ABOUT
INTRODUCING THE RARELY TALKED ABOUT, OFTEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED AND WILDLY MISUNDERSTOOD FOUNDATION OF A HEALTHY LIFE: YOUR PELVIC FLOOR.
We provide concierge pelvic health services designed to provide lasting relief from pelvic floor problems such as painful sex, urinary incontinence, prolapse, low back pain, and more. At Health Elevated, we treat the issues that are talked about the least but often impact our daily lives the most.
What is Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Pelvic Floor Therapy is a specialized form of therapy aimed at addressing and alleviating issues related to the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues of the pelvic floor. This intricate network supports vital organs like the bladder, rectum, and uterus, and plays a pivotal role in functions like urination, bowel movements, sexual activity, and childbirth.
Just as we might experience issues with other muscles in our body, the pelvic floor can become weak, tight, or imbalanced. Whether due to aging, surgery, childbirth, or other factors, these disruptions can lead to discomfort, pain, and various functional issues.
Pelvic Floor Therapy involves a combination of manual therapies, exercises, biofeedback, and education to empower individuals to understand and regain control over their pelvic health. It provides non-surgical solutions to address conditions like urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, and other related issues.
Under the guidance of expert pelvic health specialists, patients can embark on a journey to enhanced well-being, reclaiming confidence, and comfort in their daily lives. Whether you’re dealing with postpartum challenges, age-related changes, or any other pelvic concerns, Health Elevated offers a holistic and effective approach to your pelvic health and healing.
Our Approach to Pelvic Health
We firmly believe that you are more than just a set of symptoms or dysfunctional muscles that need to be stretched or strengthened. That is why we practice using an integrative health approach. Instead of just focusing on the diagnosis we take a step back to look at the whole person, their lifestyle, habits routines as well as their physical function, and then we work with you, the person with your individual concerns, routines, habits and goals.
Whether your goal is to have the best possible pregnancy, birth and postpartum, or to recover your relationships by addressing the painful sex that has been preventing you from making meaningful connections, we’ve got your back. You deserve the freedom to take a roadtrip, go to the grocery store or have a fun day out without worrying where the bathroom is or if your pants are going to show if you leaked a little.
To us, you’re not just another diagnosis. We prioritize listening, and truly addressing your concerns. It’s our commitment that by the end of your evaluation, you’ll feel empowered, equipped with a clear action plan, and ready to regain control of your life.
WE’RE HERE FOR YOU THROUGH ALL OF LIFE’S TRANSITIONS… From pregnancy, postpartum, peri-menopause and beyond.
A few things that make us different…
A COZY OFFICE THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME.
Warm, Professional & Private - but Never Clinical
You will feel at ease from the moment you step into our new office! From the spacious treatment rooms to the chic bathroom, every inch of this space was designed with your comfort in mind.
Access to the latest technology in therapy tools & products
From Real time ultrasound to red light therapy, our office is equipped to help enhance your body’s own healing ability and get better faster.
Coffee bar while you wait
Come on in, get comfy and help yourself to some coffee while you wait.
Cozy seating in every room
Your pelvic area has had enough to deal with lately. That’s why we took extra care to make sure that every seat in this office is downright comfy.
616 Main Street | St. Joseph, MI 49085
NO DOCTOR REFERRAL NEEDED
This means you can skip the waitlist and get an appointment scheduled for when it is convenient for you, not 6 months from now when it is convenient for the overbooked healthcare system.
No more waiting for months to see an expert pelvic health specialist
Why We’re Cash-Based (and How That Benefits You)
At Health Elevated, our cash-based, out-of-network model means we can spend more time focusing on you—not on insurance paperwork. This approach helps you reach your goals faster and with greater support.
Benefits of choosing an out-of-network pelvic health occupational therapist:
Faster access & flexible scheduling
We can often see you sooner, offer longer sessions, and adjust the frequency of visits to fit your needs—not an insurance company’s limits.No surprise bills
You’ll always know your costs upfront. We’re free from insurance restrictions, so we can choose the best treatment options for you without hidden charges.Highly personalized care
We have the time to truly understand your story, design a plan tailored to you, and adapt it as you progress.More privacy
We don’t share your personal health details with insurance companies—your care remains confidential between you and your therapist.Quality over quantity
Without the burden of insurance billing, we can devote our full attention to delivering exceptional care and building a strong therapeutic relationship.
