Pelvic floor therapy in Bismarck, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical pain; it can affect your self-esteem and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from returning to a favorite sport, beginning parenthood, or just getting through a day with the same confidence and comfort as before, 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 Bismarck, MO can help you achieve:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Bismarck, MO specializes in developing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pursuits they love most securely and successfully. If you are interested in discovering about pelvic floor therapy or desire to arrange an appointment with one of our specialists, please contact us online today or reach out to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you reclaim control and confidence in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and fibers that form a supportive hammock-like structure at the base of the pelvis. It acts like a “floor” or a foundation for the organs in your pelvis, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor protects organs and your spine from external pressure while helping control several vital functions.

The pelvic floor has numerous functions and roles:

• Helps control your bladder and bowels by giving you authority over the squeezing and relaxing of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and stops them from prolapsing
• Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports healthy sexual function
• Provides support and alignment to the core and back
• During pregnancy, expands to accommodate a growing fetus and assists in childbirth
• Assists in blood and lymph circulation, helping to maintain 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 connecting to the hip bones on each side. These muscles have channels or canals 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 resilient foundation, holding the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from dropping down. It works like a supportive sling to uphold 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 assists you to hold in your stool (puborectalis), one that connects the front and back bones of your pelvis and supports 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 helps to keep your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have important roles. They assist in controlling the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the appropriate times and play a part 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 is a condition where you experience difficulty relaxing and coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for optimal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Difficulty 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
• Feeling like you need to push out urine or feces
• Pelvic aches
• Pain during sex
• Erectile dysfunction and difficulty 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, it’s important to remember that proven, evidence-backed treatment plans exist with professional physical therapy in Bismarck, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to assisting you regain the pleasure of participating in the activities 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 disappointed, embarrassed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a life sentence. With practical treatment plans tailored for you by your Bismarck, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and enjoy a comfortable 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 Bismarck, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can aid in improving bladder and bowel control, alleviate 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 relaxing and contracting muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting less resilient or more rigid muscles and addressing trigger points, physical therapy can support in reducing 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 aid in readying the pelvic floor for labor, reducing the likelihood of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and promoting healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By focusing on particular muscles and addressing any hidden issues, therapy can enhance sexual excitement, orgasm, and overall sexual gratification.
• 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 tips you can practice autonomously, your Axes physical therapist helps you engage actively in your own care and empowers you to sustain a lifestyle that promotes pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Bismarck, MO who can help you in enhancing your pelvic well-being and performance. While certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction might necessitate operative treatment, most patients in Bismarck, MO will find lasting and substantial progress through less invasive physical therapy methods.

What Bismarck, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Bismarck, MO will comprise an assessment of your current pelvic floor health. The following sessions will center around implementing your customized treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. During this phase, your Bismarck, MO physical therapist will dedicate 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 determine your present condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Bismarck, MO may also involve an internal examination to further determine the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be utilized instead of an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation carried out by your physical therapist will aid in identifying the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support the creation of an suitable treatment plan to assist you in getting back 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 Bismarck, MO will design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will incorporate precise goals, techniques, and projected outcomes to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to loosen and contract the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Stretching exercises to release tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to strengthen weak muscles
• Functional training to incorporate new muscle patterns into everyday activities

The exercises your Bismarck, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change based on your specific 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 commence with you reclining on your back and evolve to sitting 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 working on specific areas of your pelvis. It may include myofascial release (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve mobilization (freeing up compressed nerves), joint mobilizing techniques (improving the mobility of your joints), deep tissue massage (relaxing tense muscles), or skin rolling (lifting and rolling the skin to reduce adhesions).

Biofeedback Training

Biofeedback training utilizes 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 contract and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and release the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle alignment and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

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

• Adjustments to your nutrition
• Fluid control
• Correct posture and safe lifting methods
• Strategies for addressing constipation
• Additional advice for a better everyday life and way of living

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

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we firmly believe in delivering individualized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Bismarck, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting favorable patient results. We comprehend that pelvic floor dysfunction can present as a challenging and demanding issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, compassion, and tailored attention.

We also hold the belief in offering evidence-based and comprehensive care to our patients. We make use of up-to-date research and cutting-edge technology to guide our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we present 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 interested in trying pelvic floor therapy in Bismarck, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Bismarck, MO area, all devoted to realizing your best pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to prevent you from leading your fullest life. At Axes, our devoted physical and occupational therapists in Bismarck, MO have a singular mission: returning you to the things you treasure the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it difficult to manage your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your goals. Schedule an appointment online or get in touch with the most convenient location to you to commence your recovery with Axes Physical Therapy in Bismarck, MO today.