Physical Therapy & Wellness Coaching for Antepartum and Postpartum
Welcome! My name is Dr. Margo Kwiatkowski PT DPT CSCS PCES
I live outside of Ojai, California where I practice pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapy. My passion for physical therapy grew out of personal history with injury as a young woman. As I grew in my professional capacity and after becoming a mother I learned to love pelvic health. Immediately after graduate school I worked in professional sports and have years of experience working with athletes at various levels. I have been able to combine my two passions by treating postpartum athletes and helping them return to their optimal level of performance.
I am a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist. I am also a certified Body Ready Method Pro with training in birth preparation, labor mechanics, and postpartum recovery. I have taken advanced training in prolapse management including pessary fitting.
I have helped thousands of women world-wide, both in-person, and virtually.
Pregnancy and Birth Preparation
Labor and Delivery
Pelvic Pain and Pain with Intercourse
Postpartum Physical Therapy
Postpartum Strengthening
Postpartum Return to Running
Prolapse Symptom Management
Pessary Fittings
Hypopressives Training
Virtual Courses
Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Sports Physical Therapy & Movement Analysis
Post-op Return to Sport Programs
Running and Gait Analysis
Education and Treatment Options
Have you experienced…
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Heaviness or Pressure in the Pelvis
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Bulge or Lump at the Vaginal Opening
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Worsening or Chronic Lower Back Pain
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Urinary Issues
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Constipation or Bowel Issues
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Tampon or Menstrual Cup Retention
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Pain with Intercourse
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Symptoms Worsen with Activity
/ Heaviness or Pressure in the Pelvis / Bulge or Lump at the Vaginal Opening / Worsening or Chronic Lower Back Pain / Urinary Issues / Constipation or Bowel Issues / Tampon or Menstrual Cup Retention / Pain with Intercourse / Symptoms Worsen with Activity
How I Treat My Pelvic Health Patients
For pelvic health patients I have a variety of offerings depending on the patient’s needs.
For pregnant women, treatment includes perineal massage and push-preparation. These visits also address any aches and pains caused by the large anatomical changes in pregnancy.
Postpartum visits include pelvic floor and abdominal assessments. We address pain and weaknesses while respecting the healing postpartum body.
For patients experiencing heaviness and prolapse, treatments might include internal manual therapy, hypopressive exercises, and/or pessary fitting and management.
I also treat various types of pelvic pain including but not limited to:
pain with intercourse
pubic symphysis
sacroiliac joint pain, hip pain
lower abdominal pain
endometriosis
interstitial cystitis
During all pelvic health visits, we are working on addressing all bowel and bladder concerns including incontinence, urgency, pain, difficulty voiding, constipation, and more.
In addition to in-person physical therapy I offer virtual physical therapy to patients in California and to wellness coaching to people world-wide.
During sessions we speak in depth about your medical history, birth history, current symptoms (how they are evolving), what treatment you have tried so far, medical tests done (if any), what has been working and what seems to not be helping at this time.
We go into detail about your bowel and bladder health/habits and break down your pelvic symptoms. I’ll take the time to educate you on certain topics along the way as they pertain to your situation.
We look at your posture, spoke motion, breathing, core contraction/stabilization, squats, hip hinges, lunges etc etc. I then select exercises for you that will help improve your functional movement, core and pelvic floor strength/coordination, etc. After our session I send you a detailed email summary of what we talked about during the session. You will also receive individualized exercises in video form to help address your unique impairments.
FEATURED IN
Patient Reviews
“I saw Margo as the last month leading up to my delivery from chronic tailbone pain, pelvic pain from my first baby and SI pain from pregnancy. On top of that my baby was breech and I was scheduled for c section as I was told there was no way my baby would flip. In just a few sessions I noticed an incredible difference. My tailbone released, I could go on walks without my SI joint screaming at me, and my entire pelvic girdle felt like there was way less tension. Low and behold my baby flipped at 39 weeks, confirmed by ultrasound, literally on the c section operating table. I have no doubt in my mind that Margo was the reason for that, her hands on approach was gentle, targeted, and I felt like my nervous system had fully reset after each session. She always discussed all my options and reassured my wants/needs without any judgement. She has her own lived experience as a mother that was so relatable.
