Pelvic floor therapy in Florissant, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can affect your sense of self and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from getting back to a beloved activity, starting a family, or just getting through a day with the same assurance and comfort you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you need to regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Florissant, MO can lead to:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced discomfort and swelling
• Enhanced sexual performance and satisfaction
• Increased self-assurance and quality of life

Axes Physical Therapy in Florissant, MO specializes in developing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they enjoy most safely and effectively. If you are curious in discovering about pelvic floor therapy or wish 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 regain control and confidence 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 base 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 external pressure while helping control several vital functions.

The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:

• Helps manage your bladder and bowels by giving you authority over the contraction and relaxing of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from prolapsing
• Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports healthy sexual function
• Provides stability and posture to the core and back
• During pregnancy, expands to accommodate a growing fetus and supports vaginal delivery in childbirth
• Assists in blood and lymph circulation, contributing to sustain vibrant tissue

Pelvic Floor Anatomy

The pelvic floor muscles stretch 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 passageways or passages 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 mesh of muscles and tissues that creates a strong foundation, holding the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from sagging. It works like a reinforcing sling to maintain 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 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 important roles. They help in controlling the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the right times and contribute 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 experience difficulty unwinding and coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for ideal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Challenges urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are incomplete
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Frequently feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to strain waste
• Pelvic aches
• Pain during sex
• Erectile dysfunction and trouble 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 affect anyone deeply, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Florissant, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to assisting you recover the pleasure of engaging in the activities you cherish 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 despairing. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Florissant, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and enjoy a comfortable existence.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can build strength in, improve flexibility of, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The benefits of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Florissant, MO 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 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 painful spots, physical therapy can assist in lessening or getting rid of the discomfort 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 readying the pelvic floor for labor, minimizing the chance of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By focusing on specific muscles and addressing any underlying issues, therapy can improve sexual excitement, orgasm, and general sexual health.
• Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By offering education and teaching you approaches you can practice independently, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and empowers you to maintain a lifestyle that supports pelvic floor health.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Florissant, MO who can help you in boosting your pelvic well-being and performance. While certain instances of pelvic floor dysfunction might require surgical treatment, most individuals in Florissant, MO will find sustained and substantial progress through minimally invasive physical therapy techniques.

What Florissant, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Florissant, MO will comprise an evaluation of your current pelvic floor health. The remaining sessions will emphasize implementing your tailored treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Florissant, 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 conduct a physical examination and musculoskeletal assessment of your trunk and pelvis to assess your current condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Florissant, MO may also include an internal examination to further evaluate the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be utilized as an alternative to an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation conducted by your physical therapist will help in identifying the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and enable the formulation of an effective treatment plan to help 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 Florissant, MO will design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will incorporate specific goals, techniques, and anticipated results to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to relax and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Stretching exercises to release tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to develop weak muscles
• Functional training to include new muscle movements into routine tasks

The exercises your Florissant, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will vary based on your particular situation, but will all be aimed at reconditioning your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your present health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may commence with you lying flat on your back and gradually advance 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 massaging specific areas of your pelvis. It may include trigger point therapy (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve mobilization (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 makes use of a device to gauge and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to regulate and harmonize your pelvic floor muscles by giving you live feedback on how they contract and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and relax the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle coordination and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

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

• Adjustments to your nutrition
• Liquid regulation
• Proper posture and lifting techniques
• Strategies for managing constipation
• Further recommendations for a more wholesome day-to-day life and lifestyle

Enhancing the exercises and techniques utilized in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations encourages enhanced pelvic floor function and overall well-being.

Other pelvic floor therapy techniques may incorporate therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and other alternatives.

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in delivering customized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Florissant, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting favorable patient results. We realize that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a sensitive and demanding issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the greatest respect, compassion, and tailored attention.

We also hold the belief in offering evidence-based and holistic 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 offer a range of other physical therapy services that can complement 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 Florissant, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Florissant, MO area, all dedicated to realizing your best pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to hinder you from leading your most life. At Axes, our committed physio and occupational therapists in Florissant, MO have a unified mission: getting you back to the things you treasure the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your playing in your favorite sport or making it difficult to get through your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan exclusively to you and your ambitions. Request an appointment online or get in touch with the most convenient location to you to commence your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in Florissant, MO today.