What pelvic floor therapy treats
Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction can be a major source of pain for women, causing bladder control problems, voiding problems, and pelvic pain. Pelvic floor physical therapy helps women manage these symptoms, improving bladder control, decreasing pelvic pain, and addressing urinary incontinence.
Treatment options include manual techniques, biofeedback, and electronic therapies, which can also help with hypertonic pelvic floor disorders. Physical therapy can be performed with or without a doctor's referral, some health insurance providers require one, but if yours doesn't, you can see a physical therapist directly.
What to expect when you begin
Pelvic floor physical therapy usually takes place once a week for eight weeks. Patients are encouraged to bring a friend or family member for support, and depending on the severity of the condition, session frequency can decrease as therapy progresses.
Treatment can include muscle-strengthening exercises and electrical stimulation. Some physical therapists may also perform trigger point injections, injecting relaxing medication into a muscle to relieve pelvic muscle spasms.
Getting started can feel intimidating, but there are plenty of resources to help you learn more, and your healthcare provider is the best place to start. Treatment length varies, it may take a few sessions or a few months, depending on your condition and how closely you follow your therapist's instructions.
How sessions are structured
Pelvic floor therapy can include exercise, manual manipulation, and electrical stimulation. Your therapist works to ease pain and improve muscle function, and will also educate you on the anatomy and physiology of the pelvic floor.
You may be given home exercises to tighten and relax the muscles of the pelvis, which can also improve your experience with orgasms. Some therapists use biofeedback, applying small electrodes to the treatment area, to assess the level of muscle contraction and help improve bladder function. Sessions can also include yoga and other stretches, which help improve posture, an important factor for anyone dealing with urinary incontinence.
Getting back to feeling your best
Pelvic floor dysfunction is more common than you might think, and it can interfere with daily activities, causing pain in the pelvis, lower back, and legs, along with muscle spasms and weakness. Therapy includes exercises to strengthen the muscles and ease these symptoms, whether through a home exercise program, hands-on work from your therapist, or pelvic floor massage and other manual manipulation.
It's also a good option for pregnancy-related pain or abdominal separation, helping you prepare for childbirth, reduce symptoms, and maintain a healthy pelvic floor. Manual therapy can improve blood circulation, mobility, and posture, and progress can be tracked with biofeedback, which uses a device to identify pelvic floor muscles at rest and display a graph of their contractions.
Therapy can also involve a device that delivers a mild electrical current through electrodes placed in the vagina or anus, or externally, to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and help you relax and coordinate contractions. Some therapists combine electrical stimulation with heat. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please visit our contact page or call our office.