Holistic, trauma-informed, collaborative care to bring lasting relief from pelvic floor issues and connect with your body in a whole new way—through seasons of (in)fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, & beyond

Let’s talk about what’s going on in your bathroom and bedroom.

When things go wrong in the most intimate areas of our health, many people suffer in silence.

Struggling with issues like bladder control, painful sex, pregnancy and postpartum recovery can be not only physically debilitating but emotionally exhausting.

The good news is that conditions like these are not something you have to live with. As a pelvic health physical therapist, I treat issues like pelvic pain, menstrual pain, bladder leakage, constipation & bowel leakage, and help people navigate common symptoms of perimenopause & menopause.

I’m here to listen, to work with you to overcome these problems so you can work out without worrying about leaking, be with your partner without fear of pain, and recover from birth with ease.

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Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Your visit will be one-on-one with a Board-certified Doctor of Physical Therapy—no PT aide or tech. We specialize in treating the pelvic floor—it’s not just an add-on treatment. Our spacious treatment rooms are private—no busy gym with other patients around.

Typical diagnoses we see include:

  • Pelvic pain (pain with tampons or sex, menstrual pain, etc)

  • Bladder problems (leaking, urgency, frequency)

  • Bowel problems (constipation, hemorrhoids, leakage)

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse

  • Pregnancy and postpartum symptoms

  • Birth Prep and postpartum recovery

  • Diastasis (abdominal separation)

  • Perimenopause & Menopause issues

For a list of specific diagnoses, see the FAQs section at the bottom of this page.

I also offer Holistic Pelvic Care™ to address imbalances related to postpartum recovery, pregnancy loss, and birth trauma.

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  • "You will be in the best hands if you seek care here. 💕

    Mandi not only has the expertise, but she creates a very safe environment and is trauma-informed. As a queer person, that is one of my top priorities when picking a healthcare provider. She took the time to explain everything she was going to do before she moved on with her examination AND asked consent along the way. She is an absolute gem.”

    Mary Gelder

  • If your postpartum body has left you even a little confused about what’s going on, I couldn’t recommend scheduling a visit with Dr. Mandi enough!

    “She helped me gain comfort and familiarity with my new post-baby body as well as identify where improvement is possible.”

    Anna Van Wickle

  • Worth all the Pennies and I'll be back again!

    “Mandi is incredible! I’ve seen a few other Pelvic PTs prior to my visit with Mandi and was blown away how she effortlessly eased my anxiety, listened to my story and the layers of what brought me in. It was so comfortable to verbally open up about tender subjects, and know she genuinely cared.”

    Lisa Zepeda

  • My life is honestly changed in such a positive way

    “I cannot recommend Dr. Mandi Murtaugh enough, she is a miracle worker! I have a history of trauma along with giving birth in the last year and was having a lot of issues. Dr. Mandi is professional, kind, and welcoming and makes you feel very comfortable for such a vulnerable type of physical therapy.

    Savannah Binschus

Our Clinic:

Find us inside Thresholds Collective near the Tacoma Mall at 4707 S Junett St Suite B, right next to Bird Family Dentistry.

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Front entrance of a small white building with green trim, featuring two hanging flower baskets and surrounded by bushes. The building has a gabled roof and a concrete walkway leading to a glass door. A sign with the number 4707B is above the door.

 FAQs

  • A thorough yet incomplete list of conditions/symptoms we treat:

    Pelvic Pain*:

    • Painful sex (dyspareunia)

    • Painful periods (dysmenorrhea)

    • Endometriosis related pain

    • Interstitial Cystitis

    • Vaginismus

    • Vulvar vestibulitis

    • Trauma integration (medical, sexual, relational)

    Urinary Symptoms/Syndromes:

    • Urinary incontinence/leakage

    • Urinary urgency

    • Urinary frequency 

    • Recurrent UTI’s 

    • Interstitial Cystitis

    • Prolapse/Cystocele 

    Bowel Symptoms/Syndromes:

    • Constipation

    • Bowel incontinence

    • Gas incontinence

    • Painful bowel movements

    • Hemorrhoids

    • Rectocele

    Pregnancy/Postpartum:

    • Pelvic girdle pain

    • Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD or PSD)

    • Prolapse

    • Diastasis Rectus Abdominis (DRA or abdominal separation)

    • Incontinence

    • Scar tissue (cesarean or perineal)

    • Back pain

    • Shoulder pain

    • SIJ dysfunction

    In addition to symptoms, we provide preventative care for:

    • Trying to Conceive/Preconception

    • Birth Prep

    • Perineal Massage

    • Postpartum recovery

    • Care after miscarriage or loss

    • Return to exercise postpartum

    We provide trauma sensitive care, which means a lot of things, but ultimately that everything is options, every visit. We recognize that this is very sensitive care, and we honor your story and your experience. We value your trust in us.

