What to expect at your first appointment.
Whether pelvic floor physical therapy is worth the time and money you invest depends on your individual circumstances, and it helps to understand both the benefits and the considerations involved. Preparation is simple: keep the genital area clean, wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and empty your bladder before the exam. During the visit, your therapist will perform an internal assessment of the pelvic floor muscles and may also do an external examination, along with assessing the muscles around the pelvis and lumbar spine. They may use hands-on massage or an electrical stimulation unit to help relax the pelvic muscles, and they will talk with you about your symptoms, medical history, daily activities, sleep habits, and, if relevant, your pregnancy. You may be asked to fill out a questionnaire beforehand to help your therapist plan the right treatment.
Treating urinary incontinence.
Depending on your situation, physical therapy or other treatment methods may cure or significantly improve your incontinence. A physical therapist works with you individually to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, helping keep the urethra closed and minimize leaks, and will teach targeted pelvic floor exercises. Along the way, they will look for muscle imbalances and evaluate flexibility and endurance. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles running from the pubic bone to the tailbone that works with the diaphragm and back muscles to support the abdominal contents; when intra-abdominal pressure increases, these muscles provide the compressive force that keeps the urethra closed. Diet and fluid modifications can also help reduce urine loss, and carrying excess weight or dealing with constipation raises the likelihood of stress or urge incontinence.
Addressing the underlying cause.
Bowel, bladder, or sexual dysfunction can signal an underlying pelvic floor problem, and treatment aims to restore pelvic health, balance, and posture through a combination of exercises, behavioral training, and dietary modification. A pelvic floor physical therapist establishes a baseline of functional measurements, then works with you on lifestyle changes that help maintain progress. This kind of therapy, whether delivered by a physical therapist, urologist, or geriatric specialist, can alleviate symptoms, improve pelvic floor function, and raise quality of life, sometimes using tools like biofeedback or therapeutic exercise at home. Along the way, patients learn to use their pelvic floor muscles without straining and build new, healthier muscle memory.
Options for pelvic organ prolapse.
Pelvic organ prolapse can be treated with surgery, pelvic floor physical therapy, or nonsurgical interventions, and pelvic floor muscle training, retraining the muscles that support the pelvic floor, is effective both for prolapse and for improving urinary incontinence symptoms. Methods vary and can include biofeedback or video monitoring to track muscle activity, performed individually or in groups and ideally guided by a knowledgeable physical therapist. Educating patients about pelvic floor dysfunction and prolapse helps them feel more comfortable with treatment, which can also be combined with vaginal pessaries, silicone devices that hold the pelvic organs in place and, in many cases, offer a lasting solution, though some patients experience side effects such as mild pain or leaking.
A treatment plan built around you.
Our highly trained physical therapists can design a treatment plan around your needs. At your first appointment, we perform a physical exam to determine the condition of your body, taking your medical history and any health restrictions into account before recommending treatment. If you are experiencing pain or dysfunction, do not wait to book an appointment.