What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Although it might sound odd at first, and many may wonder what pelvic floor physical therapy is, this type of treatment helps people who struggle with pain, dysfunction, and weakness of the pelvic muscles in many different ways.
The pelvis is the lower part of the torso and is situated between the abdomen and the legs. Reproductive organs and the bladder form a major part of the pelvis, and the central role of this body part is to connect some of the strongest muscles in the body. When the pelvic muscles function well, they secure a good blood flow to different tissues in the body, and that helps with mobility. They control the bladder and the bowels and help with sexual function. In pregnant women, the pelvis provides support to the fetus.
Pelvic physical therapy is a very helpful method of dealing with different conditions concerning the pelvic area. Still, you have to choose a true expert who can deliver proper therapy and help you reach optimum results. At My OBGYN Specialists, a team of experts works with patients meticulously to improve the quality of their everyday life.
The Goal
The main goal of pelvic floor therapy is generally to bring the body back to the highest possible level of mobility, health, functioning, and movement. Also, when there is a certain amount of pain present, doctors usually work with patients to identify the trigger points and issues with the connective tissues.
ABCs of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
In general, pelvic physical therapy has been regarded by experts as an excellent, practical, completely non-invasive, efficient approach to improving the dysfunction of this body part for more than a few decades. Therapists and doctors use different non-surgical treatments, with little to no pain, to train the pelvic floor muscles. Learning how to strengthen and relax the pelvic muscles is crucial because that very often reduces the discomfort and pain people might feel.
When speaking of pelvic floor therapy in practice, it is mostly a straightforward process where the therapists teach the patients some exercises which help with the stabilization and strengthening of the core in the body as well as major muscles. This is done so that the pelvic floor, abdomen, back, and diaphragm can be stabilized and secured.
In addition to the abovementioned, the strengthening and the repetitive re-training of the pelvic floor muscles play a crucial role in the pelvic floor rehabilitation process.
The main responsibility of chosen therapists is to determine the muscles that are too tight and cause different issues in the body and teach the patient all the exercises that can help stretch the muscles in question, improving mobility and coordination.
The therapist also has to teach you some postural exercises, relaxation techniques, and breathing techniques, i.e., how to use the diaphragm, because this can all help with the symptoms and pains you are experiencing.
As with any other condition, the exact treatment plan and schedule will depend only on the needs of the patient and their particular condition, but one thing is certain: you will either need to work on the relaxation and lengthening or on the strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles.
Unfortunately, you are wrong if you think you will not need to do anything else but visit your therapist regularly and do the exercises they prescribe. Pelvic floor physical therapy also includes lifestyle changes and dietary modifications. This will most definitely relieve the symptoms you are experiencing and help you be and stay pain-free.
Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD)
Different symptoms can show that there is an issue with the pelvic area. If you start experiencing any of the following, please make sure to contact your doctor:
- Frequent urination
- Constipation
- Painful bowel movements
- Difficulty in passing the bowel movement
- Leaking urine or stool
- Painful urination
- Lower back pain without a cause
- Pain in the pelvic region, genitalia, and rectum
There are certain differences in symptoms when it comes to men and women, so, for example, in men, the symptoms also include pain in the groin, ejaculation issues, erectile dysfunction, and the like. In contrast, women suffer from incontinence more often than men and experience more painful sexual intercourse.
Causes
Experts have not managed to pinpoint what would be the exact cause of PFD, but they do believe that the condition can be connected to some of the below-mentioned issues, situations, and occurrences:
- If the patient was born through vaginal childbirth
- If the patient is obese
- Prolonged labor straining of muscles and tissues
- Trauma injuries on the pelvic region
- Damage to certain nerves
- Bladder pain syndrome
- Previous pelvic surgery
- Chronic cough
- Weightlifting training
- Chronic constipation
- Exercise such as high-impact running
- Aging
- Menopause
- Extensive use of the pelvic muscles
Benefits
It is crucial to tell patients what are the benefits of pelvic floor rehabilitation, so below you can find a list of important advantages when you decide to go through this type of treatment method:
- Reduction of pain
- Increase in the range of motion
- Improvement in sexual function
- Improvement in urinary patterns
- Reduced risk of chronic pain
- Lowered risk of vaginal prolapse
- Successful recovery after childbirth
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation in Practice
If you are wondering what an actual therapy session looks like, we present some basics, so you know what to expect and how to prepare for your first meeting with a therapist.
The first step of any pelvic floor rehabilitation process is a comprehensive, in-detail assessment of the patient, their condition, and needs so that the proper treatment plan can be created, which will cater to the patient’s specific needs. Although some instances of PFD might feel deeply personal, embarrassing, or uncomfortable, it is of the highest importance to share all the issues you have with the therapist because that will help them create the best possible plan for you.
Taking into consideration that the primary goal of pelvic floor therapy is to retrieve the movement and mobility of the pelvis as well as to reduce pain, therapists will assess the patient’s posture, strength, and flexibility of organs such as the spine, abdomen, and hips, check breathing dynamics, and the like.
By doing all of the mentioned assessments, the therapist might be able to determine the exact cause of the condition, which makes it a lot easier to treat. Wear loose clothes, so you can move as freely as possible, bring any notes or prescriptions from previous check-ups, and do not panic; this examination is pain-free and comfortable for almost every patient.
So, during the first appointment, the therapists usually review the patient’s medical history, evaluate the symptoms and painful areas, and do a thorough physical examination. All the steps are done slowly so that the patients feel as comfortable as possible. After the first meeting, you will know the plan for your treatment, and how many times you will need to come to resolve the issues you are experiencing.
There are several treatment options the therapists can use, such as:
- Trigger point release
- Connective tissue release
- Mobilization techniques to help with the movement of internal organs
- Skin rolls
- Mobilization of joints
- Biofeedback
- Kegel exercises
- Vaginal cones with weights
- Stimulation therapy via electrical impulses
- Ultrasound
- Relaxation techniques
- Medication
Aside from the therapist’s plan and program, you can be of great help by regularly working out at home, doing Kegel exercises daily, avoiding straining the pelvic muscles, having a healthy approach to everyday life, meditating, relaxing, etc.
Call Us!
Our team is available for any additional information and advice regarding pelvic floor physical therapy, so give us a call!