About Pelvic PT
Dr. Kathy Pesavento started practicing physical therapy 25 years ago when she graduated from University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy in 1994. She began working strictly in orthopedics until the time of her first pregnancy, when she, herself, became the patient. The pain and problems she had experienced during and after her two pregnancies were treatable, but she realized how difficult it was to find someone with the proper skills and training to treat her. So, she took matters in her own hands and learned how to treat and address these problems on her own.
This experience made her keenly aware of the extreme need for physical therapists to specialize in treating the unique musculoskeletal problems that occur in and around the pelvis and affect women during the various stages of life. She had a strong desire to help and educate other women who are having the same or similar problems that she experienced. This was the impetus for her to begin her specialty training in women’s health and pelvic rehabilitation. Dr. Pesavento has found that the combination of her training and her own personal experience proved to be the perfect recipe for a knowledgeable, skillful, and empathic provider. She truly understands what her patients are going through as she has been in their shoes.
Dr. Pesavento has taken extensive coursework in pelvic physical therapy and was one of the country's first Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioners Certified (PRPC) clinical specialists, giving her the distinction of being a board certified expert in the field of pelvic rehabilitation. She stays very active in education, not only taking extensive continuing education, but serving as a Teaching Assistant for years for the renowned Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. Her specialty training has included: pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence (urinary and fecal), pelvic organ prolapse, constipation, chronic pelvic pain, interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, overactive bladder, levator ani syndrome, pudendal nerve entrapment and neuralgia, coccydynia, dyspareunia (pain with intercourse), vaginismus, post-operative pain and scarring (hysterectomy, oopherectomy, episiotomy, cesarean or c-section, etc.), pregnancy/postpartum management, and vulvovaginal disease (ie. vulvodynia, lichen sclerosis/ planus, vestibulodynia). Although she now exclusively works on pelvic, low back, hip and abdominal issues, Dr. Pesavento’s background was in orthopedics and biomechanics. This has proven to be a perfect complement to these women’s health conditions as most, if not all of them, coexist with other musculoskeletal issues, such as low back and hip pain and dysfunction, and improper pelvic alignment.
As she is committed to clinical excellence through her ongoing professional education, Dr. Pesavento returned to school to earn her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Shenandoah University in 2008. And, prior to earning her Master’s of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) from University of Miami School of Medicine in 1994, where she graduated with the distinction of high academic honors, she earned a BA in Psychology from Lehigh University in 1991. Since then she received her certification in Manual Trigger Point Therapy and Dry Needling (also called Intramuscular Manual Therapy or IMT). She also served as an adjunct faculty member teaching in the Department of Physical Therapy at Marymount University in the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 academic years. She has also served as a lab assistant for Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute's Pelvic Floor series to teach other PT's how to diagnose and treat pelvic floor issues.
Dr. Pesavento is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the APTA's Section on Women’s Health (SOWH), the National Vulvodynia Association (NVA), the International Pelvic Pain Society (IPPS), the Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA), the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH), the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA), the International MYOPAIN Society, the APTA's Orthopaedic and Private Practice Sections, and the Virginia Physical Therapy Association (VPTA). See links below.
Dr. Pesavento is the very proud mother of two wonderful children.
About Kathy Pesavento
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Owner of PelviCore Physical Therapy
PelviCore is a proud supporter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
, MSPT, DPT, PRPC, CMTPT
PelviCore Physical Therapy 243 Church St., NW, Suite 100-B, Vienna, VA 22180 (571) 313- 5785
