Pelvic floor therapy in Arcadia, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause hurt; it can affect your self-perception and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from getting back to a favorite activity, starting a family, or just getting through a day with the same confidence and comfort you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you require to regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Arcadia, MO can lead to:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced pain and inflammation
• Enhanced sexual function and pleasure
• Increased self-assurance and quality of life

Axes Physical Therapy in Arcadia, MO specializes in designing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they love most safely and successfully. If you are curious in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or want to schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapusts, please contact us online today or reach out to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you reclaim command and assurance in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that form a supportive web-like structure at the bottom 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 control several basic functions.

The pelvic floor provides a number of vital functions for the body:

• Helps control your bladder and bowels by giving you control over the contraction and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from prolapsing
• Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports well-functioning sexual function
• Provides sturdiness and posture to the core and back
• During pregnancy, expands 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 extend from the tailbone at the back to the pubic bone at the front, while also linking to the hip bones on each side. These muscles have openings or canals for the urethra (through which urine is passed), the vagina, and the anus (through which stool is passed).

Picture the pelvic floor as a woven web of muscles and tissues that forms a strong base, supporting the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from descending down. It works like a supportive sling to maintain the position and function of pelvic organs.

The chief 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 helps 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 sustains the organs inside your abdomen (iliococcygeus). The coccygeus connects the side and back bones of your pelvis and works to maintain your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have crucial roles. They assist in controlling the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the appropriate times and contribute in sexual function and satisfaction by providing support to the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is diminished or becomes too tense, it leads to pelvic floor dysfunction.

Causes, Signs, and Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

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

Signs and Symptoms

• Difficulty urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are not fully finished
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Often feeling the urge to use the bathroom
• Sensation of needing to force out waste
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Erectile dysfunction and trouble reaching orgasm
• 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 have a negative impact on your physical, mental, and emotional health, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Arcadia, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to helping you regain the joy of participating in the pursuits 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 hopeless. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans tailored for you by your Arcadia, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and experience a comfortable life.

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

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can help improving bladder and bowel control, reduce symptoms of urinary and fecal incontinence, and provide better support for the pelvic organs.
• Improved pelvic floor muscle coordination — Enhancing coordination promotes vitals functioning, such as the ability to relax and contract the muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting weaker or less flexible muscles and addressing trigger points, physical therapy can support in reducing or eliminating the pain you experience caused by pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Pre- and postpartum care — Pelvic floor therapy is frequently advised during pregnancy and following childbirth. It can aid in readying the pelvic floor for childbirth, minimizing the likelihood of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with pregnancy and labor.
• Sexual health improvement — By focusing on specific muscles and tackling any underlying issues, therapy can enhance sexual arousal, climax, and overall sexual satisfaction.
• Education and self-management — Your tailored pelvic floor therapy plan will not just comprise supervised exercises. By offering education and teaching you methods you can utilize on your own, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and enables you to maintain a routine that fosters pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Arcadia, MO who can support you in boosting your pelvic well-being and performance. Although some instances of pelvic floor dysfunction may require surgical correction, the majority of patients in Arcadia, MO will likely experience sustained and substantial improvement through less invasive physical therapy techniques.

What Arcadia, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Arcadia, MO will comprise an assessment of your current pelvic floor condition. The following sessions will emphasize implementing your tailored treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. In this appointment, your Arcadia, MO physical therapist will spend time to understand you and your issues. They will ask about your medical history, lifestyle, and goals. Additionally, they will perform a physical examination and musculoskeletal assessment of your trunk and pelvis to evaluate your present condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Arcadia, MO may additionally include an internal examination to further determine the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed instead of an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation performed by your physical therapist will help in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the creation of an optimal treatment plan to help you in returning to the activities you love.

Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises

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

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

Improving muscle strength and balance is crucial for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Arcadia, MO are:

• Kegel exercises to relax and contract the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Stretching exercises to loosen tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to build up weak muscles
• Functional training to include new muscle actions into everyday activities

The exercises your Arcadia, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will differ based on your specific situation, but will all be aimed at rehabilitating your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your existing health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may commence with you reclining on your back and progress to seated and standing 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 release (freeing up compressed nerves), joint mobilizing techniques (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 manage and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they tighten and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to engage and release the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle alignment and command.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to cross off – it also provides you with entry to skilled, research-supported insights that boost your day-to-day life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Alterations to your diet
• Liquid management
• Proper posture and safe lifting methods
• Approaches for dealing with constipation
• Additional tips for a more wholesome day-to-day life and way of living

Enhancing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations promotes better pelvic floor function and general well-being.

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in delivering personalized and empathetic treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in Arcadia, MO, our practice places our clients at the center and strives to achieve beneficial patient results. We realize that pelvic floor dysfunction can pose as a delicate and difficult issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, compassion, and tailored attention.

We also subscribe to the belief in offering evidence-based and comprehensive care to our patients. We utilize up-to-date research and advanced technology to inform our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we provide a range of other physical therapy services that can enhance your pelvic floor therapy, including:

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

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

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to impede you from leading your best life. At Axes, our devoted physio and occupational therapists in Arcadia, MO have a unified mission: getting you back to the things you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your playing in your favorite sport or making it challenging to navigate your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your aspirations. Schedule an appointment through our website or contact the closest location to you to commence your recovery with Axes Physical Therapy in Arcadia, MO today.