There is hope for pelvic floor dysfunction
Suffering from incontinence, painful sex or other pelvic floor issues? You're not alone. Urinary incontinence affects 25 million adult Americans. Twenty-six percent of women between ages 18 and 59 have involuntary leakage, 1 of 7 American women ages 18 to 50 have pelvic pain, and 61% go without diagnoses. You don't have to live with it — we're here to help.
What is the pelvic floor? The pelvic floor is made up of layers of muscles, nerves and ligaments that form a sling from the pubic bone to the tailbone.
The pelvic floor muscles are vital to:
— supporting the pelvic organs, the urinary tract, digestive tract, reproductive organs, bladder, and prostate in men
— controlling the urinary and anal sphincters
— facilitating birth as they help the fetus to rotate forwards and navigate through the pelvic girdle.
— helping sexual function
— maintaining optimal intra-abdominal pressure
What is pelvic floor dysfunction? Pelvic floor dysfunction refers to a range of problems that occur when the muscles of the pelvic floor are weak, tight, or there is an impairment of the sacroiliac joint, lower back, coccyx and/or hip joint. The tissues surrounding the pelvic organs may have increased or decreased sensitivity and/or irritation resulting in pelvic pain. These conditions may be due to infections, pregnancy or child birth, insidious onset, poor posture from chronic low back or SI dysfunction, trauma, or as a result of surgery.
The most common types of pelvic floor disorders include:
— Urinary incontinence, or lack of bladder control
— Fecal incontinence, lack of bowel control or Constipation
— Pelvic organ prolapse, a condition in which the uterus, bladder and bowel may descend into the vagina
— Painful Sex and Menstruation
— Pain in the lower back, pelvis, genitals or rectum
— Sciatica and tailbone pain
— Prostatitis, Prostadynia
— Pre/Postnatal pain and weakness
— Post surgical – Hysterectomy and Prostatectomy
— Cesarean, Episiotomy and Scar Pain
What is pelvic health physical therapy? Pelvic health physical therapy focuses on the muscles, nerves, and connective tissues of the pelvic region and how they function in coordination with the rest of the body. Rather than addressing symptoms in isolation, care is approached from a holistic, whole-body perspective. We recognize the influence of posture, breathing, movement patterns, and daily habits to identify and treat the root cause of your concerns.
What should I expect with pelvic health physical therapy? At your initial visit, you can expect a thorough, individualized evaluation including discussion of your medical history, current symptoms, lifestyle factors, and goals. With your consent, this may also include a physical assessment of movement, strength, and, when appropriate, an internal or external pelvic exam. Each session is tailored to you and treatment interventions may include: education, manual therapy including but not limited to myofascial and trigger point release as well as visceral or connective tissue manipulation, targeted exercises, fiofeedback, electrical stimulation, TENS, cold laser therapy, heat and cold therapy, and functional movement training. If you still have questions before scheduling, a therapist can call you to provide general guidance, however, a full assessment and formulation of your individualized plan of care can only be completed during an in-clinic evaluation.