“I was worried if [a pelvic health focus] would work out, but it did better than I imagined,” Long said. “There is a lot of need out there.”
Long said she chose her career path while in high school after receiving treatment then shadowing a physical therapist while taking a health science technology course. She earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Hardin-Simmons University in 2008 and practiced as a physical therapist for four years.
In 2012, she experienced incontinence and pelvic pain following the birth of her first child, and her career focus shifted.
“I saw a need in myself, and going to [pelvic floor physical] therapy I saw how much they can help, and that’s when I realized I need to help other women,” Long said.
Long said she treats women for anything related to pelvic health, such as incontinence, urgency and frequency of urination, constipation, painful periods and post-partum issues.
Long said they consider themselves manual therapists, which means they do hands-on treatments. Treatments include exams, dry needling, functional movement exercises and more.
“Instead of having you on the table doing Kegels, I’d have you doing squats,” Long said. “My patients aren’t experiencing leaking when they are lying on a table. They’re experiencing leaking when they are squatting, jumping, running.”
This year, in addition to the name change, she added a physical therapist and moved to a newly built medical office, which has four patient rooms.
With the addition of Kinsey Worley, who also has a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, the office now provides pediatric pelvic health therapy. Long said they treat bed-wetters, those who are delayed at potty training and withholders—or “those who won’t poop on the potty.”
When the practice opened, Long said most of her patients came to her via local doctor referrals. She said she now receives many patient referrals. Regarding what causes patients to return, she said, “hopefully they don’t come back. I’m not lookinghttp://www.conceptpelvichealth.com for a lifetime patient necessarily.”
“I’ve become clear as to what our mission is: to help women live a life unhindered,” Long said.
Concept Pelvic Health, 1801 Rufe Snow Drive, Ste. 200, Keller. 817-393-7020. www.conceptpelvichealth.com. Hours: early mornng, evening and lunchtime appointments available. Call to schedule an appointment.
