Pelvic floor therapy in Byrnes Mill, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can affect your self-perception and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from dominating on the grass, beginning parenthood, or just getting through a day with the same assurance and ease you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you require to regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Byrnes Mill, MO can lead to:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Byrnes Mill, MO specializes in designing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they love most securely and effectively. If you are curious in finding out more about pelvic floor therapy or want to schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapusts, please contact us online today or contact to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you restore control and assurance in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that form a supportive web-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 protects organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping control several important functions.

The pelvic floor has numerous 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 healthy sexual function
• Provides support and alignment 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 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 joining 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 resilient foundation, supporting the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from dropping down. It works like a reinforcing sling to maintain 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 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 works to maintain your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have important roles. They help in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the appropriate times and contribute in sexual function and pleasure by providing support to 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 optimal 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 need to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to push out urine or feces
• Pelvic discomfort
• 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 affect anyone deeply, it’s important to remember that proven, evidence-backed treatment plans exist with professional physical therapy in Byrnes Mill, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to assisting you regain the pleasure of engaging 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, ashamed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is far from a life sentence. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Byrnes Mill, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and experience a pain-free life.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can strengthen, stretch, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The advantages of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Byrnes Mill, 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 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 less resilient or less flexible muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can assist in diminishing or eradicating the discomfort you experience 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 delivery, decreasing the likelihood of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor connected to childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By targeting particular muscles and tackling any underlying issues, therapy can improve sexual arousal, orgasm, and overall sexual satisfaction.
• Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By providing information and instructing you in approaches you can utilize at home, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and empowers you to sustain a routine that fosters pelvic floor health.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Byrnes Mill, MO who can help you in enhancing your pelvic health and performance. While some cases of pelvic floor dysfunction might require operative treatment, the majority of patients in Byrnes Mill, MO will find sustained and significant progress through non-invasive physical therapy approaches.

What Byrnes Mill, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Byrnes Mill, MO will involve an examination of your current pelvic floor condition. The following sessions will center around implementing your tailored treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. In this appointment, your Byrnes Mill, MO physical therapist will dedicate time to get to know you and your issues. 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 consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Byrnes Mill, MO may additionally include an internal examination to further assess the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed as an alternative to an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation conducted by your physical therapist will assist in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the development of an optimal treatment plan to help you in returning 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 Byrnes Mill, MO will design a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will incorporate specific goals, techniques, and projected results to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to loosen and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Flexibility exercises to release tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to build up weak muscles
• Functional training to include new muscle patterns into daily activities

The exercises your Byrnes Mill, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will vary based on your specific situation, but will all be aimed at retraining your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your present health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may initially start with you lying down on your back and gradually advance to sitting and upright 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 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 utilizes a device to measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to control and harmonize your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they engage and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and release the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle coordination and control.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to mark off – it also offers you entry to expert, research-supported insights that improve your everyday life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Adjustments to your nutrition
• Liquid control
• Appropriate body alignment and safe lifting methods
• Strategies for addressing constipation
• Additional tips for a better daily life and lifestyle

Complementing the exercises and techniques used in pelvic floor therapy with these adjustments fosters improved pelvic floor function and overall well-being.

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in delivering personalized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Byrnes Mill, 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 sensitive and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, compassion, and tailored attention.

We also embrace the belief in providing evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We utilize up-to-date research and cutting-edge technology to shape our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we provide 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 considering pelvic floor therapy in Byrnes Mill, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Byrnes Mill, MO area, all devoted to achieving your best pelvic health.

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Byrnes Mill, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to hinder you from being the best version of yourself. At Axes, our devoted physical and occupational therapists in Byrnes Mill, MO have a singular mission: returning you to the things you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your playing in your favorite sport or making it difficult to get through your day, we will personalize our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your goals. Request an appointment through our website or contact the nearest location to you to commence your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in Byrnes Mill, MO today.