What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is a specialized type of physical therapy for problems related to your pelvic floor. This specialized treatment includes exercises and manual therapy techniques that can help relieve symptoms of pain, discomfort, incontinence, and other disruptions to your quality of life.
What is the Pelvic Floor?
Everyone has a pelvic floor. The pelvic floor is defined as all the structures, organs, muscles, and other tissues that sit inside of your pelvic girdle. The muscles that line the bottom of the pelvis and support said structures are known as your pelvic floor muscles. This group of muscles also controls bladder and bowel function and is imperative to sexual function. If these muscles are weak, tight or not functioning properly, this is known as pelvic floor dysfunction.
What is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
When you have pelvic floor dysfunction, your pelvic floor muscles are not functioning as they should. Your muscles could be tight, weak, uncoordinated, or a combination of all 3.
If these muscles cannot properly relax you may experience:
- Constipation
- Urinary frequency
- Urinary Retention
- Urinary incontinence
- Pain with penetration
If these muscles are weak you may experience:
- Pressure in the vagina or feelings of something in your vaginal canal
- Urinary incontinence
- Fecal Incontinence
- Inability to hold in gas
- Post void dribbling
What puts you at risk for pelvic floor dysfunction?
- Pelvic or abdominal surgery
- Aging
- Pregnancy
- Being overweight
- Prolonged high impact sports such as running
- Injury to the pelvic floor muscles such as, tearing or episiotomy
- History of sexual abuse
What to expect during your Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Visit at Total Performance?
During your first visit, you will first fill out a detailed medical and OBGYN history. Then, you will meet with the Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist and discuss your concerns and goals. The Physical Therapist will then perform a thorough orthopedic examination, looking at postural alignment, joint and muscle integrity.
During your second visit, the Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist will perform a detailed examination of your pelvic floor muscles and integrity of the pelvic organ support structures, either through a vaginal or rectal examination. This exam is not painful but can be slightly uncomfortable. Most patients are surprised how quick and comfortable it is. You have the right to refuse an internal examination, however, we highly recommend it as it gives your therapist more detailed information on your specific impairments, so they are able to create a unique and individualized treatment plan for you. During the second visit your therapist will also prescribe a home exercise program for you to adhere by when you are not in the clinic.
Your subsequent visits will be once weekly until discharge.
How Can I Get Started?
Pelvic floor rehabilitation is important, and can benefit people from all walks of life. Here at Total Performance Physical Therapy, we want you to be able to live your life comfortably. If you are suffering from pelvic pain, don’t wait any longer to request an appointment at our Hatfield, East Norriton, Harleysville, Horsham and North Wales, PA physical therapy office.
