Ginger Garner

PT, DPT, ATC-Ret, DipACLM
GPH Clinic Founder, Therapist

Specialties

Dr. Garner is a globally recognized expert in pelvic and orthopedic rehabilitation. She has pioneered primary care physical therapy evaluation and treatment using a Functional, Integrative, and Lifestyle Medicine approach, as well as advanced the use of musculoskeletal imaging in orthopedic and pelvic health for complex patient populations including endometriosis, hypermobility, menopause, and hip labral tears and impingement. Dr. Garner also developed the Voice to Pelvic Floor methodology, a systems-based approach to trauma-informed care through investigation of the three diaphragm interdependence model. She has also penned multiple books and chapters and developed post-graduate coursework and certifications based on innovative approach, Medical Therapeutic Yoga. She is well known for helping women transition from postpartum through postmenopause, especially women who have pelvic pain, through her FILM expertise, whether she is consulting with performing artists on broadway, treating professional vocalists, or seeing women who just want to return to full function after endometriosis excision or during menopause.

  • Voice to Pelvic Floor Treatment
  • Complex Hip Issues: Hip Dysplasia, Joint Hypermobility, Hip Arthroscopy & Hip Labral Tears & Impingement
  • Chronic Pelvic Pain: Endometriosis & Interstitial Cystitis, Dyspareunia/Painful Intercourse
  • Spine (Neck/Jaw to Tailbone) & Shoulder Pain
  • Perimenopause & Menopause
  • Preconception/Infertility, Birth Coaching Classes, Prenatal & Postpartum
  • Chronic Disease & Injury Prevention via Functional & Integrative Medicine
  • Advanced Lumbopelvic Ultrasound Imaging for Performing Artists & Pelvic Health
  • Advanced Incontinence, Prolapse Management & Pessary Fitting
  • Advanced Dry Needling & Manual Therapy for Pelvic Floor, Orofacial, & Spine
  • Medical Therapeutic Yoga (author of the book of the same name)
  • Integrative Lifestyle Medicine (co-editor of the book of the same name)

I have over a quarter of a century’s experience in complex, tough-to-treat voice to pelvic health issues. I focus on six main areas:

1. Helping people *fully* recover from hip arthroscopy and be functional when you have hip dysplasia, labral tear, impingement, or pelvic pain. Current research excludes a critical link in recovery – pelvic health – and too many orthopedic and pelvic health PT’s and surgeons do not understand how to bridge the gap or even how to recognize the problems. As a result, too many people with hip pain get medically gaslit. Patient from around the world come to me to find relief, and it’s an honor and privilege to help them.*

2. As a vocalist, I love helping fellow artists and athletes sustain their phrase and perform better – to work smarter, not harder. I use advanced technology in ultrasound imaging to bridge the gap between the voice and pelvic floor connection, which is too often overlooked, and leaves vocalists, musical theatre, instrumentalists, and athletes without a path to full recovery. I also focus on advanced dry needling techniques from the voice to pelvic floor.*

3. Endometriosis and Interstitial Cystitis – I have advanced training in this area (see education below) including MSK Ultrasound Imaging, Visceral Mobilization, Functional Medicine, FILM (Functional, Integrative, and Lifestyle Medicine), Orofacial and Pelvic Dry Needling, Manual Therapy, and both orthopedic and pelvic health training to those with complex cases, which often overlap with EDS, POTS, Orofacial, Autoimmune, and Gastrointestinal or Gut Microbiome issues,

4. Birth Coaching, Preconception to Birth Preparation and Postpartum Care, which includes treating pelvic organ prolapse and incontinenceAdvanced training in pessary fitting, ultrasound imaging, and incontinence, as well as decades of experience helping women through prenatal and postpartum struggles (and overcoming them myself as a mom of 3) gives me great empathy and understanding to help other women. Note: Men also suffer from incontinence too and can find great relief with pelvic PT.

5. Athletes who have neck, jaw, diaphragm, shoulder, spine, hip, or knee issues and have been told that their pain in these areas are not connected. The body has 3 diaphragms, not one, and they are connected through fascial and neural networks that make the voice to pelvic floor method (also called the Three Diaphragms) of treatment critical to finding long-lasting relief.

6. Perimenopause, Menopause, Postmenopause – Too many women are medically gaslighted and told there is nothing they can do about their symptoms. That is wrong. There is plenty of help that pelvic health can provide, especially from a functional, integrative, and lifestyle medicine perspective.

Are you a PT, OT, or other medical professional?

If you are a PT wanting to do bridge the pelvic/ortho gap in patients with hip issues, take my Hip Differential Diagnosis & Integrative Management course.
If you are a pelvic PT or OT or voice professional interested in learning Voice to Pelvic Floor Methodology, take my Voice to Pelvic Floor Connection course.
If you are a PT or OT interested in learning Functional, Integrative, and Lifestyle Medicine from me – take my Integrative Lifestyle Medicine Certification.
If you are a PT or OT interested in being certified in Medical Therapeutic Yoga, take my Medical Therapeutic Yoga Certification (includes the ILM Certification).

GPH Clinic Founder, Therapist

Education & Training

  • The University of North Carolina at Wilmington 1995 – Licensed Athletic Trainer (BA, ATC-Ret)
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1998 – Master of Physical Therapy (PT, MPT) – Go Heels!
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2016 – Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
  • Certifications & Specialty Training:
  • Board Certified in Lifestyle Medicine (DipACLM) Professional Yoga Therapist (PYT), Pilates, Ayurvedic Practitioner, YACEP, ERYT500, Dry Needling (CIDN), Visceral Mobilization, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction & Sexual Dysfunction, Prenatal & Postpartum, Incontinence, Rectal & Bowel Dysfunction, Endometriosis, Interstitial Cystitis, Integrative Manual Therapy, Women’s Health, Mindfulness, MBSR, Trauma-Informed Care, Chronic Pain Care, Lumbopelvic Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging, Vocal Performance, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, & Pessary Fitting

Community Involvement

  • North American Menopause Society (The Menopause Society) – Member
  • American Physical Therapy Association – Member
  • American Physical Therapy Association NC Chapter (APTANC) – Legislative Chair
  • APTA Private Practice Section & Academy of Pelvic Health  – Congressional Key Contact
  • APTA Academy of Pelvic Health – Prenatal & 4th TrimesterTask Force Member
  • American College of Lifestyle Medicine – Member and Founding MIG PT/OT Member and Co-Chair
  • National Athletic Trainers Association – Retired Member
  • International Pelvic Pain Society – Member
  • Yoga Alliance – Member, Certified YACEP, ERYT500
  • Volunteer – Vocalist, locally, regionally, and internationally
  • US National Committee for UN Women NC Chapter – Past Board Member & Secretary
  • IAYT – Former Charter School member of & founder of the first international yoga therapy school for medical providers

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