ANNOUNCING THE WOMAN OF THE MONTH

Meet January’s Fort Worth Woman! Jessica Bowman is a local mom, girl boss, and Doctor of Physical Therapy who is making a difference for local women one physical therapy session at a time. Originally from Peaster, a town just outside of Cowtown, Jessica attended Texas Christian University for her undergrad and later attended the UNT Health Science Center here in Fort Worth. Jessica proudly states, “I grew up right outside of Fort Worth and have always known that I would never leave”.

With parents who were both PTs and co-owners of their own therapy company, the world of Physical Therapy was a natural fit for Jessica. She explains further, “I have had an entrepreneurial spirit since I was little – my Mom will tell you I was stubborn and strong-willed.” If stubbornness and resoluteness is the ideal combination for success as an entrepreneur, Jessica has hit the nail on the head. Seven years of schooling later, she received her Doctorate in PT and then two years after that received her specialization in the Pelvic Floor. For the first five years out of school, Jessica worked in pediatrics with children with special needs as well as at Cook Childrens with patients who had experienced TBI/Spinal Cord injuries.

As Jessica became a mom of three children, she learned all too well the necessity of a support system in a woman’s life, which is where her specialization in the pelvic floor came in to play. Jessica places the focus of her physical therapy on the pelvic floor, pregnancy, postpartum, and helping women of all ages who are in pain. Jessica explains her journey to get where she is now, “I started my therapy career in pediatrics and that world still has a very important place in my heart. In meeting mothers of the kids I was treating, I started to realize that they needed care and therapy too. That is when I became specialized in the pelvic floor.”

Now for the first question. What is Pelvic Floor Therapy? In a blog post on her website Jessica descries PFT as, yes, physical therapy on the vagina while also, “treating the muscles, bones, ligaments, nerves and everything in-between.” Jessica describes that your pelvic floor and core muscles are the foundation for your entire body, which is why “Pelvic Floor PTs treat conditions such as urinary incontinence, SI joint pain, pelvic pain, painful sex, tailbone pain, sciatica, pelvic organ prolapse, constipation, endometriosis/menstrual pain, prep for labor/delivery, low back/hip pain, Diastasis Recti, recovery from labor/delivery, return to exercise, and more.”

The second question is: Why? Why Pelvic Floor Therapy? Jessica further explains. “The pelvic floor is the center and core of your whole body. To really be healthy from the inside out, your core/pelvic floor needs to be functioning and supporting you appropriately. A good pelvic floor PT looks at the whole body – not just the pelvic floor. There are many patients that come to see us thinking their pelvic floor is the culprit but we find out through testing it’s really their SI joint, maybe a hip, or maybe even the muscles in their neck? A pelvic floor PT is like a detective and should be looking at all parts of the body and how they are working together.”

When you make an appointment with Jessica and her team, know that they will help you learn how to fire up the right muscles with just the right amount of examination, education, and exercises to continue at home. The average length her teams sees a patent is only one month and each appointment is focused on your personal health journey. Jessica describes the favorite part of her job, “I love getting to take as much time as needed with each patient and really getting to know them and their story. I strive to become part of that story in a positive and restorative way!”.

Located in Restore + Revive, a boutique spot right off Camp Bowie built with the idea to offer the ideal combination of services to personalize and optimize someone’s wellness journey, Fort Worth Pelvic Health currently has a team of three PTs (including Jessica) as well as Lymphatic Physical Therapy. “I opened Fort Worth Pelvic Health to be a support system to the women and mothers of Fort Worth. They do so much taking care of everyone in their life, it’s time for someone to take care of them. I love my job and the supportive team I have created!” Jessica states.

Jessica’s business has already grown rapidly in a short amount of time and her goals continue for more, while staying focused on the core mission: to help women. Jessica describes further, “I want to have a team of women supporting other women. I want tired ladies or ladies in pain to know they have somewhere to go where they will truly be listened to and supported, whatever that means. I want Pelvic Floor Therapy to become the norm in Fort Worth for women of all backgrounds and ages.” Between her entrepreneurial spirit, creation of a solid team, and genuine mission for her business, Jessica is taking this city by storm.

Are you thinking of starting your own business? Jessica’s words about becoming an entrepreneur are quite powerful. She states, “It’s hard! But it’s worth it. People think they want to own their own business because it’s easier than working for  someone else. That’s 100% not true. You put in the late nights and the after hours. You work weekends and worry about it constantly. You struggle to find a balance between your work baby and your actual babies but all good things are worth fighting for. I have found satisfaction in seeing something that I built help so many people. It’s the tears, the hugs, and the gratitude from patients that make it all worthwhile.”

When asked what she loves about our city of Fort Worth, Jessica described the connectedness of Cowtown. Growing up in a very small town herself where everyone supported their neighbors Jessica knows that community is important. She describes, “Fort Worth has always felt like that ‘big, small town’ to me and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

There is zero doubt that Jessica and her team have made an impact on Fort Worth, making her word of “healing” all too fitting. Given the last few years, we could all use some healing in our lives and it’s nice to know of a local spot to get just that. Fort Worth Pelvic Health is the spot where you, as a woman, can stop for a moment to heal both functionally and physically: with some spiritual and emotional healing landing on top given the personal touch that this team prides themselves in.

Fort Worth Pelvic Health stands out above the crowd given the services they offer and the type of people that they are. They truly have a mission to serve and make a difference. To get in contact with Jessica and her team, pop by Restore + Revive, check out their website, visit them on social media, or simply call at 817-720-6220.

Photography by Hannah Haston