Pelvic floor therapy in Bloomsdale, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can impact your self-perception and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from dominating on the field, starting a family, or just getting through a day with the same assurance and comfort as before, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you require to feel like your best you again. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Bloomsdale, MO can lead to:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced discomfort and inflammation
• Enhanced sexual function and pleasure
• Increased self-assurance and well-being

Axes Physical Therapy in Bloomsdale, MO specializes in designing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they love most securely and successfully. If you are interested in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or desire to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, please contact us online today or contact to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you restore command and assurance in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

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

The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:

• Helps control your bladder and bowels by giving you command over the contraction 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 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).

Imagine the pelvic floor as a woven web of muscles and tissues that constructs a sturdy base, supporting the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from sagging. It works like a supportive 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 helps you to hold in your feces (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 help in regulating the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the right times and contribute in sexual function and satisfaction by supporting the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is compromised or becomes too tense, it results in pelvic floor dysfunction.

Causes, Signs, and Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when you experience difficulty relaxing 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
• Feeling like you need to strain waste
• Pelvic aches
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Erectile dysfunction and difficulty 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 have a negative impact on your physical, mental, and emotional health, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Bloomsdale, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to assisting you recover the joy of engaging 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 frustrated, ashamed, or despairing. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a life sentence. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Bloomsdale, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and enjoy a pain-free 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 Bloomsdale, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can assist in improving bladder and bowel control, reduce 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 weaker or less flexible muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can support in reducing or getting rid of the discomfort you experience due to 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 labor, reducing the chance of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with giving birth.
• Sexual health improvement — By focusing on specific muscles and dealing with any hidden issues, therapy can enhance sexual excitement, climax, and overall sexual gratification.
• Education and self-management — Your customized pelvic floor therapy plan won’t just include guided exercises. By offering education and instructing you in methods you can practice at home, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and enables you to sustain a lifestyle that fosters pelvic floor health.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Bloomsdale, MO who can help you in boosting your pelvic health and performance. While certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate operative treatment, most patients in Bloomsdale, MO will likely experience lasting and meaningful progress through non-invasive physical therapy techniques.

What Bloomsdale, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Bloomsdale, MO will involve an examination of your current pelvic floor condition. The subsequent sessions will focus on implementing your tailored treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Bloomsdale, MO physical therapist will dedicate time to get to know 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 current condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Bloomsdale, MO may also include an internal examination to further determine the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be utilized as an alternative to an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation performed by your physical therapist will help in recognizing the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the development of an effective treatment plan to help you in getting back to the activities you enjoy.

Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises

Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Bloomsdale, MO will develop a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will include precise goals, techniques, and expected outcomes to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to relax and contract the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to harmonize your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Stretching exercises to loosen tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to strengthen weak muscles
• Functional training to incorporate new muscle patterns into everyday tasks

The exercises your Bloomsdale, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will be different based on your specific needs, but will all be aimed at rehabilitating 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 progress to seated and standing positions.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy, such as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, involves your physical therapist using their hands to put pressure on and massage specific areas of your pelvis. It may include myofascial release (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve decompression (freeing up compressed nerves), joint manipulation (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 gauge 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 relax the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle coordination and control.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

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

• Adjustments to your diet
• Fluid management
• Correct posture and safe lifting methods
• Strategies for managing constipation
• Further tips for a better daily life and lifestyle

Complementing the exercises and techniques used 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 Bloomsdale, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy, we firmly believe in providing customized and empathetic treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in Bloomsdale, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting positive patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can present as a sensitive and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, compassion, and customized attention.

We also hold the belief in offering evidence-based and holistic care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and state-of-the-art technology to guide 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 interested in trying pelvic floor therapy in Bloomsdale, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Bloomsdale, MO area, all dedicated to attaining your best pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to prevent you from living your best life. At Axes, our dedicated physical and occupational therapists in Bloomsdale, MO have a unified mission: returning you to the things you treasure the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your playing in your favorite sport or making it difficult to get through your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your ambitions. Request an appointment online or get in touch with the nearest location to you to start your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Bloomsdale, MO today.