Pelvic floor therapy in Ethlyn, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical discomfort; it can impact your sense of self and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from dominating on the basketball court, beginning parenthood, or just navigating a day with the same confidence and comfort you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you require to regain your lifestyle. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Ethlyn, MO can help you with:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Ethlyn, MO specializes in creating customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pursuits they enjoy most securely and successfully. If you are curious in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or wish 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.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

The pelvic floor is a complex of muscles, ligaments, and fibers that create a supportive web-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 protects organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping manage several everyday functions.

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

• Helps manage your bladder and bowels by giving you control over the contraction and relaxing of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and stops them from descending
• Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports healthy sexual function
• Provides stability and alignment to the core and back
• During pregnancy, expands to accommodate a growing fetus and assists in childbirth
• Assists in blood and lymph circulation, contributing to maintain vibrant 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 canals 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 resilient foundation, supporting the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from sagging. It works like a supportive sling to preserve 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 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 supports the organs inside your lower belly (iliococcygeus). The coccygeus connects the side and back bones of your pelvis and works to keep your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have essential roles. They help in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the right times and play a part 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 leads to pelvic floor dysfunction.

Causes, Signs, and Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a condition where you experience difficulty unwinding and coordinating 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
• Regularly feeling the urge to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to push out 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 can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or physical ability. While it can have a negative impact on your physical, mental, and emotional health, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Ethlyn, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to helping you regain 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 disappointed, embarrassed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a life sentence. With practical treatment plans tailored for you by your Ethlyn, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and enjoy 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 Ethlyn, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can assist in improving bladder and bowel control, alleviate symptoms of urinary and fecal incontinence, and provide 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 weaker or stiffer muscles and addressing sensitive areas, physical therapy can assist in diminishing or eradicating the pain you endure due to 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 childbirth, decreasing the likelihood of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By focusing on particular muscles and tackling any underlying issues, therapy can boost sexual excitement, orgasm, and overall sexual health.
• Education and self-management — Your customized pelvic floor therapy plan won’t just comprise guided exercises. By providing education and instructing you in approaches you can utilize at home, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and enables you to sustain a way of life that fosters pelvic floor health.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Ethlyn, MO who can assist you in boosting your pelvic health and performance. While certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction might require operative intervention, the majority of individuals in Ethlyn, MO will likely find sustained and meaningful improvement through minimally invasive physical therapy approaches.

What Ethlyn, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Ethlyn, MO will include an evaluation of your current pelvic floor health. The following sessions will center around implementing your customized treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Ethlyn, MO physical therapist will take the time to familiarize themselves with you and your symptoms. They will inquire about your medical history, lifestyle, and goals. Additionally, they will conduct a physical examination and musculoskeletal assessment of your trunk and pelvis to determine your current condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Ethlyn, MO may also involve an internal examination to more assess the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed rather than an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation carried out by your physical therapist will assist in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and enable the development of an optimal 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 Ethlyn, MO will design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will incorporate defined goals, techniques, 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 Ethlyn, MO include:

• Kegel exercises to relax and engage the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to harmonize your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Flexibility exercises to increase flexibility in tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to develop weak muscles
• Functional training to incorporate new muscle actions into everyday tasks

The exercises your Ethlyn, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change based on your specific situation, but will all be aimed at rehabilitating your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your present health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may begin with you lying flat on your back and progress to seated 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 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 makes use of a device to measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to manage and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles by giving you instant feedback on how they contract and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to engage and release the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle integration and command.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to complete – it also provides you with access to expert, research-supported insights that boost your everyday life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Adjustments to your nutrition
• Fluid management
• Correct posture and safe lifting methods
• Tactics for addressing constipation
• Additional advice for a better everyday life and way of living

Enhancing the exercises and techniques used in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations encourages improved pelvic floor function and general well-being.

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in offering individualized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Ethlyn, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting beneficial patient results. We realize that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a sensitive and demanding condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, compassion, and customized attention.

We also embrace the belief in providing evidence-based and holistic care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and state-of-the-art technology to shape our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we offer 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 Ethlyn, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Ethlyn, MO area, all dedicated to realizing your optimal pelvic health.

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Ethlyn, 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 Ethlyn, MO have a singular mission: getting you back to the activities you value the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your playing in your favorite sport or making it demanding 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 most convenient location to you to commence your path with Axes Physical Therapy in Ethlyn, MO today.