Pelvic floor physical therapy is a treatment method used for people dealing with problems related to the pelvic floor. The therapy consists of exercises and techniques used to relieve pain and discomfort. At H&D Physical Therapy, our pelvic floor physical therapist can help you get your pelvic floor muscles working as they should and ease discomfort. Continue reading to learn who can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy.

What is the Pelvic Floor?

Everyone has a pelvic floor that consists of muscles supporting the urinary and reproductive tracts. The pelvic floor muscles are located between the tailbone and the pubic bone. Some of the pelvic organs that receive support from the pelvic floor and its muscles include:

  • The bladder
  • The uterus
  • The prostate
  • The rectum
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Symptoms

When pelvic floor dysfunction occurs, the pelvic muscles can’t relax or work together correctly. As a result, the internal organs do not receive sufficient support. Some symptoms that occur when the muscles cannot relax include:

  • Constipation
  • Frequent urination
  • Difficulty controlling bowels or urine
  • Painful urination
  • Pelvic region pain
  • Lower back pain
  • Pain during sex in women
  • Erectile dysfunction in men

Causes of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

It is unknown what the official cause of pelvic floor dysfunction is; however, some factors that can trigger it include the following:

  • Pelvic surgery
  • Advancing age
  • Supporting weight during pregnancy
  • Overstretched muscles after childbirth
  • Weight gain
  • Overuse of pelvic muscles
  • Serious injuries to the pelvic area

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms typically remain or worsen if they are not treated efficiently. Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized type of physical therapy you can use to relieve symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. This includes our pelvic floor physical therapist providing exercises to strengthen and relax the pelvic muscles to get them to work properly. Our physical therapist will ask you about the symptoms and pain levels you are experiencing. Afterward, our specialist will check your core muscles to see how strong they are, see how much endurance you have, and test the coordination of your pelvic floor muscles. 

Physical Therapy Techniques

Physical therapy with our pelvic floor physical therapist will consist of various techniques and exercises. Some methods of physical therapy that can be used include:

  • Trigger Point Therapy- Pressure put onto or anesthesia injected into an internal or external trigger point.
  • Kegels- A popular strengthening exercise that consists of contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles. Our pelvic floor physical therapist can teach you how to perform this exercise.
  • Electrical stimulation- Special equipment is used to send electrical currents through your body to reduce pelvic pain and muscle spasms.
  • Biofeedback- Devices are used to check the contraction of your pelvic floor muscles and can be used to track how well your pelvic floor muscles are improving from other techniques. This can be done through electrodes placed on your body or an internal probe, which displays results on a screen.

Additional Ways to Reduce Symptoms

In addition to pelvic floor physical therapy, you can take other steps to improve your pelvic floor’s strength further and reduce symptoms. Additional methods include:

  • Losing excess body fat
  • Including more fruit, vegetables, fiber, and water into your diet to reduce constipation

Contact Our Office

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a painful condition our pelvic floor physical therapist can address through treatment. Our specialist can provide exercises, activities, and positions during physical therapy to help your pelvic muscles become more tough and support your organs. At H&D Physical Therapy, our team strives to get our patients to live pain-free lives. Contact us today to learn how our pelvic floor physical therapist can help.