Pelvic floor therapy in Bridgeton, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical discomfort; it can impact your self-esteem and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from dominating on the basketball court, beginning parenthood, or just getting through a day with the same confidence and comfort you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you need to regain your lifestyle. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Bridgeton, MO can help you achieve:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Bridgeton, MO specializes in developing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they love most safely and successfully. If you are curious in gaining more information about pelvic floor therapy or want to book 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.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that create a supportive hammock-like structure at the base of the pelvis. It acts like a “floor” or a foundation for the organs in the pelvic region, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor shields organs and your spine from external pressure while helping manage several everyday functions.

The pelvic floor has numerous functions and roles:

• Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by providing you control over the contraction and relaxing of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from descending
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports well-functioning sexual function
• Provides stability and alignment to the core and back
• During pregnancy, expands 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 span from the tailbone at the back to the pubic bone at the front, while also joining 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).

Imagine the pelvic floor as a woven web of muscles and tissues that forms a resilient base, holding the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from sagging. It works like a reinforcing sling to uphold 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 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 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 important roles. They assist in regulating the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the correct times and contribute in sexual function and satisfaction by providing support to the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is weakened or becomes too tense, it results in pelvic floor dysfunction.

Causes, Signs, and Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a condition where you experience difficulty relaxing and aligning your pelvic floor muscles for ideal 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 push out waste
• Pelvic discomfort
• 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 can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or physical ability. While it can affect anyone deeply, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Bridgeton, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to assisting you recover the pleasure of participating in the things you love 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 hopeless. But a diagnosis is far from a permanent condition. With practical treatment plans tailored for you by your Bridgeton, 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, stretch, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The benefits of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Bridgeton, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can help 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 supports vitals functioning, such as relaxing and contracting muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting weaker or more rigid muscles and addressing sensitive areas, physical therapy can assist in reducing or eradicating the pain you feel due to 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 assist in preparing the pelvic floor for delivery, minimizing the chance of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to giving birth.
• Sexual health improvement — By focusing on specific muscles and addressing any underlying issues, therapy can boost sexual arousal, climax, and overall sexual gratification.
• Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By providing information and teaching you methods you can utilize independently, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and empowers you to sustain a lifestyle that supports pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Bridgeton, MO who can support you in enhancing your pelvic well-being and function. While some instances of pelvic floor dysfunction might necessitate operative correction, the majority of individuals in Bridgeton, MO will likely find sustained and substantial improvement through non-invasive physical therapy approaches.

What Bridgeton, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Bridgeton, MO will comprise an evaluation of your existing pelvic floor health. The following sessions will focus on implementing your personalized treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Bridgeton, 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 present condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Bridgeton, MO may additionally include an internal examination to more evaluate the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used as an substitute to an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation carried out by your physical therapist will assist in identifying the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support the creation of an optimal treatment plan to assist you in resuming the activities you love.

Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises

Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Bridgeton, MO will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will incorporate defined goals, exercises, and projected results to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to release and contract the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Flexibility exercises to loosen tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to develop weak muscles
• Functional training to incorporate new muscle actions into routine tasks

The exercises your Bridgeton, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will differ based on your unique situation, but will all be aimed at retraining your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your existing health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may begin with you lying flat on your back and evolve to seated 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 manipulating specific areas of your pelvis. It may include trigger point therapy (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve mobilization (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 makes use of a device to measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you understand how to control and harmonize your pelvic floor muscles by giving you instant feedback on how they tighten and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to engage and release the muscles appropriately, optimizing your muscle alignment and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to complete – it also provides you with entrée to expert, science-backed insights that enhance your daily life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Alterations to your nutrition
• Fluid regulation
• Correct posture and lifting techniques
• Strategies for managing constipation
• Any other tips for a healthier daily life and way of living

Complementing the exercises and techniques utilized in pelvic floor therapy with these modifications promotes better 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 Bridgeton, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in delivering individualized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Bridgeton, MO, our practice places our clients at the center and strives to achieve beneficial patient results. We comprehend that pelvic floor dysfunction can pose as a challenging and difficult issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, compassion, and customized attention.

We also embrace the belief in providing evidence-based and holistic care to our patients. We utilize up-to-date research and state-of-the-art technology to shape 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 Bridgeton, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Bridgeton, MO area, all committed to attaining your best pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to impede you from living your best life. At Axes, our devoted physical and occupational therapists in Bridgeton, MO have a unified mission: getting you back to the things you love the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it demanding to navigate your day, we will personalize our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your ambitions. Request an appointment through our website or reach out to the most convenient location to you to start your path with Axes Physical Therapy in Bridgeton, MO today.