Pelvic floor therapy in Dellwood, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause hurt; it can affect your sense of self and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from dominating on the grass, beginning parenthood, or just navigating a day with the same confidence and comfort as before, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you require to feel like your best you again. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Dellwood, MO can help you achieve:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced pain and swelling
• Enhanced sexual performance and satisfaction
• Increased self-assurance and well-being

Axes Physical Therapy in Dellwood, MO specializes in designing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they enjoy most securely and successfully. If you are interested in discovering about pelvic floor therapy or want to book 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 regain command and assurance in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is a complex of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that create a supportive net-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 shields organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping control several important functions.

The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:

• Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by giving you command over the squeezing and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from descending
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports optimal sexual function
• Provides sturdiness 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, contributing to maintain vibrant tissue

Pelvic Floor Anatomy

The pelvic floor muscles stretch 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 openings or canals for the urethra (through which urine is passed), the vagina, and the anus (through which stool is passed).

Picture the pelvic floor as a woven network of muscles and tissues that creates a strong foundation, holding 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 poo (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 helps to keep your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have essential roles. They aid in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the correct times and contribute in sexual function and pleasure by supporting 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 occurs when you experience difficulty relaxing and coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for ideal 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
• Feeling like you need to strain 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 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 Dellwood, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to assisting you regain the pleasure of participating in the pursuits 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 frustrated, ashamed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a life sentence. With practical treatment plans tailored for you by your Dellwood, 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 positive outcomes of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Dellwood, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can help 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 promotes vitals functioning, such as the ability to relax and contract the 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 support in diminishing or getting rid of the pain you feel caused by pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Pre- and postpartum care — Pelvic floor therapy is frequently advised during pregnancy and following childbirth. It can aid in preparing the pelvic floor for labor, reducing 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 concentrating on specific muscles and dealing with any subsurface issues, therapy can improve sexual excitement, 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 approaches you can practice independently, 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 wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Dellwood, MO who can help you in boosting your pelvic health and performance. Although certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may require operative correction, the majority of individuals in Dellwood, MO will find sustained and significant progress through less invasive physical therapy methods.

What Dellwood, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Dellwood, MO will comprise an assessment of your current pelvic floor health. The remaining sessions will focus on implementing your customized treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. During this phase, your Dellwood, MO physical therapist will spend time to understand you and your issues. 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 evaluate your present condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Dellwood, MO may additionally involve an internal examination to more evaluate the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used rather than an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation conducted by your physical therapist will help in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support the creation of an suitable 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 Dellwood, MO will create a personalized treatment plan tailored 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 crucial for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Dellwood, MO include:

• Kegel exercises to release and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to harmonize your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Stretching exercises to loosen tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to develop weak muscles
• Functional training to include new muscle actions into everyday tasks

The exercises your Dellwood, 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 present health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may initially start with you lying down 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 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 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 harmonize your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they engage and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to engage and release the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle integration and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to cross off – it also gives you entry to professional, research-supported insights that boost your everyday life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Changes to your nutrition
• Fluid regulation
• Proper body alignment and safe lifting methods
• Tactics for addressing constipation
• Additional recommendations for a better daily life and way of living

Enhancing the exercises and techniques used in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations promotes enhanced 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 other alternatives.

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in offering individualized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Dellwood, MO, our practice places our clients at the center and aims to attain beneficial patient results. We realize that pelvic floor dysfunction can present as a delicate and demanding condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, empathy, and tailored attention.

We also hold the belief in providing evidence-based and comprehensive care to our patients. We utilize 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 complement your pelvic floor therapy, including:

• Orthopedic rehab
• Sports physical therapy
• Neurological physical therapy
• Geriatric physical therapy
• Pre- or post-surgery rehab

If you are interested in trying pelvic floor therapy in Dellwood, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Dellwood, MO area, all committed to attaining your optimal pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to impede you from being the best version of yourself. At Axes, our dedicated physical and occupational therapists in Dellwood, MO have a unified mission: getting you back to the things you value the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it difficult to manage your day, we will personalize our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your ambitions. Request an appointment online or reach out to the most convenient location to you to start your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in Dellwood, MO today.