Pelvic floor therapy in Bella Villa, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can affect your sense of self and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from dominating on the basketball court, beginning parenthood, or just navigating a day with the same confidence and ease you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you need to feel like your best you again. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Bella Villa, MO can lead to:
- Improved bladder and bowel control
- Reduced pain and inflammation
- Enhanced sexual function and satisfaction
- Increased confidence and well-being
Axes Physical Therapy in Bella Villa, MO specializes in designing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pursuits they love most safely and effectively. If you are interested in gaining more information about pelvic floor therapy or wish to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, please contact us online today or get in touch to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you regain command and confidence in your pelvic health.
How the Pelvic Floor Works
The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that form a supportive net-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 safeguards organs and your spine from external pressure while helping control several important functions.
The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:
- Helps control your bladder and bowels by providing you authority over the contraction and relaxing of muscles
- Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from descending
- 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, stretches to accommodate a growing fetus and supports vaginal delivery in childbirth
- Assists in blood and lymphatic circulation, contributing to preserve healthy 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 channels or passages for the urethra (through which urine is passed), the vagina, and the anus (through which stool is passed).
Think of the pelvic floor as a woven network of muscles and tissues that forms a sturdy foundation, supporting the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from sagging. It works like a supportive sling to maintain the position and function of pelvic organs.
The primary 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 stool (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 lower belly (iliococcygeus). The coccygeus connects the side and back bones of your pelvis and helps to maintain your pelvis stable.
The pelvic floor muscles have essential roles. They assist in regulating the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the correct times and contribute in sexual function and satisfaction by supporting the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is weakened or becomes too tense, it leads to pelvic floor dysfunction.
Causes, Signs, and Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when you experience difficulty unwinding and aligning your pelvic floor muscles for ideal function.
Signs and Symptoms
- Trouble urinating or having bowel movements
- Feeling like your bowel movements are incomplete
- Leakage of urine or feces
- Frequently feeling the need to use the bathroom
- Sensation of needing to strain waste
- Pelvic pain
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- 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 can affect anyone, regardless of 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 Bella Villa, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to helping you recover the joy of participating in the things you hold dear most in life.
How Physical Therapy Can Help With Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
If you are suffering from pelvic floor dysfunction, you may feel frustrated, embarrassed, or despairing. But a diagnosis is far from a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans tailored for you by your Bella Villa, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and experience a comfortable existence.
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 Bella Villa, 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 facilitates essential functioning, such as the ability to relax and contract the muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
- Pain management — By targeting less resilient or stiffer muscles and addressing sensitive areas, physical therapy can assist in reducing or eliminating the pain you feel 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 aid in preparing the pelvic floor for delivery, reducing the risk of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor connected to giving birth.
- Sexual health improvement — By concentrating on particular muscles and dealing with any underlying issues, therapy can improve sexual arousal, orgasm, and overall sexual health.
- Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By offering education and instructing you in tips you can practice independently, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and empowers you to sustain a way of life that fosters pelvic floor wellness.
At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Bella Villa, MO who can support you in improving your pelvic well-being and performance. While some cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate operative treatment, the majority of individuals in Bella Villa, MO will likely experience lasting and meaningful improvement through less invasive physical therapy methods.
What Bella Villa, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves
Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Bella Villa, MO will include an assessment of your existing pelvic floor health. The remaining sessions will focus on implementing your customized treatment program.
Assessment and Evaluation
The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. In this appointment, your Bella Villa, MO physical therapist will spend time to familiarize themselves with you and your symptoms. They will inquire about your medical history, lifestyle, and goals. Additionally, they will conduct a physical examination and musculoskeletal assessment of your trunk and pelvis to assess your present condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Bella Villa, MO may also include an internal examination to further determine the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used rather than an internal examination.
The assessment and evaluation performed by your physical therapist will aid in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the formulation of an suitable treatment plan to help you in returning to the activities you cherish.
Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises
Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Bella Villa, MO will design a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will include defined goals, techniques, and anticipated outcomes to guide your therapy.
Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy
Improving physical strength and coordination is essential for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Bella Villa, MO are:
- Kegel exercises to loosen and engage the pelvic floor muscles
- Diaphragmatic breathing to sync your breath with your pelvic floor movement
- Stretching exercises to release tight muscles
- Strengthening exercises to develop weak muscles
- Functional training to integrate new muscle actions into daily activities
The exercises your Bella Villa, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will differ based on your unique needs, but will all be aimed at reconditioning your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your present health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may begin with you lying flat on your back and evolve to sitting 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 working on specific areas of your pelvis. It may include myofascial release (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve decompression (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 employs a device to measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you understand how to manage and align your pelvic floor muscles by giving you instant feedback on how they tighten and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and release the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle coordination and command.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications
Physical therapy isn’t just a catalog of exercises to complete – it also gives you access to professional, science-backed insights that enhance your daily life. Your physical therapist may recommend you with:
- Changes to your nutrition
- Fluid regulation
- Proper posture and lifting techniques
- Approaches for addressing constipation
- Any other tips for a more wholesome everyday life and way of living
Augmenting the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these modifications fosters better pelvic floor function and overall well-being.
Other pelvic floor therapy techniques may incorporate therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and other alternatives.
Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Pelvic Floor Therapy in Bella Villa, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in delivering individualized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in Bella Villa, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting favorable patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a sensitive and demanding issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, compassion, and personalized attention.
We also hold the belief in offering evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and cutting-edge technology to inform our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we offer a range of other physical therapy services that can supplement 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 Bella Villa, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Bella Villa, MO area, all dedicated to achieving your best pelvic health.
Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Bella Villa, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today
Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to prevent you from living your most life. At Axes, our dedicated physical and occupational therapists in Bella Villa, MO have a unified mission: returning you to the activities you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your playing in your favorite sport or making it difficult to navigate your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan exclusively to you and your aspirations. Request an appointment online or get in touch with the nearest location to you to embark on your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in Bella Villa, MO today.
