What is a pelvic floor evaluation?
A pelvic floor workout is designed to reduce or eliminate bladder problems, painful sex, and vaginal prolapse in women, and it can also help after childbirth or surgery. During a session, your therapist may apply lubricant and press on various points of the pelvic floor muscles to assess their tone, strength, endurance, and control.
Loose clothes
When attending pelvic floor physical therapy, it's important to wear clothing that lets you move freely and comfortably. Loose-fitting clothes such as yoga pants and a t-shirt offer coverage while still giving your therapist access to the areas they need to work on. Avoid tight or restrictive clothing, which can obstruct blood flow and nerve conduction to the lower limbs and pelvic area, tight jeans in particular tend to increase pressure on the pelvic floor, and studies have shown that wearing tight pants can cause abnormal movement and posture in the lumbar spine and pelvis, leading to musculoskeletal pain or discomfort.
Warm socks
The pelvic floor is a hammock-like structure in the lower torso that supports organs like the rectum, bladder, and bowels. When it becomes overstretched or tense, it can lead to a range of issues, myofascial pain in the pelvic floor has been reported to be responsible for up to 23% of chronic pelvic pain cases and is a primary factor in 78% of cases of interstitial cystitis, a bladder condition (Harvard Health, 2018). Pelvic floor physical therapists typically use gentle internal manual therapy, visualization, and guided breathing to release tension in the muscles and fascia, promote relaxation, and restore blood, lymph, and nerve flow to the pelvic bowl. It's a good idea to wear warm socks to your session to protect your feet from getting cold during manipulations on the clinic floor.
Comfortable shoes
Pelvic floor physical therapy is an effective way to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and prevent bladder problems, and it's especially helpful for women with vaginismus, endometriosis, or urinary incontinence after pregnancy or surgery. Kegels and other exercises that engage these muscles are therapeutic for the pelvic floor and can improve sexual function. Your choice of shoes matters too, appropriate footwear helps your therapist provide more precise exercise recommendations. High heels that squeeze the toes together can create tightness in the pelvic floor, while flatter shoes give the feet room and help center the pelvic floor, which has positive effects on other structures in the body such as the ankles, knees, hips, and spine.
The exam itself
Your physical therapist may ask you to undress from the waist down for a comprehensive pelvic muscle exam conducted privately, using non-latex gloves and lubricant and performing an internal exam of the vagina or rectum as needed. They'll also review your medical history and address any specific concerns, which helps them build an individualized treatment plan. A physical therapist with special training in the pelvic floor will conduct a detailed evaluation of your posture, alignment, and movement, and may also test your balance, strength, flexibility, coordination, and sensory awareness.
If you're ready to start your pelvic floor physical therapy journey, contact our team to schedule an appointment.