Pelvic floor therapy in Campbellton, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can impact your self-esteem and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from returning to a beloved activity, starting a family, or just navigating a day with the same assurance and comfort as before, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you need to regain your lifestyle. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Campbellton, MO can help you achieve:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Campbellton, MO specializes in creating customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they enjoy most safely and effectively. If you are curious in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or wish 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 regain control and confidence in your pelvic health.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that create a supportive hammock-like structure at the bottom 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 safeguards organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping manage several basic functions.

The pelvic floor provides a number of vital functions for the body:

• Helps control your bladder and bowels by giving you command over the contraction and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from prolapsing
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports optimal sexual function
• Provides stability and alignment to the core and back
• During pregnancy, stretches to accommodate a growing fetus and supports vaginal delivery in childbirth
• Assists in blood and lymphatic circulation, helping to maintain 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 linking 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).

Imagine the pelvic floor as a woven web of muscles and tissues that creates a sturdy foundation, supporting the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from sagging. It works like a reinforcing 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 poo (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 crucial roles. They assist in controlling the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the right times and contribute in sexual function and pleasure by providing support to 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 is a condition where you have difficulty relaxing and coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for ideal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Challenges urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are incomplete
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Regularly feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to force out urine or feces
• Pelvic aches
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• 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 Campbellton, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to helping you recover the joy of engaging in the pursuits 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, embarrassed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is far from a life sentence. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Campbellton, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and experience a comfortable existence.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can build strength in, stretch, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The advantages of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Campbellton, 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 the ability to relax and contract the muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting weaker or more rigid muscles and addressing trigger points, physical therapy can support in diminishing or eliminating the pain you feel 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 delivery, minimizing the risk of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and promoting healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By targeting particular muscles and tackling any subsurface issues, therapy can enhance sexual excitement, climax, and overall sexual health.
• 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 at home, your Axes physical therapist helps you engage actively in your own care and enables you to maintain a routine that promotes pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Campbellton, MO who can help you in boosting your pelvic health and function. Although some cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate surgical treatment, most patients in Campbellton, MO will likely find lasting and meaningful progress through minimally invasive physical therapy approaches.

What Campbellton, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Campbellton, MO will involve an assessment of your existing pelvic floor condition. The remaining sessions will emphasize implementing your tailored treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. During this phase, your Campbellton, MO physical therapist will take the time to understand you and your symptoms. They will ask about your medical history, lifestyle, and goals. Additionally, they will perform a physical examination and musculoskeletal assessment of your trunk and pelvis to assess your present condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Campbellton, MO may additionally include an internal examination to further evaluate the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used as an substitute 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 enable the formulation of an effective treatment plan to assist 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 Campbellton, MO will create a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will incorporate specific goals, exercises, and expected outcomes to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to relax and engage the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to sync your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Stretching exercises to loosen tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to build up weak muscles
• Functional training to incorporate new muscle movements into everyday tasks

The exercises your Campbellton, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will differ based on your specific needs, 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 initially start with you lying flat on your back and evolve to sitting and standing 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 makes use of 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 real-time feedback on how they tighten and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and release the muscles appropriately, optimizing your muscle integration and command.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to mark off – it also gives you entrée to skilled, evidence-based insights that enhance your day-to-day life. Your physical therapist may suggest you with:

• Adjustments to your nutrition
• Fluid management
• Appropriate posture and lifting techniques
• Approaches for dealing with constipation
• Further advice for a better daily life and lifestyle

Augmenting the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations fosters improved pelvic floor function and overall well-being.

Other pelvic floor therapy techniques may involve therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and other alternatives.

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in delivering personalized and empathetic treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Campbellton, MO, our practice puts our clients at the center and aims to achieve beneficial patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can pose as a delicate and difficult issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, compassion, and personalized attention.

We also hold the belief in delivering evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and state-of-the-art technology to inform our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we provide 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 considering pelvic floor therapy in Campbellton, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Campbellton, MO area, all committed to attaining your best pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from living your most life. At Axes, our devoted physical and occupational therapists in Campbellton, MO have a singular mission: returning you to the activities you love the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it difficult to navigate your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your goals. Schedule an appointment through our website or reach out to the nearest location to you to commence your recovery with Axes Physical Therapy in Campbellton, MO today.