She is truly an expert at what she does, and it was a worthy investment. I’m so grateful for her!!”
— Kaylinn
“I am about to complete POP Principles for the second time and I can't say enough good about it. I've never been an athlete and always struggled with sticking with a fitness routine. POP principles has been different. For the past 9 months I've been on a journey to take back my health and this program has been a huge part of that. I've had two c-sections and a VBA2C. My c-sections left me with extreme scar tissue and almost no feeling in my abs. My VBA2C left me with a small prolapse.
Margo is a calm, kind, and encouraging coach who pushes but doesn't make me feel like I can't keep up. I'm actually excited for a future pregnancy so I can purchase and use her pregnancy program.”
-Katie
“I just have to tell you your program has helped me so much- I gave birth in 2023, precipitous labor at home on accident… third degree tear that wasn’t properly repaired until hours later… second surgery due to wound breakdown… wasn’t able to walk until about 5 months postpartum… it’s been a journey- but today I took my almost 2 year old to a baby rave in the city- there was a live DJ and she wanted to be held the entire time. I held her and we danced and even jumped a little and had so much fun! And I’m not even sore tonight! There were so many moments in the beginning I thought that would never ever happen. So thank you- because your program and also your support group helped get me here.”
- Elly
“I began virtual coaching with Margo in December of 2024. I first realized something was very wrong between two to three weeks postpartum with my second. I began PFPT locally at three weeks pp and then began seeing someone over an hour away at ten weeks pp. I continued with her for a year with absolutely no progress. I think time was the biggest factor in being able to tolerate my 24/7 symptoms. I have seen a few other PFPTs, but nothing seemed like a sequential plan. Nothing was tailored to me specifically and when I spoke about sensations or symptoms, I was met with empathetic, but confused eyes. Margo was able to assess my full body movement and even do specific tests virtually that nobody had looked at or attempted. During our appointments, I tell Margo what has been going on and what I have been feeling symptom-wise. From there she instantly has me do or try something based on assessments or my movement pattern. I close out of every virtual session with tools that improve my quality of life and keep me feeling optimistic and empowered until the next session. She is the ONLY person that truly GETS it. My husband will even say, “You’re a different person after your appointments with Margo.” It is true, I feel a piece of myself come through a little more each time. The process has been painfully slow. Stupid slow. I am now 2 1/2 years postpartum, but had Margo been seeing clients virtually when I began this journey, I am certain I would not be where I am now. I have a two and eight year old, three dogs, a bunny, fish, and teach kindergarten. I share that to say I have busy, full days, with extra responsibilities that require a lot of energy and physical exertion. Prior to Margo, I was on a leave of absence. When I returned to the classroom, I was laying down every child free moment I had. I couldn’t wait until my own children went to bed so I could lay down. I can make it through a whole day now without laying down or thinking through the lens of my pelvis all day. I went from managing just doing PFPT exercises to actually exercising. I spin, do reformer pilates, lift weights, and carry my son longer and further than I could the entire first year of his life (spoiler alert: he weighs 35 lbs). Using the tools Margo has given me through 1:1 coaching, I’ve began to not just force myself to live through life, but actually ENJOY my life again. I am not symptom free and I still have days of why did this happen to me, but now I have life and fitness goals again. I plan to continue seeing Margo virtually for as long as I want and need to! I want to start teaching fitness classes again next year. If you are newly diagnosed, years out from diagnosis, someone that’s always been told you look normal, have had surgery- anyone with any kind of symptoms of anything, Margo can help you. I am certain. She has been the best support tool and investment in myself I’ve had navigating being a mom with prolapse.”
- Melissa