    Weight loss is never part of our treatment plan or recommendations.

  • Mandi does not treat cis-gendered men at this time. She does work with AFAB trans-masc and AMAB trans-femme patients, however. Reach out if you have any questions about if we are the right fit for you.

  • While some people can afford to pay out of pocket for this work, I understand that many cannot. I can work with you to create an individual payment plan on a case-by-case basis, and offer sliding scale prices as needed. My Pelvic Floor 101 Course is a great option to help save money over the course of treatment as well. Send me an email at hello@drmandimurtaugh.com if you’d like to explore options.

    I also have a scholarship for BIPOC folks who are pregnant, preparing for labor & delivery, or postpartum. Please email support@drmandimurtaugh.com if you want more information for yourself or a client referral.

  • The initial intake visit will start with a thorough review of your history, including any medical history, injuries, and pregnancy/birth experience. I give ample space to get to know you, as I believe effective care starts with getting to know you as a whole person, not just your primary symptoms. This visit is typically 90 minutes so that we have time to get you some treatment too!

    You can wear whatever you want to this first visit. Comfortable clothes that stretch can be helpful for the movement assessment but aren’t necessary.

  • My typical recommendation is to wait until your 6-week follow-up to start PT. This is in part to allow healing time and clearance before doing any pelvic floor assessment, but also gives you at least the first month or so for rest and bonding. Also, some initial symptoms such as pain or incontinence can resolve on their own by 6 weeks.

    However, if you are having pain that limits your ability to walk, move around, carry your baby safely, or in any way limits your daily tasks, please make an appointment earlier.

  • Yes, please! I recommend at least two visits starting at 34-36 weeks. We’ll use one visit to focus on assessing your pelvic floor to help ready it for birth, including teaching you perineal massage (tip: it’s not supposed to be miserable!) and how to push properly. On the second visit, we focus on labor & delivery positioning to optimize opening the pelvis. Your partner or doula is more than welcome to join for these visits!

    Of course, if you have any pain or pelvic floor symptoms like incontinence during pregnancy, I encourage you to schedule an appointment sooner.

  • The gold standard for assessing the pelvic floor is an internal exam. This is sometimes included in the initial visit, but always individualized. It is also important to know it’s not necessary.

    There are no speculums or stirrups involved. I simply assess visually first, exactly as you would if you were looking at yourself with a hand mirror. I might feel the muscles externally, feeling just inside the sitbones. Then I use one gloved finger to feel the pelvic floor muscles inside the vagina (or when appropriate inside the rectum). The only way to know exactly what’s going on with a muscle is to feel it, and this is the best way to feel the pelvic floor muscles.

    People who come to see me have all sorts of history, and many of their stories include sexual trauma or abuse. I respect your story and always aim to move at a pace that feels safe and comfortable for each individual. I have had the honor of being part of the healing journey for so many people, and I don’t hold that role lightly.

  • I suggest you keep your appointment. We’ll adjust the plan for that day if we often do internal work because there is always more to do. I may even be able to help give you some relief via yoga postures or manual therapy if you’re feeling pretty crampy.

    There are very few instances where physical therapy relies solely on doing internal work. The pelvic floor is closely related to the hips, the inner thighs, the abdominals, and the glutes (and breathing and swallowing and the feet and…), so if hands-on treatment is the focus, there’s a lot more to do outside the pelvic floor.

    This work is ultimately about self-care, so what better time to take care of yourself than during your bleed? And with the option for online visits, you can even stay home in your sweats and close to a heating pad.

  • Out of respect for our providers and in service to all patients, we ask for 48-business hour notice for all cancellations. A late cancellation fee equal to the visit amount will be assessed in the case of no-shows or cancellations made with less than 48-business hour notice. Exceptions will be made for emergencies or illness. 

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