Pelvic floor therapy in Dittmer, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical pain; it can affect your sense of self and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from getting back to a favorite activity, beginning parenthood, or just getting through a day with the same confidence and comfort as before, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you need to feel like your best you again. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Dittmer, MO can lead to:
- Improved bladder and bowel control
- Reduced discomfort and swelling
- Enhanced sexual function and pleasure
- Increased self-assurance and well-being
Axes Physical Therapy in Dittmer, MO specializes in developing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they love most securely and effectively. If you are curious in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or want to arrange an appointment with one of our specialists, please contact us online today or reach out 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 net-like structure at the bottom of the pelvis. It acts like a “floor” or a foundation 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 manage several vital functions.
The pelvic floor provides a number of vital functions for the body:
- Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by giving you command over the squeezing and relaxing of muscles
- Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from prolapsing
- Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
- Supports well-functioning sexual function
- Provides stability and posture 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 preserve 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 connecting 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).
Think of the pelvic floor as a woven network of muscles and tissues that constructs a sturdy foundation, holding the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from sagging. It works like a reinforcing sling to maintain the position and function of pelvic organs.
The primary 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 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 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 regulating the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the right times and play a part 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 unwinding 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 need to use the bathroom
- Feeling like you need to push out urine or feces
- Pelvic aches
- 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 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 Dittmer, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted 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 disappointed, ashamed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is far from a permanent condition. With practical treatment plans customized for you by your Dittmer, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and experience a comfortable life.
Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can strengthen, improve flexibility of, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The benefits of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Dittmer, 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 facilitates essential 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 trigger points, physical therapy can assist in reducing or eradicating the pain you endure resulting from 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 childbirth, minimizing the chance of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with giving birth.
- Sexual health improvement — By concentrating on particular muscles and tackling any underlying issues, therapy can enhance 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 instructing you in methods you can try on your own, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and empowers you to maintain a lifestyle that promotes pelvic floor wellness.
At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Dittmer, MO who can assist you in improving your pelvic health and function. While some instances of pelvic floor dysfunction might require operative treatment, most patients in Dittmer, MO will likely find long-lasting and significant progress through minimally invasive physical therapy techniques.
What Dittmer, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves
Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Dittmer, MO will include an evaluation of your current pelvic floor condition. The following sessions will focus on implementing your personalized treatment plan.
Assessment and Evaluation
The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. During this phase, your Dittmer, MO physical therapist will take the 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 determine your current condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Dittmer, MO may additionally include an internal examination to more evaluate the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed rather than an internal examination.
The assessment and evaluation performed by your physical therapist will aid in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support the development of an effective treatment plan to help you in getting back to the activities you love.
Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises
Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Dittmer, MO will create a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will incorporate precise goals, exercises, and anticipated results to guide your therapy.
Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy
Improving muscle strength and coordination is crucial for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Dittmer, 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 loosen tight muscles
- Resistance exercises to strengthen weak muscles
- Functional training to include new muscle movements into everyday activities
The exercises your Dittmer, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will vary based on your particular 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 commence with you lying flat on your back and evolve to seated and standing 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 trigger point therapy (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve decompression (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 measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to control and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles by giving you instant feedback on how they tighten and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and release the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle integration and mastery.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications
Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to cross off – it also provides you with entrée to professional, science-backed insights that boost your daily life. Your physical therapist may recommend you with:
- Changes to your nutrition
- Fluid control
- Correct body alignment and lifting techniques
- Approaches for dealing with constipation
- Further tips for a more wholesome daily life and way of living
Complementing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these modifications encourages better pelvic floor function and general well-being.
Other methods in pelvic floor therapy may incorporate therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and more alternatives.
Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Pelvic Floor Therapy in Dittmer, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in offering individualized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Dittmer, MO, our practice places our clients at the center and endeavors to attain favorable patient results. We comprehend that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a delicate and demanding issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the greatest respect, empathy, and tailored attention.
We also embrace the belief in delivering evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We utilize 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 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 interested in trying pelvic floor therapy in Dittmer, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Dittmer, MO area, all committed to realizing your best pelvic health.
Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Dittmer, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today
Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to prevent you from being your favorite version of yourself. At Axes, our dedicated physical and occupational therapists in Dittmer, MO have a unified mission: returning you to the activities you treasure the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your playing in your favorite sport or making it difficult to navigate your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your goals. Request an appointment online or get in touch with the closest location to you to embark on your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Dittmer, MO today.
