Everyone has a woman in their life whether it is a mother, sister, aunt, cousin, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, co-worker and no two are exactly alike. Just like their personal experiences their health journeys are uniquely their own.
With that being said, women’s health is evolving and so is the way women care for themselves. Now professionals are exploring how overall well-being is connected to mental, emotional and physical health and how they work closely together.
In this women’s health feature, take a closer look at all of the different approaches to and providers are supporting women in prioritizing whole body care not matter what life throws at them.
At YOUniq Health (youniqhealth.com) they believe that mental health is directly connected with the rest of the body. As a woman’s life changes so does her health and so should the way she cares for herself.
“Many symptoms women experience, like fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, or low motivation, are often dismissed as “just stress.” But these can also be linked to sleep problems, inflammation, or changes in metabolism. When only the surface is treated, the root problem remains. That is why our approach focuses on the whole person,” Dr. Amarachi Ogbonnaya-Akpa, Clinical Director at YOUniq Health said.
Mental and physical health play hand in hand with each other and do not function separately. Dr. Ogbonnaya-Akpa they continue to influence one another every day.
For example, some psychiatric medications can affect weight, blood sugar and cholesterol. Instead of waiting for problems to develop YOUniq Health monitors these changes early to adjust care when needed. In the same way, conditions in the body can show up as mood changes, low energy, or difficulty focusing. Addressing both sides leads to better outcomes.
“Life changes can make things more challenging. Whether it’s pregnancy, postpartum recovery, menopause, a new diagnosis, loss of a loved one, divorce, or unexpected stress, these events can affect both emotional and physical health. We support patients by stabilizing symptoms, identifying what has changed in the body, and helping them rebuild healthy routines,” Dr. Ogbonnaya-Akpa.
YOUniq Health’s goal is to not only reduce symptoms but also ensure the long-term well-being of their patients.
“When care is tailored to the whole person, women are better prepared to navigate life with strength and clarity,” Dr. Ogbonnaya-Akpa
Whole body wellness is important when it comes to women’s health. Other clinics in Lincoln Nebraska, also offer specialized treatments and care, tailored to patient’s needs.
Katniss Clinic (katnissclinic.janeapp.com) specializes in skin care, injectables such as Botox, and aesthetic and reconstructive surgery for women and men. The clinic is owned and operated by plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Keli Kolegraff.
Dr. Kolegraff’s main goal is to deliver natural and confidence-boosting results that leave her patients feeling good about themselves. She is the only female plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Lincoln and one of only a handful in Nebraska.
“I want patients to feel comfortable talking to me about their concerns as someone who is genuinely concerned about their well-being,” Dr. Kolegraff said. “I am here to help patients look and feel their best. They can use their own standards to decide what is best for them and I will help them achieve their goals.”
Dr. Kolegraff believes all patients should prioritize age-appropriate health services and investments. This includes diet, exercise, stress-management, and even good skin care. She says that screenings with their primary care physician are important for establishing a routine for a patient’s overall health and she is highly in favor of hormone therapy options when the time is right.
With that being said, trends such as social media have made information about health much more accessible. Dr. Kolegraff thinks that patients are now more informed than ever and they are better able to advocate for themselves and their needs.
As women are becoming more proactive about their health both mentally and physically, many women would also benefit from physically therapy
Husker Rehab (huskerrehab.com) is a physical therapy clinic, where they focus on physical health and recovery for long-term wellbeing.
According to Husker Rehab the most common injuries and physical challenges when it comes to women is pelvic floor issues. These issues can affect the bladder, bowel and sexual functions. Some of the most frequently seen conditions are urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor dysfunction, chronic constipation, fecal incontinence, pelvic pain, dyspareunia and pain in pregnancy.
Pelvic physical therapy plays a vital role in women’s healthcare by helping prevent, manage, and treat common pelvic floor conditions.
