Karine Gulyamova, MSPT, CAPP-OB, CAPP-OB, PCES
Karine is a citizen of the world. She was born and raised in Tajikistan, a breathtakingly beautiful mountainous country in Central Asia. In 1995, following the collapse of the USSR, her family was forced to leave their homeland. She spent several years as a refugee in Sochi, Russia, before beginning a new chapter in Helsinki, Finland in 2000, guided by hope, resilience, and a desire for new opportunities.
Karine began her physiotherapy career in 2005 after graduating in Finland with a degree in Physiotherapy and completing clinical training at teaching university hospitals in both Finland and England. Following graduation, she worked as a physiotherapist in a variety of settings at the National University Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland. While living in Iceland, she met her American husband, and together they began a new adventure, first in Boston in 2009 and later in Boulder, Colorado. In the United States, she worked in skilled rehabilitation facilities in Boston, MA, as well as hospitals in Longmont and Boulder, CO.
In 2016, a course in Pelvic Health inspired Karine to specialize in this field. Since then, she has completed numerous advanced courses in Pelvic Health, and obtained the Certificate of Advanced Practice both in Pelvic Health and Obstetric PT through the APTA, the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy.
In 2019, with the support of her colleagues, Karine spearheaded a Pelvic Health program for early postpartum mothers at Boulder Community Health, helping over 600 women each year with mobility, pelvic floor activation, scar care, diastasis recti assessment, stretching, and education. She and her colleagues also created a monthly workshop, Pregnancy Fitness Essentials and Pelvic Floor Health, tailored to pregnant women.
Karine volunteers as a CAPP-OB and CAPP-Pelvic case study reviewer and serves as a CAPP Content Peer Reviewer (Female Pelvic Health) on the CAPP Editorial Panel of the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy.
She has been serving the communities of Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, Longmont, and Superior for over 12 years. Learning never stops, and she remains deeply committed to continuing to advance her skills in order to provide the highest quality care to her patients.
Reflecting on her life experiences, Karine shares that “being a refugee has given me profound and unique life lessons. Through travel and the process of learning and adapting to new cultures and countries, I gained a deep appreciation for the small things, along with humility and patience. Most importantly, I learned that all humans strive to be happy, heard, and validated. Everyone has a story to share. We all need to practice kindness as our ‘religion’ and be present with one another without judgment. I do my best to incorporate these principles into my work with patients every day.”
Outside of the clinic, Karine enjoys the simple pleasures of life: knitting, reading, learning, camping, and spending quality time with her two teenage daughters (if they let her), her husband, and a vibrant circle of friends who make up her beloved community.
Education:
Degree in Physiotherapy (recognized as a US Master’s Degree by USCIS and the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy, FCCPT), Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Espoo, Finland
Master’s Degree Program in Education-Pedagogics/Linguistics (Equivalent to US Master’s Degree in Education); major: English language/ Child pedagogy, Sochi State University, Sochi, Russia
Advanced Coursework and Certifications:
Certificate of Advanced Practice in Physical Therapy in Pelvic Health (CAPP-Pelvic)
Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Level 1
Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Level 2 Bowel Dysfunction
Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Level 2 Pelvic Pain
Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Level 3 Male Health
CAPP-case reflection: “Obturator Internus and Pelvic Floor Muscle Overactivity and Pain in the setting of Hip Labral Tear”
Certificate of Advanced Practice in Physical Therapy in Obstetric Health (CAPP-OB)
The Fundamental Topics of Pregnancy & Postpartum Physical Therapy
Advanced Topics of Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Therapy
Intrapartum Topics of Obstetric Physical Therapy
CAPP- case reflection: “intrapartum Physical Therapy and Birth Preparation for a Patient with Hip Pain and History of Periacetabular Osteotomy: an evidence-based case report”
Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (PCES)
Dry Needling and Pelvic Health, Professional Pelvic Health Consultants (PPHC)
Advanced training in Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Stress Urinary Incontinence, including pessary fitting and management– Women’s Health Training Associates (WHTA)
Therapeutic Neuroscience Education – Teaching Patients about Pain (ISP institute)
NDT Neurological Rehabilitation, Level I and II advanced training - Recovering Function
