Professional Physical Therapy offers comprehensive pelvic floor physical therapy for women and men with a variety of conditions to improve their quality of life and promote overall wellness. Treatment is provided by our trained physical or occupational therapists in a comfortable, private setting. Pelvic floor therapy allows therapists to assess any issues a patient may be having with the pelvic floor.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
pelvic floor physical therapy.
Comprehensive pelvic floor physical therapy for women and men
What is the pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor refers to the muscles that support your reproductive and urinary tract, including your bladder, uterus (or prostate), and rectum, also wrapping around the urethra, vagina (in females), and rectum. These muscles attach to your pelvis and to your tailbone and sacrum. In addition to providing support, they also help you control bladder and bowel function.
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a treatment that addresses pain, weakness, and dysfunction in the pelvic floor muscles. The type of therapy indicated will depend upon the symptoms you’re experiencing. For example, some symptoms will require strengthening the muscles while others may require releasing and lengthening of the muscles.
Conditions Treated Include
- Men’s and women’s health
- Pre-natal/post-partum: back pain/Diastasis recti/episiotomy/c-section
- Urinary incontinence/Pelvic floor weakness
- Fecal incontinence/urgency/frequency
- Urinary urgency/frequency//bladder pain/dysfunction
- Chronic Pelvic pain
- Vaginismus
- Dyspareunia
- Interstitial cystitis
- Pre and post prostatectomy/prostatitis/prostatodynia
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic organ prolapse/ repair
- Bowel disorders/ constipation
- Coccydynia
- Pubic symphysis dysfunction
- Pregnancy Related Orthopedic Conditions
- Pre- and Post-Partum Rehabilitation
pelvic pain conditions treated.
Pelvic floor pain
Endometriosis
Vaginismus: Involuntary tightness of the pelvic floor muscles
Dyspareunia: Painful sexual intercourse
Interstitial Cystitis: Chronic painful bladder
Vulvodynia: Vulvar pain
What to expect during your appointment
Your first appointment will consist of an initial evaluation. At the initial evaluation the therapist obtains a thorough history including bladder and bowel health. The physical therapy exam includes assessment of the strength and length of external muscles in the trunk, low back and hips. external muscles in the trunk, low back and hips. Depending on your symptoms, orthopedic physical therapy may also be recommended to address musculoskeletal conditions affecting movement and function. During the pelvic floor exam, the therapist will perform both external and internal muscle palpation, skin inspection strength and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles. This includes coordination, strength/endurance.
Your therapist will provide education on the condition and treatment plan, possible home exercises, education on behavioral changes, posture, diet, and other appropriate topics. After the initial evaluation, patients can expect appointments 1-2x a week for 8-12 weeks.
To find out more information on at-home physical therapy, reach out to your local clinic for more information by completing the following form.
Treatments Include
Manual therapy
Including trigger point release, soft tissue mobilization, and scar massage.
Relaxation techniques
Therapeutic exercise
Including stretching and strengthening exercises
Bladder retraining
Biofeedback
Electrical stimulation
Education
Locations offering pelvic floor physical therapy
Women's health and pelvic floor specialists
Pelvic health for women and men
Understanding pelvic health physical therapy:
Definitions of conditions treated
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome
A condition in which the muscles of the pelvic floor do not contract or relax properly. It may include muscle spasm, weakness, or muscle incoordination.
Pelvic Congestion
A chronic medical condition in women caused by varicose veins in the lower abdomen. The condition causes chronic pain, often manifesting as a constant dull ache, which can be aggravated by standing.
Scar tissue restrictions/adhesions (Abdominal, Pelvic)
Scar tissue is a common contributing factor to pelvic pain. The good news is it’s an issue that’s highly treatable.
Fascial Restrictions
Fascial restrictions are areas of tension and tightness in the body’s fascia. Abnormal adherence of connective tissue to itself or to other tissues which impedes normal, fluid movement of tissues across each other. The Fascia is naturally very flexible, but certain fascia in the body can become tight and rigid with injury or stress. These restrictions and tightness in fascial and connective tissues can restrict the body’s movement, flexibility, and function. They may cause muscular shortness and tightness, which can cause pain by putting tension on muscles and/or joints. This can sometimes carry over and cause restrictions to blood flow, organ function, and nerves.
Myofascial trigger points
Myofascial pain often results from muscle injury or repetitive strain. When stressed or injured, muscles often form trigger points, like contracted knots, that cause pain and tightness.
Levator ani syndrome
This is a painful condition in the anorectal region. It typically causes a dull vague ache in the perineum and anus.
Coccygodynia
Pain in and around the region of the coccyx (tailbone); the coccygeal region is usually markedly tender. This condition can be one of the many causes of pelvic muscle spasm and dysfunction.
Sacro-iliac joint dysfunction
Dysfunction in the sacroiliac joint, or SI joint, is thought to cause low back and/or leg pain.