#83 The Vagus Nerve, Trauma, & Intimacy After Concussion w/ Dr. Anne Duch PT, DPT, WCS
🧠 Welcome to the Concussion Corner Podcast®, your trusted resource for interdisciplinary conversations related to all things concussion-related in healthcare, advocacy, and sport.
🥼 Hosted by Dr. Jessica Schwartz PT, DPT, CSCS, a doctor of Physical Therapy and brain injury survivor, who is unapologetically passionate about educating healthcare professionals about concussion, examination, intervention, collaboration, & advocacy.
🎙️Concussion Corner Podcast® is our Free Open Access Medical Education #FOAMed portion of our 24 weeks of educational programming at Concussion Corner Academy®. We're so happy that you're here!
🎓 Concussion Corner Academy® has two courses, Concussion: The Patient Rehabilitation Journey Part I & Part II, which has 30 hours of continuing education credits for each course for PT, OT, and ATC in all 50 United States. We’ve served hundreds of healthcare professionals all over the world and across all professions. We’re truly interdisciplinary and interactive across all aspects of our programming!
🔗 Visit us at https://www.concussioncorner.org to learn more about how you can join our #TeachOneServeMany community!
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💡 In this Episode:
In Part 2 of our conversation with pelvic health Physical Therapist and yoga-informed clinician, Dr. Anne Duch PT, DPT, WCS (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCZxnrM9UuiYA3Cuac5wa7EQ) we go deeper into the lived experience of healing from trauma, brain injury, and chronic pelvic dysfunction.
Together, we explore:
🧠 Symptom overlap between concussion and vagal nerve dysfunction
🏳️🌈 Inclusive language: AFAB, AMAB, and why words matter
💡 How to create safe, healing environments in clinic
🗣️ Trauma-informed communication and therapeutic presence
🌬️ Nervous system regulation from the body up
🤝 The power of interdisciplinary collaboration
⭐️ This episode is for clinicians, educators, and advocates who want to meet their patients where they are and build trust through action, empathy, and education.
🥼 Dr. Anne Collins Duch is a board certified pelvic health physical therapist and an E-RYT 500 hour yoga teacher with 28 years of experience in treating a wide variety of pelvic health conditions. Her Wilmington, Delaware private practice is housed within a vibrant yoga studio where she is able to educate her patients and yoga students on the benefits of establishing a sound movement practice that integrates effective nervous system regulation strategies for a more complete whole body experience.
💻 Dr. Duch has a special interest in the Polyvagal Theory, which led to the development of her virtual course offering, https://www.anneduch.com/courses. She served as a panelist at the Endometriosis Summit, the Elhers Danlos Global Learning Conference, and the Pelvic Global Menopause Conference and presents to various professional organizations and fellow clinicians about pelvic health topics, as well as the use of vagal toning strategies as part of their health and wellness management.
🌎 Whether you’re a PT, OT, ATC, OD, or MD, this episode offers a compelling reminder that comprehensive concussion care must include a clear understanding of the the vagus nerve, nervous system, and pelvic health.
📄 #FOAMed Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
🔗 Courses with Anne Duch: https://www.anneduch.com/courses
🔗 Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ptforwomen/
🔗 Resilience and Sexuality After Concussion in Women https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7930863/
🔗 Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207198/
📖 Chapters:
00:00 Exploring the Intersection of Concussion and Pelvic Health
04:24 Creating Safe Spaces in Healthcare
08:56 Understanding the Role of Environment in Patient Care
13:15 Calming the Nervous System: Strategies for Patients
19:14 Navigating Intimacy and Trauma in Patient Care
23:53 The Importance of Interdisciplinary Collaboration
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*This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be confused for medical advice. Please reach out to your medical team or call 911 if this is an emergency*
