Samantha Zgraggen
a holistic Occupational Therapist, specializes in empowering pre and postnatal women with tools for optimal pelvic floor health and overall well-being.
About me
Hi, I’m Samantha Zgraggen and I’m so happy you are here! I’ve been an Occupational Therapist for the past decade working in various settings from acute care, skilled nursing, orthopedic outpatient and home health. My true passion is womens and pelvic health, specifically the pre and post natal population. I initially became interested in pelvic health during my journey becoming a first time mother and realized the lack of support provided for women during this special time in their lives. I hope to teach others the tools they need to prep or recover their pelvic floor for optimal function. I would love to meet and walk you through a healing journey that makes you feel embodied. I would love to guide you to restore your self confidence and dignity while addressing your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. You are worth the time and investment to feel supported and fully within your own body.
I am originally from California but spent the last decade on the east coast where I started my career and family. We recently moved back to San Francisco and I’m looking forward to exploring the city through my jovial toddlers eyes. When I’m not indulging myself in pelvic health courses, podcasts, or books, I spend my days wrapped in natures quiet beauty with my husband and 2 boys.
Samantha Zgraggen
Services
This list is by no means exhaustive. If you are experiencing other pelvic floor symptoms, call to see if I can help.
Pelvic Floor Therapy
Pelvic pain, Pain with sex, Endometriosis, Urinary leakage, Constipation, Hemorrhoids, Fecal incontinence
Movement based Rehab
Fitness during pregnancy, Return back to fitness, Abdominal weakness, Personal exercise programs
Maternity wellness
Self care and baby care assessments, C-section /scar tissue management, Labor and delivery preparation, Diastisi recti recovery, Perineal massage, Pelvic organ prolapse
How to get started
Let’s chat!
Find out the why
Feel embodied
Frequently Asked Questions
Pelvic floor therapy is appropriate for anyone preparing for or recovering from birth, experiencing symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, or looking to connect more holistically to their bodies and pelvic floor.
Knowledge is power. Every woman has the right to basic education related to bladder, bowel, sexual function, reproductive health, and nervous system balance. This knowledge, along with understanding the importance of posture, alignment, the use of a variety of movement throughout the day, and how to quiet one’s nervous system is essential for overall wellness and quality of life.
As a pelvic floor therapist I will look at the whole person holistically as well as help you to improve your body awareness.. The pelvic floor is the center of our core and is influenced by everything above and below it. Finding the limitations and blind spots elsewhere in the body can often help alleviate pelvic floor symptoms.
Often, pregnancy and childbirth make us more susceptible to some of these symptoms, and every postpartum mother would benefit from a pelvic health consult. Some women are appropriate for a consult in the days after childbirth due to birth injury, birth trauma, or pain while others can wait a few weeks. It’s a great idea to see a pelvic floor therapist during pregnancy for education to help one prepare for the immediate postpartum time known as the fourth trimester.
I will perform an evaluation that includes an interview, physical assessment, education, and goal setting. During the interview process your therapist will ask you questions about your experience with your symptoms, goals, and lifestyle, as well as more intimate questions surrounding bowel, bladder, and sexual function. You only have to share what is comfortable for you.
The physical assessment will be dependent on the individual symptoms you present with, but often include assessments of your strength and range of motion, posture, breathing, and the function of the pelvic floor.
As an Occupational Therapist, I have the knowledge and ability to perform both internal and external pelvic floor assessments. While this gives me and my clients helpful information about the fascial integrity of the pelvic floor (so we are able to design individualized treatment plans) it is not an absolute necessity and should be performed based entirely on the patient’s comfort level. Many patients prefer to wait for a few sessions prior to participating in a pelvic floor assessment, while others prefer to decline it all together.
Yes, I also offer home visits or telehealth. We believe that many postpartum issues are directly related to the environment you and your baby spend your time in. Our in-home services are designed to evaluate you in your natural environment, and to provide treatment options to address your unique and evolving needs.
Embodied Pelvic OT is an out-of-network provider, which means I am not limited by the restrictions of insurance companies.
This allows me to tailor treatment specific to your needs and your timeline. I get to serve you, and not your insurance company.
An initial evaluation can be performed without a prescription or referral.