“Individualized therapy plans focus on improving muscle strength, coordination, and relaxation through targeted exercises, manual techniques and education,” Michelle Spicka a doctor of physical therapy at Husker Rehab said. “These plans can also support recovery after pregnancy, childbirth, or surgery and improve quality of life by reducing pain and restoring functions to normal.”
Pelvic rehabilitation has evolved significantly across generations, reflecting growing awareness of women’s health needs and advances in medical knowledge. In the past, pelvic floor issues were often underreported or dismissed, with limited treatment options.
Today, there is more accessible information on early interventions and individualized care through pelvic physical therapy. Modern approaches such as social media recognize the importance of pelvic health at every life stage for women like adolescence, postpartum recovery, menopause and aging.
“Pelvic physical therapy is highly individualized, with treatment plans tailored to each patient’s specific symptoms, medical history, lifestyle and personal goals. The goal of pelvic physical therapy to is listen to the whole patient’s story and formulate a treatment plan based on the patient’s specific goals,” Spicka said.
As awareness grows, so does the demand for care that is not only personalized, but also convenient and accessible.
A Well Being (awellbeingpt.org) offers both mobile and virtual services, making it an ideal option for busy women on the go, mothers, caregivers, and those who work from home. It also serves individuals with limited insurance coverage, training, or support for vision impairment and any cognitive or physical deficit that could prevent patients from getting to a clinic, gym or utilizing virtual platforms.
The program is especially beneficial for patients with Osteopenia which is just an example of conditions Dr. Casey Bogenrief treats. It is for those looking to improve bone density through a strengthening program and individuals experiencing cognitive deficits. However, she also focuses on pain management, balance training, functional mobility and more.
A Well Being offers hassle-free physical therapy, athletic training, medical fitness, health coaching and yoga. Services may be utilized separately or integrated. They offer a transparent payment system with no prior authorization, no physician referral required and no questionable bills. A Well Being offers minimal paperwork and quality care with effective results.
While physical health is incredibly important, mind, body and spirit are equally important factors in overall health. Women can do anything and endure so much throughout their lives but they shouldn’t have to.
When it comes to taking care of our health.” Dr. Casey Bogenrief, owner of A Well Being says to not wait.
She has a 3 step recommended plan for success. Step 1 is to pick a category whether that is nutrition, exercise, sleep, sunshine, water intake, social integration or decreased screen time.
Step 2 is to set a specific, measurable, achievable, and a relevant time bound (SMART) goal.
Lastly step 3 is what Dr. Casey calls finding your Habit-pair. In order to do this you need to perform your wellness activity around an activity you already do daily like brushing your teeth, eating breakfast, taking medication, etc.
“Once you achieve a goal in 1 category, expand or create goals in other categories and let the health benefits compound,” said Dr. Casey.
As women continue to seek out more personalized and accessible care options, it’s clear that no single approach fits every individual. From specialized pelvic therapy to comprehensive, whole-body treatment models, the focus is shifting toward providers who can address multiple aspects of health under one roof.
This growing demand for integrative, patient-centered care is exactly what clinics like K2 Holistic Health (k2holistichealth.com) are designed to meet.
K2 Holistic Health was founded on the idea of bringing the best of the medical world, the best of the physical therapy world and the best of the chiropractic world, all integrated together under one roof, as they collaborate on their patients together to help bring about each patient’s best results. This philosophy helps set K2 Holistic Health apart from other clinics, and that philosophy—along with K2’s welcoming environment—are two of the reasons women most often cite when they are asked why they come to K2 Holistic Health and why they refer other women as well.
At the core of K2 Holistic Health, is their passion to help patients regain their Kinetics (movement) and their Kinesthetics (the neurology behind movement), and this is where the two Ks in their name comes from. Said differently, if there is a limitation to your ability to move or to how your nerves feel, then that is what K2 is striving to reverse. K2 Holistic Health offers treatments for neck pain, back pain, joint pain (like hips and knees), neuropathy protocols, peptide therapy, physical therapy programs and chiropractic adjustments. Rather than giving patients hydrocortisone injections which help short term pain but in the long term actually weaken and degenerate your joints further, or prescribing higher and higher doses of Gabapentin which makes a nerve just drowsy enough that you can’t feel what the nerve is trying to tell you while the neuropathy continues to worsen, K2 does a myriad of treatments to actually address these issues, including Hylajel injections, PRP, neuropathy protocols and hormones/peptides.
