Dr. Claire Layman

PT, DPT, OCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy & Pelvic Health Specialist

I first became interested in Physical Therapy in college as a dance major. Kinesiology was a required course, and I loved it! Thinking about the muscles, bones, and joints and how they could best work together was fun! After a year dancing with Graham II in NYC, I decided to change directions and pursue Physical Therapy. Pelvic health first caught my interest in PT school. A guest lecturer (Dr. Jessica Reale!) really awakened my curiosity with her passion for this area of practice. What could be more important than bladder, bowel, and sexual function?

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It’s so rewarding to help people solve problems that they initially think they’ll just have to endure.

I started my career in orthopedics, but pelvic PT kept calling to me. My patients with low back pain or hip pain would mention that they also had urinary leakage, pain with sex, or bowel dysfunction. Patients who were pregnant or postpartum would ask questions about what they could do to help get back to the exercise that they loved. So, I dove into the coursework for Pelvic health, and started addressing the full picture.

It’s so rewarding  to help people solve problems that they initially think they’ll just have to endure.  Pelvic PT is such an important part of the picture for a person’s overall health and well being.  I got a taste of how crucial pelvic PT can be myself after experiencing a birth injury having my son.  It can be nerve wracking to deal with injury to such critical tissues, and it’s so important to have a sensitive and professional Pelvic PT as part of your care team.   I’m so glad that I get to help people with these important issues.  One of my favorite things about this area of practice is helping people meet their goals and return to the activities that they love.