Pelvic floor therapy in Festus, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause hurt; it can affect your self-perception and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from returning to a beloved activity, beginning parenthood, or just navigating a day with the same confidence and ease as before, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you need to regain your lifestyle. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Festus, MO can lead to:
- Improved bladder and bowel control
- Reduced discomfort and inflammation
- Enhanced sexual performance and satisfaction
- Increased self-assurance and quality of life
Axes Physical Therapy in Festus, 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 gaining more information about pelvic floor therapy or want to arrange an appointment with one of our physical therapusts, please contact us online today or contact to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you restore control and assurance in your pelvic health.
How the Pelvic Floor Works
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and fibers that create a supportive net-like structure at the base of the pelvis. It acts like a “floor” or a base for the organs in the pelvic area, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor shields organs and your spine from external pressure while helping control several important functions.
The pelvic floor has numerous functions and roles:
- Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by giving you authority over the squeezing and release of muscles
- Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from descending
- Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
- Supports optimal sexual function
- Provides sturdiness 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, helping 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 joining to the hip bones on each side. These muscles have openings or passages 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 sturdy foundation, holding the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from descending down. 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 lower belly (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 regulating the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the appropriate times and contribute in sexual function and satisfaction by supporting the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is weakened or becomes too tense, it leads to 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
- Trouble 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
- Sensation of needing to force out urine or feces
- Pelvic aches
- Pain during sex
- 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 doesn’t just affect people of a single certain age, gender or physical ability. While it can affect anyone deeply, it’s important to remember that proven, evidence-backed treatment plans exist with professional physical therapy in Festus, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to assisting you recover the pleasure of participating 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 despairing. But a diagnosis is far from a permanent condition. With practical treatment plans tailored for you by your Festus, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and enjoy 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 Festus, 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 offer better support for the pelvic organs.
- Improved pelvic floor muscle coordination — Enhancing coordination supports vitals functioning, such as the ability to relax and contract the muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
- Pain management — By targeting weaker or less flexible muscles and addressing sensitive areas, physical therapy can support in reducing or eliminating the pain you experience 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, minimizing the risk of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with giving birth.
- Sexual health improvement — By concentrating on particular muscles and addressing any subsurface issues, therapy can improve sexual excitement, climax, and overall sexual fulfillment.
- Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By providing information and teaching you techniques you can practice autonomously, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and empowers you to maintain a routine that supports pelvic floor health.
At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Festus, MO who can support you in improving your pelvic well-being and function. Although certain instances of pelvic floor dysfunction may require surgical correction, most patients in Festus, MO will find sustained and substantial improvement through less invasive physical therapy techniques.
What Festus, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves
Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Festus, 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 evaluation. During this phase, your Festus, MO physical therapist will dedicate time to get to know 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 current condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Festus, MO may additionally involve an internal examination to more evaluate the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be utilized instead of an internal examination.
The assessment and evaluation conducted by your physical therapist will assist in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support the formulation of an optimal treatment plan to assist 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 Festus, MO will design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will incorporate precise goals, techniques, and projected results to guide your therapy.
Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy
Improving muscle strength and balance is crucial for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Festus, MO include:
- Kegel exercises to loosen and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
- Diaphragmatic breathing to sync your breath with your pelvic floor motion
- Flexibility exercises to loosen tight muscles
- Strengthening exercises to build up weak muscles
- Functional training to integrate new muscle actions into daily tasks
The exercises your Festus, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change 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 lying down on your back and gradually advance 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 manipulating specific areas of your pelvis. It may include trigger point therapy (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 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 understand how to manage and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles by giving you instant feedback on how they tighten and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to engage and release the muscles appropriately, optimizing your muscle integration and mastery.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications
Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to mark off – it also gives you access to professional, evidence-based insights that improve your daily life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:
- Changes to your nutrition
- Liquid management
- Correct body alignment and safe lifting methods
- Strategies for addressing constipation
- Further advice for a more wholesome daily life and way of living
Augmenting the exercises and techniques used in pelvic floor therapy with these modifications promotes improved pelvic floor function and general well-being.
Other pelvic floor therapy techniques may involve therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and additional alternatives.
Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Pelvic Floor Therapy in Festus, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in delivering customized and empathetic treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in Festus, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting beneficial patient results. We realize that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a challenging and demanding issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, compassion, and customized attention.
We also embrace the belief in providing evidence-based and comprehensive 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 present a range of other physical therapy services that can supplement 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 Festus, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Festus, MO area, all dedicated to realizing your ideal pelvic health.
Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Festus, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today
Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to hinder you from leading your most life. At Axes, our devoted physio and occupational therapists in Festus, MO have a sole mission: returning you to the things you treasure the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation in your favorite sport or making it challenging to navigate your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your aspirations. Schedule an appointment through our website or contact the nearest location to you to embark on your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Festus, MO today.
