Ohio Women’s Health Physical Therapy was launched for women, by a woman, to help those struggling with bladder and bowel issues

By Laura Briedis

It is only fitting that a mother of two young children and soon-to-be surrogate mother created a physical therapy practice focused on putting women’s health first.

Dr. Susan Facemire opened Ohio Women’s Health Physical Therapy in 2020 to help other women who have conditions ranging from chronic pelvic pain to urinary incontinence and other bladder and bowel issues.

“I have a passion for treating women during their childbearing years, especially in those times of pregnancy and postpartum,” she says.

In partnership with the team of functional medicine doctors at Practical Healing Center, Dr. Facemire treats patients in her Wadsworth office or offers in-home therapy services.

Housed in the loft of the Marigold Wellness Collective on Sharon Circle, this niche physical therapy practice aligns perfectly with all of the other businesses here, from chiropractic care to a wellness café to a holistic salon and spa.

To make it convenient for all of her patients, Dr. Facemire also offers in-home therapy.

“It is hard for many moms with young children to come to the office, so I come to their home when requested,” she says. “Oftentimes this is advantageous as I work with them in their own environment.”

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Dr. Facemire moved to Ohio, where she got her doctorate in physical therapy and certification in prenatal and postnatal coaching. She is raising her two children with her husband, who is from this area.

When treating women going through pregnancy and postpartum rehab, she draws on her own experience. She delivered her children by a C-section and a vaginal birth after cesarean and now is embarking on a surrogacy journey.

“Whether you’ve never had a baby, are pregnant or are postpartum, components of pelvic floor function are often overlooked that can lead to dysfunction,” she says. “Women’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy is critical during many parts of a woman’s life, especially during pregnancy and postpartum.”

“When you are pregnant, you have regular exams and check-ins, but once the baby comes and you have your six-week follow-up there is no maternal support. That is where I come in to help,” she says. “I like to be proactive instead of reactive and guide a mom through this whirlwind where you get sent home from the hospital without any guidance. Ideally, I like to get involved in the second trimester of your pregnancy, so I can help with labor and delivery positions, how to help reduce tearing and other things you can do to prepare. After the baby is born, I can teach things like how posture affects latching when nursing to referring moms if they need postpartum mental health therapy.”

Dr. Facemire also says that urinary leakage, though common, is not normal after pregnancy, so there are more than just Kegel exercises that you can do to stop it.

In addition to specializing in prenatal and postnatal therapy, Ohio Women’s Health P. T. offers a range of other services, always looking at the root cause and then implementing treatments. Dr. Facemire treats everything from low back pain and pelvic organ prolapse to urinary incontinence, hemorrhoids and painful intercourse.

Every treatment plan is customized to each patient and services can also include dry needling, cupping and neuromuscular re-education.

“I give my patients the tools they need to build a foundation, so they can take forth the principles they learn here without being dependent on my care,” says Dr. Facemire. “We are here to empower women to be strong and confident in all aspects of their lives.”

Ohio Women’s Health P.T. is located at 1348 Sharon Copley Road in Wadsworth. For more information, call 330-591-2444 or visit OhioWomensHealthPT.com.