Break Free Pelvic Health & Wellness was founded by Dr. Gretchen Brooker, DPT, PRPC in pursuit of passion for patients with pelvic floor dysfunction struggling to find lasting relief in the traditional medical model. Evidence based practice shows us that pelvic floor therapy IS the number one recommended treatment approach for diagnoses like incontinence, pelvic pain, overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome), dyspareunia (painful sex), nonbacterial prostatitis - and yet so many are suffering with these conditions and their associated symptoms with no mention of pelvic floor physical therapy. In cases of constipation, half of those suffering have pelvic floor dysfunction as the culprit. Pelvic floor muscle coordination and tension should be a differential diagnosis for constipation! We are on a mission here in Charleston to make pelvic health a standard of care as leaders in the field.
Welcome to Break Free Pelvic Health & Wellness
care you can be confident in
Pelvic health physical therapy is different than regular physical therapy - it has to be for several reasons:
1) Pelvic floor assessment is not taught in PT school and post-graduate training is required in many levels. We go beyond level 1 and have continued specialty training, especially for male and pediatric populations and complex pain conditions.
2) The pelvic floor muscles are inside the pelvis and an intra-vaginal or intra-rectal assessment is the most accurate way to assess them. Please see more on our FAQ page about this.
3) Your pelvic floor does not act alone or at random. If you are only receiving focused care at the pelvis/pelvic floor, a big piece may be missing. May times we find other impairments that are causing pelvic floor dysfunction such as foot/ankle issues, hip weakness, lumbar spine dysfunction, hormonal dysregulation, chronic conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, EDS, POTS and/or nervous system dysregulation. We look head to toe, inside and out.
Live Confidently, "Break Free"
Challenge the System
Treat the Why
Find the Why
Our Treatment Process
The pelvic floor muscles are assessed to find out - are they weak, tight, uncoordinated or a combo of above? And why? Sometimes it takes a few sessions to undercover all of the "whys".
Why is the pelvic floor tight/weak/uncoordinated - birth trauma? hip weakness? nervous system? scar tissue? spine? foot/ankle? Once we find the why, we treat everything causing dysfunction.
Now the fun begins.
Have sex again. Travel again. Jump rope. Run. We continue to address the remaining impairments for lasting change and resiliency.
Be confident you are not broken.
We know pelvic floor dysfunction is life altering. We are here to show you that you can heal and you do not have to live with leaks and pains (and you don't have to do kegels!)
How We Treat Pelvic Floor Dysfunction:
Extensive education on sexual health, bladder functioning & the pelvic floor, bowel mechanics, birth, menopause, endometriosis, menstrual health, prostate health, erectile function, potty training, bedwetting, and more.
Collaborative care with medical team for chronic conditions and pre/post op to provide musculoskeletal input and recommendations.
Manual therapy techniques for tension, trigger points, stiffness, and pain of muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and nerves. All therapists are trained in dry needling. All therapists are trained in external and internal manual therapy techniques for tension, pain and coccyx dysfunction.
Scar tissue management through dry needling, cupping, taping, vibration and manual therapy.
Manual therapy techniques for nervous system regulation at the abdomen and head/neck. Education on polyvagal theory and implementation to improve resiliency, movement and sleep.
Coordination training for pelvic floor movement, diaphragm movement, lifting, bearing down for pushing with birth, bearing down for pushing with bowel movements.
Exercise prescription for strengthening and/or mobility as individually needed and progressed as appropriate.
Pain management techniques for painful menstruation, IBS/constipation/fissures, and painful sitting.
Re-training and scheduling for urinary frequency, overactive bladder and bowel dysfunction.
Assistance and prescription for dilators as necessary to manage painful sex, vaginismus or rectal pain.
Assistance and prescription for pessaries as necessary to manage prolapse.
Assistance with wearable garments to relieve pain in pregnancy, prep for postpartum and other post-operative prep.
Dr. Gretchen founded Break Free Pelvic Health & Wellness in 2021 on Johns Island, SC. She has been practicing pelvic floor physical therapy since 2018. With her clinical experience and advanced training in pelvic floor rehabilitation, she has created a practice that is devoted to clinical excellence with expert pelvic floor physical therapy services. She is a fierce advocate for pelvic floor physical therapy done correctly and prides herself in the physical therapy services she and her team provide. . She treats women and men with pelvic floor conditions ranging from incontinence, sexual dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, prolapse, pre/post operative pelvic conditions, complex and generalized pelvic pain conditions and prenatal/postpartum rehab. She is trained in dry needling and manual therapy techniques to help her patients find relief. She is also a mom to two wild boys that bring her as much joy as pelvic rehab does!
Dr. Gretchen Brooker, DPT, PRPC
Doctor of Physical Therapy,
Board Certified Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner
Get to Know Us
Dr. Meagan Jacobin, PT, DPT
Natalie Hite
Claire Hodge
Doctor of Physical Therapy, Pelvic Floor
Specialist for Women & Men
Practice Manager
Dr. Kaleigh joined the team in 2023 and has brought a wealth of knowledge and clinical expertise to Break Free Pelvic Health. As her own pelvic floor rehab journey fueled her passion, she has a deep compassion and connection to her patients struggling with the same path. She is the only pelvic floor physical therapist in Charleston with advanced training in pediatric rehabilitation for complex bowel and bladder conditions. She is an expert in pediatric care for pelvic health and brings so much joy & healing for children and families struggling to manage difficult issues like constipation, bowel accidents, leaks and unexplained pains. In addition, she is passionate about helping adolescents struggling with period pain, vaginismus, vulvodynia and other unexplained pains. She leads our monthly endometriosis support group for women and their families in our local community. Dr. Kaleigh is trained in dry needling and through Herman & Wallace pelvic floor rehabilitation to help her patients find relief. In addition to kiddos and women's health, she has helped so many women have fantastic births and postpartum recoveries through the care she provides.
Dr. Meagan is an amazing addition to our team, with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from USC, a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from MUSC and pelvic floor training through the American Physical Therapy Association and Spartanburg Medical. In addition, she is a teaching assistant for the Medical University of South Carolina. Her passions and expertise have well equipped her to have a huge impact on our community in helping male patients with prostatectomy recovery, prostatitis and other chronic pelvic pain and urinary diagnoses, and female patients with urinary dysfunction, bowel dysfunction and pelvic pain. In addition, her expertise allows her to blend pelvic floor health & neurology to help patients regain control of their bladder, bowel and sexual function with conditions such as MS, stroke and TBI which is a huge need for this community. Personally, you can find her at the gym doing functional fitness and heavy lifting (and can help you not pee when you lift!). You will also hear many stories of her sweet new puppy, Oakley, if you become a patient of Dr. Meagan's!
Doctor of Physical Therapy, Pelvic Floor Specialist for Women & Pediatrics
Dr. Kaleigh Mathis, PT, DPT
Patient Care Coordinator
We'd love to work with you.
Your first call to our office will be met with compassion from our team, who understand pelvic floor dysfunction. Nothing is "TMI" and you are not alone.
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What our patients say
I highly recommend Dr. Brooker for any mom-to-be or new mom! She is a wealth of information and will really spend time with you so you understand the body-mechanics of the birth process. She'll help empower you to prepare your body for birth to minimize injury and she'll guide you through best-practices of postpartum recovery. If you are worried about how to safely return to your day-to-day physical activities and workout routines, please see Dr. Brooker!
- Celia B.
