Meet Ellese

MEET Dr. Ellese Nickles, ONE OF OUR WHOLE MAMA YOGA COLLECTIVE MEMBERS

Dr. Ellese Nickles, DPT, E-RYT, RPYT, YAECP is passionate about health and wellness and strives to empower women to meet their specific goals through a variety of paths.

She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from UNC in 2016 and has practiced in outpatient orthopedics, pelvic health physical therapy and early intervention with children 0-3 years old. She currently specializes in treating perinatal populations.

Since the birth of her first child, Ellese has become even more aware of the gaps in our healthcare system in caring for pregnant people and new mothers. She is committed to offering birthing people the support they need to reach optimal health and wellbeing as they navigate each transformational stage of pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience.

In addition to her career in physical therapy Ellese has experience in personal training, group fitness instruction and yoga teaching, and combines these skills to offer various paths to optimal health and wellbeing.

When not working in clinic or with private clients she enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with her partner, Blake, son, Elliott, and sweet pup Violet.

What is a Perinatal Health Visit?

Perinatal health visits help birthing people feel strong through pregnancy and empowered for a healthy postpartum journey through individualized bodywork. Ellese provides a holistic approach to treating orthopedic and pelvic health conditions common in pregnancy and postpartum people. She offers in-person orthopedic and pelvic floor PT in the Durham area for pregnant and postpartum clients as well as virtual coaching sessions for folks located anywhere in the country!

Growing and birthing a little human can be a magical and transformative time. It can also be really, really, really, hard: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Postpartum people may be one of the most overlooked clients in health care with rehabilitation needs that can affect lifelong health and wellbeing. As a new mom, Ellese is passionate about providing nonjudgemental care and meeting pregnant and postpartum people where the are to empower them to achieve their goals and ease transition into motherhood.

Ellese has expertise in orthopedic and pelvic health physical therapy as well as experience with early intervention pediatric physical therapy and is passionate about supporting perinatal wellness and rehabilitation during pregnancy and postpartum recovery. She offers sessions focused on individualized bodywork and programs for prenatal/postpartum people to address common pregnancy related musculoskeletal conditions.

What does a perinatal health visit look like?

Each therapeutic intervention begins with a 90-minute consultation which will include complete evaluation, thorough history, discussion of your goals and initial programming and/or education.

Follow-up sessions are scheduled for 60-minutes with emphasis on a personalized treatment plan AND development of a home program so that you feel empowered for long term self management. In person visits may also include manual therapy, body work, or dry needling .

Who could benefit from working with Ellese?

Common considerations discussed in a perinatal health visit include:

lower back pain
diastasis rectus
labor and childbirth preparation
pubic symphysis dysfunction
pelvic floor weakness
urinary incontinence
urinary urgency/increased urinary frequency
vaginal organ prolapse
pain with intercourse
postural or core weakness
painful or tight scaring after C section
tight or painful neck and shoulders

TLDR :

Dr. Ellese Nickles is your go-to resource for non-judgmental, holistic support for your body during pregnancy & the postpartum period. It’s never too late to see Ellese for support! Optimal health after pregnancy & giving birth is a journey, not a destination & Ellese is passionate about offering care to birthing people who are often underserved & overlooked in our health care system.

Work with Ellese

Follow Ellese on instagram at @postpartum.pelvicpt (her content is informative & engaging).

Learn more about working with Ellese by visiting her website here: www.bloomwellnessyoga.com