What to Expect on your Visit
At Health Elevated, our sessions are 60 minutes, and are tailored to meet your unique goals.
Our comprehensive evaluation is the first step in your journey with us, where we dive deep into your health history and current concerns to create a personalized plan that works for you.
During your treatment sessions, we combine hands-on therapy, movement, and the latest tools in women’s health to help you achieve your goals. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
COMMONLY USED TREATMENTS
At Health Elevated, we use a variety of hand-on techniques including, myofascial and visceral mobilisations, cupping, gua sha, kinesiotaping. We also utilize the latest therapy tools, such as red light and real time ultrasound.
These techniques all have one thing in common. We are not trying for a quick fix or muscle reset but the goal of these techniques is to engage in a conversation with your nervous system and get the brain’s attention, allowing your natural healing ability to take over.
Utilize the latest technologies in women’s health, from red light to real time ultrasound.
Enhance your body’s own healing ability to get better faster.
HOW WE ASSESS
Our comprehensive evaluation is the first step in your journey with us, where we dive deep into your health history and current concerns to create a personalized plan that works for you.
There are different options to assess specifically the muscles of the pelvic floor, each option will be explained in depth and then you can decide what is the best fit for you. A pelvic floor assessment can be done externally through clothing, feeling the muscles and how they work, visually by watching how the muscles contract and relax and it can also be done with an internal vaginal or rectal exam.
A pelvic floor therapy internal exam is very different to a routine gynecological exam (speculums are nowhere to found in my office) a gloved finger is used to assess the different layers of the pelvic floor which can be felt through the vagina or rectum. An internal exam requires consent each and every time it is performed. However, if you are uncomfortable with the idea of an internal exam, there are still a variety of treatment options to explore.
Movement: Our bodies are designed to move. But over time we develop patterns and habits that do not support us, this can happen during or after pregnancy, with chronic pain or surgery.
OUR OFFICE
We’re thrilled to welcome you to our new office space!
Newly renovated, our office is warm, professional and private - but never clinical. You will feel at ease from the moment you step in. From the spacious treatment rooms to the chic bathroom, every inch of this space was designed with your comfort in mind.
Oh, and don’t forget to help yourself to the coffee bar while you wait!
ABOUT YOUR THERAPIST
Meet Amy!
Amy Underwood is Southwest Michigan’s premier Pelvic Health Occupational Therapist.
As the founder of Health Elevated, Amy specializes in pelvic health services for people who are ready to get out of survival mode, trust their body and love their life again.
Amy received her occupational therapy degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2005, and in 2018 she narrowed her focus to healing pelvic floor issues. Since then has continued to round out her education, understanding and approach to the human body by studying pelvic health with Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. She is a member of AOTA, ISSWSH and certified by NBCOT.
With almost 20 years of experience providing physical rehabilitation services across the globe, Amy has treated a wide range of conditions including stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, and orthopedic injuries, and has now helped thousands of adults and children of all ages create breakthrough results and outcomes that significantly improved their immediate quality of life, while empowering them with tools to permanently overcome their health challenges.
Amy is widely regarded by her patients as not just an expert, but also an advocate for helping them regain control, confidence, and comfort in their body.
When it comes to dealing with uncomfortable conversations about pelvic health, no topic is too taboo, and she skillfully talks to her patients about long term solutions to non-discussed and frequently dismissed concerns (without bringing in any shame or shoulds!)
Amy’s clients know and love her for her ability to listen deeply, and to look outside of common diagnosis for the root cause, and then help them solve the problem in a way that works for them. She believes that just because something is common does not mean it is normal, or that you should have to live with it for the rest of your life.
She believes that for many pelvic floor issues that have been previously dismissed as normal, there is help and hope. which is why she offers personalized, hands-on and proven treatment plans that focus on helping her patients get to feeling better starting with the first visit.
In her free time, she enjoys having and planning new adventures with her husband, Larry, and their two young children, Charlie and Esme. Past adventures include attending international circus festivals in Australia, enjoying island life on Maui and frequent trips back home to Dublin, Ireland.
Amy is passionate about raising the bar in pelvic health, and she approaches her work by focusing on whole body health and balance, and designs workable treatment plans by placing emphasis on the individual’s entire life and what is important to them.