Pelvic floor therapy in Fairview Heights, IL. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical pain; it can affect your self-perception and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from returning to a beloved activity, starting a family, or just getting through a day with the same assurance and ease you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you require to regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Fairview Heights, IL can lead to:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Fairview Heights, IL specializes in designing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pursuits they enjoy most securely and effectively. If you are interested in finding out more about pelvic floor therapy or wish to book an appointment with one of our experts, please contact us online today or reach out to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you regain control and assurance in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is a complex of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that form a supportive web-like structure at the bottom of the pelvis. It acts like a “floor” or a base for the organs in the pelvic region, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor safeguards 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 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 prolapsing
• Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports healthy 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 lymphatic circulation, contributing to preserve 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 connecting 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).

Think of the pelvic floor as a woven network of muscles and tissues that forms a sturdy foundation, supporting the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from descending down. 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 helps you to hold in your feces (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 help in regulating the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the right times and contribute in sexual function and pleasure by supporting 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 have difficulty relaxing and coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for optimal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Difficulty urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are incomplete
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Regularly feeling the urge to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to push out waste
• Pelvic discomfort
• Pain during sex
• 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, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Fairview Heights, IL. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to helping you recover the joy 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, embarrassed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a life sentence. With practical treatment plans customized for you by your Fairview Heights, IL physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and experience a comfortable existence.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can strengthen, stretch, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The advantages of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Fairview Heights, IL 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 facilitates vitals 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 less flexible muscles and addressing trigger points, physical therapy can support in lessening or getting rid of the pain you endure resulting from pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Pre- and postpartum care — Pelvic floor therapy is frequently advised for expecting mothers and those who have just given birth. It can assist in preparing the pelvic floor for childbirth, decreasing the risk of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor connected to childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By targeting particular muscles and dealing with any underlying issues, therapy can improve sexual excitement, climax, and general sexual gratification.
• Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By providing education and guiding you in approaches you can try at home, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and empowers you to sustain a routine that supports pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Fairview Heights, IL who can assist you in improving your pelvic health and performance. While certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may require operative correction, most patients in Fairview Heights, IL will likely experience long-lasting and meaningful improvement through less invasive physical therapy methods.

What Fairview Heights, IL Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Fairview Heights, IL will include an evaluation of your existing pelvic floor condition. The subsequent sessions will center around implementing your personalized treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. During this phase, your Fairview Heights, IL 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 determine your current condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Fairview Heights, IL may additionally involve an internal examination to more evaluate the 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 aid in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and enable the development of an effective treatment plan to assist you in returning to the activities you cherish.

Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises

Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Fairview Heights, IL will design a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will incorporate specific goals, techniques, and expected outcomes to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

Improving physical strength and coordination is essential for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Fairview Heights, IL include:

• Kegel exercises to loosen and contract the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to sync your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Stretching exercises to release tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to develop weak muscles
• Functional training to incorporate new muscle patterns into daily tasks

The exercises your Fairview Heights, IL physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will differ based on your particular needs, but will all be aimed at retraining 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 gradually advance to sitting 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 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 measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to manage and harmonize your pelvic floor muscles by giving you live feedback on how they engage and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to engage and release the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle alignment and control.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to mark off – it also provides you with entry to skilled, evidence-based insights that improve your everyday life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Changes to your nutrition
• Liquid management
• Correct posture and lifting techniques
• Tactics for dealing with constipation
• Any other tips for a more wholesome daily life and way of living

Complementing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations promotes 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 additional alternatives.

Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Pelvic Floor Therapy in Fairview Heights, IL

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in offering individualized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in Fairview Heights, IL, our practice places our clients at the center and endeavors to attain 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 utmost respect, empathy, and tailored attention.

We also hold the belief in providing evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We make use of up-to-date research and state-of-the-art 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 considering pelvic floor therapy in Fairview Heights, IL, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Fairview Heights, IL area, all dedicated to realizing your best pelvic health.

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Fairview Heights, IL Pelvic Floor Therapy Today

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to hinder you from being your favorite version of yourself. At Axes, our devoted physical and occupational therapists in Fairview Heights, IL have a singular mission: returning you to the activities you value the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it difficult to navigate your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your ambitions. Request an appointment through our website or reach out to the most convenient location to you to embark on your recovery with Axes Physical Therapy in Fairview Heights, IL today.