Pelvic floor therapy in Bloomsdale, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical discomfort; it can affect your self-perception and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from returning to a favorite activity, starting a family, or just getting through a day with the same assurance and comfort you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you need to regain your lifestyle. 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 quality of life
Axes Physical Therapy in Bloomsdale, 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 interested in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or desire to arrange an appointment with one of our experts, please contact us online today or contact to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you reclaim control and assurance in your pelvic health.
Understanding the Pelvic Floor
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that constitute a supportive net-like structure at the bottom 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 shields organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping control several basic functions.
The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:
- Helps control your bladder and bowels by giving you control over the contraction and relaxing of muscles
- Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from descending
- Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
- Supports healthy sexual function
- Provides sturdiness and posture to the core and back
- During pregnancy, stretches to accommodate a growing fetus and assists in childbirth
- Assists in blood and lymphatic circulation, helping to sustain 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 connecting 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).
Think of the pelvic floor as a woven mesh of muscles and tissues that constructs a resilient base, supporting the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from sagging. It works like a supportive sling to uphold 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 assists 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 sustains the organs inside your lower belly (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 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 diminished 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 optimal 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
- Sensation of needing to force out urine or feces
- Pelvic discomfort
- Pain during sex
- 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 affect anyone deeply, it’s important to remember that proven, evidence-backed treatment plans exist with professional physical therapy in Bloomsdale, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to assisting you regain the pleasure of participating in the activities you treasure 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 despairing. But a diagnosis is far from a life sentence. With practical treatment plans tailored for you by your Bloomsdale, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and experience a pain-free life.
Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can strengthen, improve flexibility of, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The advantages 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, diminish 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 relaxing and contracting muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
- Pain management — By targeting weaker or stiffer muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can support in lessening or eradicating the discomfort you endure caused by pelvic floor dysfunction.
- Pre- and postpartum care — Pelvic floor therapy is frequently advised during pregnancy and following childbirth. It can assist in preparing the pelvic floor for labor, decreasing the chance of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor connected to pregnancy and labor.
- Sexual health improvement — By concentrating on particular muscles and dealing with any hidden issues, therapy can improve sexual arousal, climax, 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 techniques you can try autonomously, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and enables you to maintain a way of life that supports pelvic floor health.
At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Bloomsdale, MO who can support you in enhancing your pelvic well-being and performance. Although some cases of pelvic floor dysfunction might require surgical intervention, the majority of patients in Bloomsdale, MO will find long-lasting and significant progress through minimally invasive physical therapy approaches.
What Bloomsdale, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves
Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Bloomsdale, MO will include an evaluation of your existing pelvic floor condition. The subsequent sessions will focus on implementing your tailored treatment plan.
Assessment and Evaluation
The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. During this phase, your Bloomsdale, MO physical therapist will spend time to get to know you and your symptoms. They will inquire 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 current condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Bloomsdale, MO may also include an internal examination to further evaluate the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be utilized rather than an internal examination.
The assessment and evaluation conducted by your physical therapist will help in identifying the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the development of an optimal treatment plan to help 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 Bloomsdale, MO will design a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will incorporate defined goals, techniques, and expected results to guide your therapy.
Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy
Improving strength and coordination is essential for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Bloomsdale, MO include:
- Kegel exercises to release and engage the pelvic floor muscles
- Diaphragmatic breathing to sync your breath with your pelvic floor motion
- Flexibility exercises to release tight muscles
- Strengthening exercises to strengthen weak muscles
- Functional training to incorporate new muscle actions into daily activities
The exercises your Bloomsdale, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change based on your specific needs, but will all be aimed at retraining your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your current health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may begin with you lying flat 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 massaging 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 rolling (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 control and align your pelvic floor muscles by giving you live feedback on how they engage and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and relax the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle alignment and mastery.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications
Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to complete – it also provides you with entrée to professional, science-backed insights that enhance your day-to-day life. Your physical therapist may recommend you with:
- Adjustments to your nutrition
- Fluid management
- Correct posture and lifting techniques
- Strategies for addressing constipation
- Additional tips for a better daily life and way of living
Enhancing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adjustments encourages better pelvic floor function and general well-being.
Other pelvic floor therapy techniques may involve therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and more alternatives.
Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Pelvic Floor Therapy in Bloomsdale, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in offering individualized and empathetic treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Bloomsdale, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting beneficial patient results. We realize that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a sensitive and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, empathy, and tailored attention.
We also hold the belief in delivering evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and advanced technology to guide our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we present 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 exploring pelvic floor therapy in Bloomsdale, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Bloomsdale, MO area, all dedicated to achieving your optimal pelvic health.
Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Bloomsdale, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today
Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to impede you from leading your best life. At Axes, our dedicated physio and occupational therapists in Bloomsdale, MO have a singular mission: returning you to the things you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation in your favorite sport or making it challenging to manage your day, we will personalize our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your goals. Schedule an appointment through our website or get in touch with the nearest location to you to embark on your recovery with Axes Physical Therapy in Bloomsdale, MO today.
