Carson Boyer: From Athletic Dreams to Pelvic Floor Expertise

From Athletic Dreams to Pelvic Floor Expertise

Based on a recent podcast interview with Carson Boyer, PTA at XCEL Physical Therapy

Meet Carson Boyer: From Soccer Fields to Clinical Excellence

Carson Boyer's path to becoming a physical therapist assistant wasn't entirely straightforward, but it led her to discover a passion for helping patients in ways she never expected. As one of four sisters from Quincy and a former soccer player, Carson initially set her sights on athletic training before pivoting to physical therapy—a decision that would ultimately shape her into a versatile clinician with expertise in pelvic floor therapy.

The Athletic Training Detour That Changed Everything

Like many aspiring sports medicine professionals, Carson was initially drawn to athletic training. She was fully committed to attending Culver University for the program until she started shadowing professionals in the field.

"A lot of the main complaints was, you know, it's great while you're young, you don't have any kids or family responsibilities. You can travel, stay late for games, do early morning Saturday practices. But once you get older and have a family, you can't do that all the time," Carson explains.

This honest feedback from athletic trainers made her reconsider her career path. Many of the athletic trainers she shadowed were also physical therapist assistants (PTAs), which opened her eyes to a different possibility. Rather than commit to extensive schooling and debt for a career she might eventually want to leave, Carson chose the PTA route—a decision that proved to be perfect for her.

Learning from the Best: The XCEL Experience

Carson's introduction to XCEL Physical Therapy came somewhat by chance. While searching for clinical rotation sites, she drove by the clinic and reached out via Facebook to inquire about student placements. What she didn't realize was that XCEL had been open for less than a year, making her one of their first students.

Initially intimidated by the prospect of working with a team of experienced male physical therapists, Carson found her fears quickly dissolved. Her clinical instructor, KJ Whitaker, set the tone perfectly on her first day with a simple but powerful message: "Make mistakes and learn from them."

"The way he worded it was kind of giving me permission to make mistakes, which was giving me permission to be yourself too," Carson reflects. This approach allowed her to develop her own clinical style rather than trying to imitate others.

From Athletes to Everyone: Discovering the Joy of Diverse Patient Care

While Carson entered physical therapy with dreams of working exclusively with athletes, her perspective evolved dramatically during her clinical experience. Today, she works with a diverse patient population, from young athletes to elderly patients recovering from joint replacements.

One of her unexpected passions emerged in neurological rehabilitation. "I love neuro patients—movement disorders, Parkinson's, anything along those lines—because that's where I can get the most creative with my exercises," she explains. Her approach involves combining functional movements with cognitive challenges to create dual-tasking exercises that mirror real-life activities.

This creativity extends to all her patients, including challenging cases like pediatric rehabilitation. Carson's ability to think outside the box and develop engaging, functional exercises has become one of her greatest strengths as a clinician.

Breaking Down Pelvic Floor Therapy: More Than Just Kegels

Perhaps Carson's most significant area of expertise lies in pelvic floor therapy, a growing field within physical therapy that addresses issues many people are hesitant to discuss.

What Is Pelvic Floor Therapy?

"Pelvic floor therapy is basically addressing the deep layer of your pelvic floor and your core," Carson explains. She uses the analogy of a hammock to help patients understand: "If you have a hammock, and you have your pelvic floor organs—for women, your uterus, bladder, and rectum; for men, bladder, prostate, and rectum—they're sitting on a hammock, which is your pelvic floor. If that is not strong, it cannot support those organs."

Common Issues and Surprising Connections

Pelvic floor dysfunction isn't limited to obvious symptoms like incontinence. Carson notes that a weak pelvic floor often correlates with:

• Low back pain

• Hip pain

• Postural instability

• Core weakness

• Chronic pelvic pain

These connections mean that patients recovering from surgeries like hip replacements or back procedures may develop pelvic floor issues as secondary complications, often due to factors like pain medication-induced constipation or nerve involvement.

The Power of External Techniques

One of the biggest misconceptions about pelvic floor therapy is that it always requires internal examination and treatment. Carson's training focuses on external techniques that can be highly effective.

"You definitely don't have to have internal treatment," she emphasizes. Her approach often begins with education about:

• Breathing coordination: The diaphragm and pelvic floor work together in a "pistoning effect"

• Posture alignment: Proper positioning ensures the diaphragm and pelvic floor can coordinate effectively

• Bladder habits: Identifying and eliminating bladder irritants like caffeine

• Toilet posturing: Using tools like a Squatty Potty and proper breathing techniques

Real Results from Simple Changes

Carson shares a success story that illustrates the power of education and simple modifications. A patient who had undergone hip replacement surgery was experiencing bladder dysfunction, feeling like she couldn't completely empty her bladder. After one conversation about water intake, bladder irritants, toilet posturing, and breathing techniques, the patient returned the following week with significant improvement.

"A lot of times you don't even really have to touch anybody," Carson notes. "There's so much knowledge and information that needs to be shared for people to understand better and implement."

The Prevention Mindset

One aspect of pelvic floor therapy that excites Carson is its potential for prevention rather than just treatment. She advocates for pelvic floor training during pregnancy, similar to how physical therapists provide "prehab" before joint replacement surgeries.

"If you are pregnant and expecting a child, we should start probably training your pelvic floor now, not only to prepare for childbirth, but for after, because your pelvic floor just went through a traumatic event," she explains.

Breaking the Stigma

Despite affecting a significant portion of the population, pelvic floor dysfunction remains a topic many people are uncomfortable discussing. Carson's mission includes breaking down these barriers through education and creating a comfortable environment for patients to address these issues.

Her recent seminar at the Kroc Center in Quincy demonstrates her commitment to community education, providing valuable information in an accessible, non-clinical setting.

Looking Forward: The Future of Comprehensive Care

Carson's journey from aspiring athletic trainer to pelvic floor specialist illustrates the evolving nature of physical therapy. Her ability to see connections between different body systems and her creative approach to treatment exemplify the kind of comprehensive care that modern physical therapy can provide.

Whether working with a six-year-old recovering from a broken arm, an elderly patient with Parkinson's disease, or a new mother dealing with postpartum issues, Carson brings the same attention to detail, creativity, and patient-centered approach that made her stand out as a student.

For patients dealing with pelvic floor issues, Carson's message is clear: help is available, treatment doesn't have to be invasive, and small changes can make a big difference. Most importantly, these issues don't have to be suffered in silence.