women, and opening my practice, Hey Babe Physical Therapy & Wellness.
I felt dismissed by my doctors, often being told that my symptoms were “normal” or “because you’re a woman.” I deserved to be listened to and taken seriously, and so does every other girl and woman. So, I sought to create a space that caters to girls and women and their physical wellness. Our bodies are different than men’s bodies and need to be addressed with that in mind.
One of those differences is hormonal changes, not only through the menstrual cycle but also through the lifespan with consideration to pregnancy and menopause. Our hormones affect and influence our immune systems, nervous systems, recovery times after exercise, energy levels, connective tissue resiliency and strength, and healing capacities through the menstrual cycle and over the lifespan. These hormonal changes can impact how you heal from injuries, how you can perform with exercise or with your sport, and how you feel in your body at any given point. Our healthcare providers should be considering our own physiological uniqueness when treating us for painful periods, urinary incontinence, pain with sex, injury recovery, joint and back pain, and other symptoms we commonly experience.
When it comes to athletic performance and exercise, we also have to consider the biomechanical structure in conjunction with connective tissue differences in women when compared to men. Because women have a naturally wider pelvis than men and our ligaments tend to be looser, our knees and ankles are at higher risk of injury, which is why it is so common for female athletes to sprain their ankles and tear their ACLs.
Knowing what we now know about female anatomy, health, and wellness, we also know that girls and women require a holistic approach to their healing.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The greatest challenge we have encountered has been the lack of awareness of the need for specialized care for women and the lack of knowledge of what pelvic floor physical therapy is among other healthcare providers. This gap in knowledge limits access to effective care by those who would benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy most. We know that one-third of all women experience pelvic floor dysfunction, and 50% of women over the age of 55 experience pelvic floor dysfunction, however we also know that very few of these women receive appropriate care.
Because women and girls are often told their experience is “normal” they don’t know help is available. Being born with female anatomy is not a life sentence to pain and discomfort in our own bodies. There are ways we can support our bodies that can elevate our experiences related to sports, periods, sex, pregnancy and postpartum, and menopause, and we’re here to help.
Everyone deserves to laugh without peeing themselves, have sex pain-free, exercise and move in the ways they love, and live life fully. We’re here to help you get there.
As you know, we’re big fans of Hey Babe Physical Therapy & Wellness. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
When creating Hey Babe Physical Therapy & Wellness, I wanted to create a space in which girls and women could talk about their concerns, learn about the cause of their symptoms, and provide them with tools to use to optimize their health and lived experience. We specialize in injury prevention and rehabilitation, pregnancy and postpartum care, orthopedic rehabilitation, and pelvic floor physical therapy, equipping us to consider our patient’s symptoms and conditions with a holistic lens. We’re invested in your healing journey and seek to understand your goals, expectations, limitations and the demands of your daily life to create a plan that considers your uniqueness.
What are your plans for the future?
We aim to become a pillar in the community and beacon for girls and women to access information, gain knowledge, and improve their health and well-being throughout their lives. We are creating an injury prevention program to offer to local sports teams for middle and high school-aged girls to help them optimize their performance in their sports and learn about their bodies so they can better advocate for themselves earlier in life. We are also building our brand to reach women over the age of 55 who are peri and post-menopausal to optimize their well-being as they age. We are a young company, but where women’s health is involved we know the sky’s the limit!
Pricing:
- We take all PPO insurances and are in-network with some insurances
Contact Info:
- Website: heybabewellness.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/heybabewellness
- Facebook: facebook.com/heybabewellness
Image Credits
Lo Checket
