Pelvic floor therapy in Farmington, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause hurt; it can impact your sense of self and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from returning to a beloved sport, beginning parenthood, or just navigating a day with the same confidence and ease you used to, 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 Farmington, MO can lead to:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced discomfort and inflammation
• Enhanced sexual function and pleasure
• Increased confidence and well-being

Axes Physical Therapy in Farmington, MO specializes in developing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they enjoy most securely and successfully. If you are interested in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or want to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, please contact us online today or contact to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you reclaim 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 base for the organs in your pelvis, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor safeguards organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping manage several basic functions.

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

• Helps control your bladder and bowels by giving you control over the contraction and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from descending
• 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 sustain 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 joining 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).

Imagine the pelvic floor as a woven network of muscles and tissues that constructs a resilient base, holding the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from sagging. It works like a supportive sling to uphold 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 stool (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 works to keep your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have crucial roles. They aid in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the right times and play a part in sexual function and satisfaction 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 have difficulty unwinding and aligning your pelvic floor muscles for ideal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Trouble urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are not fully finished
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Frequently feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to push out urine or feces
• Pelvic pain
• 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 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 Farmington, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to helping you recover the pleasure of engaging in the pursuits you hold dear 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 despairing. But a diagnosis is far from a life sentence. With pragmatic treatment plans tailored for you by your Farmington, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and enjoy a pain-free existence.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can build strength in, stretch, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The advantages of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Farmington, 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 offer 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 trigger points, physical therapy can assist in diminishing or eliminating the pain you experience caused by 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 labor, decreasing the chance of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with giving birth.
• Sexual health improvement — By concentrating on specific muscles and dealing with any hidden issues, therapy can boost sexual arousal, orgasm, and general sexual gratification.
• Education and self-management — Your personalized pelvic floor therapy plan will not just consist of guided exercises. By offering education and instructing you in approaches you can practice independently, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and enables you to maintain a way of life that fosters pelvic floor health.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Farmington, MO who can support you in boosting your pelvic health and performance. While certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction might require operative correction, most individuals in Farmington, MO will experience long-lasting and meaningful improvement through less invasive physical therapy approaches.

What Farmington, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Farmington, MO will comprise an examination of your current pelvic floor health. The remaining sessions will center around implementing your tailored treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Farmington, MO physical therapist will spend time to get to know you and your issues. They will ask 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 Farmington, MO may additionally include an internal examination to more assess the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be utilized rather than an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation carried out by your physical therapist will help in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the formulation of an suitable treatment plan to help you in getting back 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 Farmington, MO will design a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will include precise goals, exercises, and anticipated outcomes to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

Improving strength and coordination is crucial for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Farmington, MO include:

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

The exercises your Farmington, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will vary based on your specific situation, but will all be aimed at reconditioning your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your existing health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may commence with you reclining on your back and gradually advance to seated and upright 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 myofascial release (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve decompression (freeing up compressed nerves), joint mobilization (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 gauge 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 instant feedback on how they tighten and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and release the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle alignment and command.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to cross off – it also offers you entrée to professional, research-supported insights that enhance your daily life. Your physical therapist may recommend you with:

• Adjustments to your nutrition
• Fluid management
• Correct posture and safe lifting methods
• Tactics for dealing with constipation
• Additional recommendations for a better daily life and lifestyle

Enhancing the exercises and techniques utilized in pelvic floor therapy with these adjustments fosters better pelvic floor function and overall 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 Farmington, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in offering personalized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Farmington, MO, our practice places our clients at the center and aims to obtain beneficial patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a delicate and demanding issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the greatest respect, compassion, and customized attention.

We also subscribe to the belief in delivering evidence-based and holistic care to our patients. We make use of up-to-date research and cutting-edge 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 interested in trying pelvic floor therapy in Farmington, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Farmington, MO area, all devoted to realizing your ideal pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to hinder you from being the best version of yourself. At Axes, our devoted physical and occupational therapists in Farmington, MO have a singular mission: returning you to the things you love the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation 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 aspirations. Request an appointment online or reach out to the nearest location to you to embark on your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Farmington, MO today.