What is the Pelvic Floor?
The pelvic floor refers to the muscles that support your reproductive, colorectal, and urinary tracts including your bladder, uterus (female), prostate (male), and rectum. These muscles attach to your pelvic bones and wrap around the urethra and rectum to provide support. In addition to providing support, they also help you control your bladder and bowel function.
What Conditions does a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist Treat?
Pelvic floor therapists treat urinary and fecal incontinence and urgency, pregnancy related conditions, pelvic and abdominal pain, constipation, sexual health concerns, pelvic organ prolapse, vaginismus, vulvodynia, coccyx pain, hernias, diastasis recti and postpartum concerns.
What to Expect at Pelvic Floor Therapy
Your therapist will ask you detailed questions about your medical history, pregnancy history, bowel and bladder habits, diet, exercise routine, sexual health, symptoms and pain. They will perform a physical examination that might include movement of your spine and hips, strength testing of your abdominals and hip muscles, checking for an abdominal separation, breathing mechanics, and functional movements. If appropriate, your physical therapist may suggest an internal (vaginal or rectal) exam be performed. The benefits will be described for you in detail before your consent is attained. An internal exam includes testing the pelvic floor muscles for strength and coordination and assessing for tension.
Women's Health Physical Therapy
Women's health physical therapy refers to the non-surgical treatment specific to various health problems affecting women. During the course of therapy, specially designed exercises and equipment are implemented to help patients return to their normal physical activities.
Generally, physical therapy for women includes:
- Diagnosis and treatment of various underlying causes affecting the joints, muscles, and nerves at different phases in a woman's life
- Awareness and education in self-help measures
- Improvement of posture and movement
- Structured exercise programs based on the individual's needs
Pregnancy-related Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can help manage the following pregnancy-related conditions:
- Pain in the lower back, pelvic region, rib, and thoracic region, headache, neck pain, and stiffness
- Muscle weakness of the pelvic floor
- Urinary stress incontinence (urine leakage due to weakness in the pelvic floor muscles)
- Leg cramps
- Weakened abdominal muscles and bladder
- Pain or numbness in the wrist and hand
Physical therapy for pregnancy may also include:
- Management of posture
- Advice on the delivery position
- Pelvic support belts for women with pelvic girdle instability and pain
Musculoskeletal physical therapy
Injury to the muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments, and nerve tissues may result in muscle weakness, inflammation of the joints, and pressure on nerves. These conditions may cause various symptoms such as pain, muscle weakness, swelling, and numbness. Massage, exercises, and Pilates (exercise using special apparatus) are the various hands-on treatment techniques provided.
Physical therapy for Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a 'silent' disease, characterized by weakening of bones, making them more susceptible to fractures, typically in the hip and spine. Elderly people and especially post-menopausal women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis.
Physical therapy can help prevent further bone loss and reduce the risk of bone fractures. Strengthening exercises for bones is of high importance in maintaining the health of osteoporotic bones.
Physical therapy for Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence also referred to as overactive bladder, is the inability to control the flow of urine. Leakage of urine occurs due to weakness of the pelvic floor muscles as a result of injury, pregnancy, surgery, or lack of exercise.
Your physical therapist may advise on:
- Diet modifications to avoid bladder irritation
- Pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor
- Methods to reduce urinary urgency and frequency