Brande Moffatt – Women’s Health Physical Therapy

Expertly Connecting Physical Therapy and Women’s Health In Redding and Beyond

It started with a dream…

In the middle of the night, nearly 20 years ago, a booming voice echoed through Brande Moffatt’s dreams and told her to shift her physical therapy career toward women’s health. When she woke up, Brande told her husband about the voice. Brande and Doug had met in physical therapy school at Fresno State University and were both practicing physical therapists. Doug agreed that the field of women’s health fit Brande perfectly. “I was encouraged,” says Brande, “because it wasn’t about my experience, but who I am. My passion has always been for helping women.” Brande began studying pelvic health and rehabilitation, and in 2007 she started her practice, Women’s Health Physical Therapy in Redding, CA. As a certified pelvic rehabilitation practitioner, Brande’s skills help women recover from postpartum, post-hysterectomy, post-menopause conditions, and more.

Pelvic health and rehabilitation services for EVERYONE

Although Brande’s work emphasizes women’s health, she also provides pelvic health and rehabilitation services for men and children. She helps patients identify and recover from the pain caused by bladder issues, tailbone injuries, surgeries, reproductive dysfunctions, and cancer. Lisa Duncan, Brande’s office manager, and friend, says many doctors refer their patients to Brande, a powerful testimony to Brande’s expertise, trustworthiness, and ability to make patients feel comfortable. “Brande is extremely thoughtful and caring,” says Lisa. “She’s connected to her patients, and that’s what makes her so good at what she does. Patients trust her with personal, deep-rooted issues.” OBGYN Samuel Van Kirk, MD, tells patients that getting pelvic therapy “may sound strange and uncomfortable, but it won’t be once they meet Brande because she’s just that nice.”

Visit her website to learn more about Brande’s experience, education, and certifications for working with pelvic health and rehabilitation.

Physical therapy is “kind of like detective work”.

Much of Brande’s ability to put her patients at ease comes from her commitment to listening. Brande first pursued physical therapy after a physical therapist helped discover her father’s cancer. The fact that the physical therapist found what others missed inspired her. As Brande says, physical therapy is “kind of like detective work,” and listening gives her the essential clues for each case. One anonymous patient gratefully recalls, “Brande knew the questions to ask to get to the root of all my issues. She truly sees her patients as a whole, which is hard to find in today’s world of specialists.” This same patient thanks Brande for “giving me the tools to take care of myself for years to come.” Reviews like this reflect Brande’s efforts to “help people realize their potential. I don’t do therapy to someone; I’m teaching, and my patients are learning. It’s an active approach, where they realize they have the tools to help themselves.”

Full Circle

Brande was born in Kansas but has called Redding home since 1999. Doug and Brande celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary this year, on Valentine’s Day. The couple has two children: 15-year-old Ellie and 13-year-old Ethan. In the summer of 2018, the family lost their home to Redding’s Carr Fire. Brande describes the loss as a “major challenge” in her life but says her family has been surrounded by incredible “love and positivity.” One of Brande’s life philosophies is to “embrace whatever situation comes to you and evolve from it,” and the fire has been no exception. “I think there was something personal I needed to learn from it,” Brande reflects. “I’m used to being the caregiver. After the fire, all these people I had helped throughout the years offered their support. I needed to learn to be on the receiving end of care.”

Even before the fire, however, Brande advocated for the importance of self-care. Lisa, who shares life with Brande inside and outside of the office, admires Brande’s focus on balancing her roles as a wife, mother, medical practitioner, and business owner. “The most important thing I teach my patients is if you let your own well run dry, you can’t help anyone else,” says Brande. To keep herself healthy, Brande spends as much time as possible in the sunshine, believes in regular massages, and enjoys Zumba. “I’m not a dancer, but I love to dance!” she says with a laugh. Whether hiking with her family or doing yoga with a friend, each moment Brande takes to recharge multiplies to benefit those around her. “Brande is an unbelievably wonderful resource for our community,” says Dr. Van Kirk, “She’s such a blessing.”

The mission of our Be The Change column is to feature community members from the North State who are actively making a difference in community life. If you would like to nominate someone who is making a difference, please write to pn@northstateparent.com.