Pelvic floor therapy in Dardenne Prairie, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can impact your sense of self and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from returning to a beloved sport, starting a family, or just navigating a day with the same assurance and comfort you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you need to feel like your best you again. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Dardenne Prairie, MO can help you experience:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Dardenne Prairie, MO specializes in designing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they love most safely and effectively. If you are curious in finding out more about pelvic floor therapy or wish to arrange 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 reclaim control and confidence in your pelvic health.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

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

The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:

• Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by giving you control over the contraction and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from descending
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports well-functioning sexual function
• Provides support 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 lymph circulation, helping to maintain 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 joining to the hip bones on each side. These muscles have passageways 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 forms a sturdy foundation, supporting the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from sagging. It works like a supportive sling to preserve 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 helps you to hold in your stool (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 works to maintain your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have essential roles. They assist in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening 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 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 coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for optimal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Challenges 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
• Sensation of needing to strain urine or feces
• Pelvic pain
• 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 affect anyone deeply, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Dardenne Prairie, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to helping you regain the pleasure of participating in the activities 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 disappointed, embarrassed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans tailored for you by your Dardenne Prairie, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and enjoy a comfortable 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 Dardenne Prairie, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can aid 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 supports essential functioning, such as the ability to relax and contract the muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting less strong or more rigid muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can aid in lessening or getting rid of the discomfort you feel 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 delivery, decreasing the risk of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to pregnancy and labor.
• Sexual health improvement — By targeting particular muscles and tackling any hidden issues, therapy can enhance sexual excitement, climax, and overall sexual satisfaction.
• Education and self-management — Your customized pelvic floor therapy plan won’t solely include guided exercises. By providing education and guiding you in approaches you can practice on your own, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and empowers you to maintain a lifestyle that supports pelvic floor health.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Dardenne Prairie, MO who can assist you in boosting your pelvic well-being and function. While some cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate surgical intervention, the majority of individuals in Dardenne Prairie, MO will likely find sustained and substantial improvement through less invasive physical therapy approaches.

What Dardenne Prairie, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Dardenne Prairie, MO will involve an assessment of your current pelvic floor health. The subsequent sessions will focus on implementing your personalized treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. During this phase, your Dardenne Prairie, 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 Dardenne Prairie, MO may additionally include an internal examination to further assess the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be utilized as an substitute to an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation performed by your physical therapist will help in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and enable the creation of an suitable treatment plan to help 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 Dardenne Prairie, MO will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will incorporate defined goals, techniques, and projected results to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to release and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to harmonize your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Stretching exercises to increase flexibility in tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to develop weak muscles
• Functional training to incorporate new muscle actions into everyday activities

The exercises your Dardenne Prairie, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will be different based on your specific situation, but will all be aimed at reconditioning your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your current health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may initially start with you reclining 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 trigger point therapy (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve release (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 utilizes a device to measure 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 live feedback on how they tighten and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and relax the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle alignment and control.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to cross off – it also gives you access to expert, science-backed insights that boost your everyday life. Your physical therapist may recommend you with:

• Changes to your nutrition
• Liquid control
• Proper body alignment and safe lifting methods
• Tactics for addressing constipation
• Further advice for a more wholesome day-to-day life and lifestyle

Complementing the exercises and techniques utilized in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations encourages improved pelvic floor function and overall well-being.

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in providing customized and empathetic treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Dardenne Prairie, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting beneficial patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a challenging and difficult issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, compassion, and customized attention.

We also subscribe to the belief in offering evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We make use of up-to-date research and cutting-edge technology to guide our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we present 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 exploring pelvic floor therapy in Dardenne Prairie, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Dardenne Prairie, MO area, all dedicated to achieving your best pelvic health.

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Dardenne Prairie, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to hinder you from being the best version of yourself. At Axes, our committed physio and occupational therapists in Dardenne Prairie, MO have a unified mission: getting you back to the activities you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation in your favorite sport or making it challenging to navigate your day, we will personalize our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your aspirations. Schedule an appointment through our website or get in touch with the most convenient location to you to commence your path with Axes Physical Therapy in Dardenne Prairie, MO today.