Pelvic floor therapy in Affton, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical discomfort; it can impact your self-perception and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from dominating on the basketball court, starting a family, or just navigating a day with the same assurance and ease as before, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you require to feel like your best you again. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Affton, MO can help you with:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced pain and inflammation
• Enhanced sexual performance and satisfaction
• Increased confidence and quality of life

Axes Physical Therapy in Affton, MO specializes in designing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they enjoy most securely and effectively. If you are curious in finding out more about pelvic floor therapy or want to book an appointment with one of our physical therapusts, please contact us online today or contact to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you regain control and assurance in your pelvic health.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that constitute a supportive hammock-like structure at the base of the pelvis. It acts like a “floor” or a base for the organs in your pelvis, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor protects organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping manage several everyday functions.

The pelvic floor has numerous functions and roles:

• Helps manage your bladder and bowels by giving you command over the squeezing and relaxing of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and stops them from descending
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports well-functioning sexual function
• Provides sturdiness and posture to the core and back
• During pregnancy, stretches to accommodate a growing fetus and supports vaginal delivery in childbirth
• Assists in blood and lymphatic circulation, contributing to sustain vibrant tissue

Pelvic Floor Anatomy

The pelvic floor muscles span from the tailbone at the back to the pubic bone at the front, while also joining to the hip bones on each side. These muscles have openings or passages for the urethra (through which urine is passed), the vagina, and the anus (through which stool is passed).

Imagine the pelvic floor as a woven network of muscles and tissues that constructs a strong foundation, supporting the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from sagging. It works like a reinforcing sling to preserve the position and function of pelvic organs.

The main muscles of the pelvic floor are called the levator ani and the coccygeus. The levator ani has three parts: one that wraps around the rectum and assists you to hold in your poo (puborectalis), one that connects the front and back bones of your pelvis and maintains the urethra and rectum (pubococcygeus), and one that connects the side and back bones of your pelvis and supports the organs inside your abdomen (iliococcygeus). The coccygeus connects the side and back bones of your pelvis and helps to keep your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have crucial roles. They help in regulating the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the correct times and contribute in sexual function and pleasure by providing support to the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is weakened or becomes too tense, it results in pelvic floor dysfunction.

Causes, Signs, and Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when you have difficulty relaxing and coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for ideal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Difficulty urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are incomplete
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Often feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to strain waste
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sex
• Erectile dysfunction and trouble ejaculating
• Organ prolapse

Potential Causes

• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Pelvic surgery or trauma
• Obesity
• Aging
• Menopause
• Chronic constipation or straining
• Chronic coughing or sneezing
• Heavy lifting or high-impact exercise
• Psychological factors like stress or emotional trauma
• Nerve damage
• Surgery

Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just affect people of a single certain age, gender or physical ability. While it can affect anyone deeply, it’s important to remember that proven, evidence-backed treatment plans exist with professional physical therapy in Affton, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to helping you regain the joy of participating in the activities you cherish most in life.

How Physical Therapy Can Help With Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

If you are suffering from pelvic floor dysfunction, you may feel disappointed, ashamed, or despairing. But a diagnosis is far from a permanent condition. With practical treatment plans customized for you by your Affton, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and experience a pain-free life.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can build strength in, improve flexibility of, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The positive outcomes of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Affton, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can help improving bladder and bowel control, diminish symptoms of urinary and fecal incontinence, and offer better support for the pelvic organs.
• Improved pelvic floor muscle coordination — Enhancing coordination promotes essential functioning, such as relaxing and contracting muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting less resilient or less flexible muscles and addressing sensitive areas, physical therapy can aid in diminishing or getting rid of the pain you endure resulting from pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Pre- and postpartum care — Pelvic floor therapy is frequently advised for expecting mothers and those who have just given birth. It can assist in preparing the pelvic floor for labor, reducing the chance of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor connected to pregnancy and labor.
• Sexual health improvement — By targeting particular muscles and tackling any hidden issues, therapy can enhance sexual excitement, climax, and general sexual satisfaction.
• Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By offering information and instructing you in methods you can utilize autonomously, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and empowers you to sustain a routine that fosters pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Affton, MO who can support you in enhancing your pelvic health and performance. Although certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate surgical treatment, the majority of patients in Affton, MO will likely experience long-lasting and significant progress through non-invasive physical therapy methods.

What Affton, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Affton, MO will include an assessment of your existing pelvic floor condition. The remaining sessions will center around implementing your personalized treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. During this phase, your Affton, MO physical therapist will dedicate time to understand you and your symptoms. They will ask about your medical history, lifestyle, and goals. Additionally, they will conduct a physical examination and musculoskeletal assessment of your trunk and pelvis to evaluate your current condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Affton, MO may additionally include an internal examination to better determine the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used rather than an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation carried out by your physical therapist will aid in recognizing the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support the formulation of an optimal treatment plan to assist you in resuming the activities you cherish.

Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises

Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Affton, MO will design a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will include defined goals, exercises, and expected results to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

Improving physical strength and balance is vital for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Affton, MO include:

• Kegel exercises to relax and contract the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to harmonize your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Flexibility exercises to increase flexibility in tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to build up weak muscles
• Functional training to include new muscle patterns into everyday tasks

The exercises your Affton, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will be different based on your particular needs, but will all be aimed at reconditioning your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your current health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may initially start with you lying down on your back and progress to seated and upright positions.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy, such as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, is a hands-on technique that involves your physical therapist applying pressure or manipulating specific areas of your pelvis. It may include myofascial release (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve decompression (freeing up compressed nerves), joint mobilization (improving the mobility of your joints), deep tissue massage (relaxing tense muscles), or skin mobilization (lifting and rolling the skin to reduce adhesions).

Biofeedback Training

Biofeedback training makes use of a device to measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to regulate and harmonize your pelvic floor muscles by giving you instant feedback on how they contract and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and release the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle alignment and command.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a catalog of exercises to mark off – it also gives you entry to professional, evidence-based insights that enhance your everyday life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Alterations to your eating habits
• Liquid management
• Proper posture and safe lifting methods
• Strategies for addressing constipation
• Additional tips for a better day-to-day life and lifestyle

Enhancing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adjustments encourages improved pelvic floor function and overall well-being.

Other methods in pelvic floor therapy may incorporate therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and additional alternatives.

Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Pelvic Floor Therapy in Affton, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy, we firmly believe in delivering customized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Affton, MO, our practice places our clients at the center and strives to attain favorable patient results. We realize that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a challenging and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, compassion, and tailored attention.

We also embrace the belief in delivering evidence-based and holistic care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and advanced technology to shape our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we offer a range of other physical therapy services that can complement your pelvic floor therapy, including:

• Orthopedic rehab
• Sports physical therapy
• Neurological physical therapy
• Geriatric physical therapy
• Pre- or post-surgery rehab

If you are exploring pelvic floor therapy in Affton, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Affton, MO area, all devoted to realizing your best pelvic health.

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Affton, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to impede you from being your favorite version of yourself. At Axes, our committed physical and occupational therapists in Affton, MO have a sole mission: getting you back to the activities you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it demanding to get through your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your aspirations. Schedule an appointment through our website or contact the most convenient location to you to embark on your recovery with Axes Physical Therapy in Affton, MO today.