Regarding the growing area of peptide use, K2 Holistic Health points out that virtually all of human pathology is the final result of a very simple process: pathogens, poor diet and sedentary lifestyle all lead to these three physiological failures of systemic inflammation, insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction. K2 offers medical grade peptides with physician oversight to specifically target these very causes and failures.
When asked what area of women’s health specifically is being failed by the medical world, Jason Howe (the primary medical provider and CEO of K2 Holistic Health) replied “Women need testosterone levels too. While the ideal ranges are very different between genders, most people don’t know how much testosterone can help females too by improving their motivation, focus, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, mood stabilization and libido. Balancing a woman’s hormones is more than just balancing progesterone and estradiol. Testosterone at low doses can be life changing for women.”
If you are tired of the same traditional orthopedic and neuropathy medications, or if you are tired of feeling older than you should be feeling, then K2 Holistic Health is waiting to help you too.
Call K2 Holistic Health at (402) 817-1999 or visit them at k2holistichealth.com for a free consultation.
Though, women’s health is an incredibly significant topic, so is training women for medical crises.
At New View Training (newviewtraining.com) they prioritize making trainees feel confident with themselves and the care they provide, especially at times when they may feel helpless or unsure.
According to the American Heart Association, women tend to be the ones to give CPR in the home setting. However, they also tend to struggle more with their confidence when medical emergencies arise.
At New View Training they see this firsthand. Women who take their training often share how their experiences have helped lessen anxiety in crisis, due to learning practical skills they can always rely on.
“Preparedness transforms fear into confidence and uncertainty into action, an invaluable tool for caregivers who are often the first ones on the scene,” Bethany Clark, Owner, President and Educator of New View Training said.
They offer a wide range of training, including CPR, AED, and First Aid covering choking, bleeding, fractures, allergic reactions and medical emergencies. They also provide emergency preparedness education for specific settings like homes, workplaces and community settings.
“Our classes are practical, hands on, and designed to meet people where they are, whether that’s a parent wanting to protect their children, a caregiver supporting an aging parent, or a professional responsible for others’ safety,” said Clark. “We focus on scenarios people are most likely to encounter, not just textbook examples.”
Medical crises call for action, the first few moments are often the most critical to the person’s health. Knowing what to do in these situations with ease can save someone’s life.
While given the tools to help strengthen the body and medical support, staying active is a key aspect for overall well being.
Lincoln Running Company (shop.lincrunningcompany.com) is a locally family-owned business, run by the Rogers family since 1976. Their mission is to provide customers with a shopping experience tailored to finding the perfect match for their needs. This includes not only running shoes but also education on nutrition, injury prevention, training and more.
“Getting the proper fit is important for women – in their shoes and apparel,” said Ann Ringlein the manager of Lincoln Running Company. “Women are not small men and need shoes and apparel made to fit them. Comfort is key when starting back up and this is where it starts.”
They believe that once customers find the perfect fit the rest falls into place, moving the body can heal the mind. While running is great for mental and physical health doing it outside has greater benefits.
However once the training begins Lincoln Running recommends having more than one running buddy. Building a network can help people stay more consistent, motivated and dedicated to staying on track.
Their store offers a variety of running classes, including Beginner’s Luck in the summer, Fall Training that begins in August, Spring training that starts in January and a Wednesday Cookie Company run.
Running with groups provides a safe and comfortable environment for women, and we offer that year-round,” said Ringlein.
Women’s health is no longer one-size fits all solutions, every woman and any stage of life requires different care and support.
Whether they need physical therapy, hormone balancing, holistic approaches, bone density strengthening or even just to feel confident, there are professionals right here in the heart of Lincoln ready to support their needs to find what is best for them.