Brande Moffatt & Women’s Health Physical Therapy – A Passion For Helping Women

The founder and owner of Women’s Health Physical Therapy in Redding, CA, and a Certified Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner,  Brande Moffatt, PT, MPT, PRPC, is uniquely qualified to help women recover from pelvic pain, pregnancy/ postpartum, post-hysterectomy, post-menopause conditions, and more.

More than 22 years ago, she began her physical therapy career in orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation, and quickly discovered a deep interest in women’s pelvic health. “My passion has always been for helping women,” she says. In 2007 she started her private practice, Women’s Health Physical Therapy in Redding, CA. Today she has an estimated 40,000 hours invested in her specialty.

Patients trust her with deep-rooted issues

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.”

Although Brande started her pelvic health rehabilitation career with a passion to help women, she quickly realized there was an underserved need to help the men and children of her community as well. Her PRPC credential encompasses pelvic health and rehabilitation for all ages, genders, and stages throughout the lifespan.

She helps patients identify and recover from the pain and functional deficits caused by bowel and bladder disorders, trauma, childbirth injuries, pelvic and abdominal surgeries, reproductive dysfunctions, and cancer.

A commitment to listening

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.”

Much of Brande’s ability to put her patients at ease comes from her commitment to listening. Brande first pursued physical therapy as a career choice after a physical therapist helped discover her father’s cancer. The fact that the physical therapist found what others had missed inspired her. As Brande says, physical therapy is “kind of like detective work,” and listening gives her the essential clues for each case. “I’m teaching, and my patients are learning. It’s an active approach, where they realize they have the tools to help themselves.”

A pelvic floor physical therapist can guide you to the best exercise

Brande explains that a pelvic floor physical therapist can play an essential role in helping to guide patients to choose the right type of exercise for their unique pelvic floor, in order to successfully treat a myriad of conditions. “It is very important to know what type of pelvic floor you have before embarking on any new exercise program,” she says, “because what is beneficial to one pelvic floor may be harmful to another. You’re not stuck with a type, but you have to know what type you have to know what to do about it.”

Brande adds, “If you are at all concerned about potential pelvic floor problems, organ prolapse, pain or leakage, I strongly recommend you consider asking your primary care physician, or OB-GYN, for a referral to a pelvic floor physical therapist before embarking on a new exercise program. Having a good understanding of your unique pelvic floor foundation, and/or deficits, and learning how to best coordinate your deep core stabilizers with the correct timing of your breath,  will ultimately guide you in making the best exercise choices to promote  positive pelvic health, and to preserve or maximize long-term function. “

Embrace whatever situation comes and evolve from it

Brande has called Redding home since she moved here with her husband in 1999. She and her husband, Doug, and their  two teenage children, lost their home to the Carr Fire in the summer of 2018.

Brande describes the loss as a “major challenge” in her life but says her family was 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 was 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. For the first time in my life, I needed to learn to be on the receiving end of the care I am forever grateful for the love and support we received during that challenging time, and happy to report we returned to our new rebuilt home for Christmas, 2019. “

Even before the fire, however, Brande advocated for the importance of self-care. “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.”