Pelvic floor therapy in Florissant, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical pain; it can impact your self-esteem and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from getting back to a beloved sport, beginning parenthood, or just navigating a day with the same assurance and ease you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you need to feel like your best you again. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Florissant, MO can lead to:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced discomfort and inflammation
• Enhanced sexual function and satisfaction
• Increased confidence and quality of life

Axes Physical Therapy in Florissant, MO specializes in creating personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they love most safely and effectively. If you are curious in discovering about pelvic floor therapy or want to schedule 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 reclaim command and assurance in your pelvic health.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

The pelvic floor is a complex of muscles, ligaments, and fibers that form a supportive net-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 external pressure while helping control several vital functions.

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

• Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by providing you command over the contraction and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from descending
• Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports well-functioning sexual function
• Provides support 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 lymphatic circulation, helping 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 openings 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 network of muscles and tissues that constructs a strong base, holding the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from dropping down. It works like a supportive sling to uphold the position and function of pelvic organs.

The main 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 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 important roles. They help in regulating the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the right times and contribute in sexual function and pleasure by providing support to 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 unwinding 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
• Often feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to push out urine or feces
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sex
• Erectile dysfunction and trouble 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 Florissant, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to assisting you recover the joy of participating 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 disappointed, ashamed, or despairing. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a life sentence. With pragmatic treatment plans tailored for you by your Florissant, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and experience a comfortable existence.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can strengthen, improve flexibility of, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The advantages of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Florissant, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can help 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 essential 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 more rigid muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can support in diminishing or eradicating the pain you endure due to 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 readying the pelvic floor for labor, decreasing the likelihood of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with pregnancy and labor.
• Sexual health improvement — By concentrating on specific muscles and addressing any subsurface issues, therapy can enhance sexual arousal, climax, and general sexual health.
• Education and self-management — Your customized pelvic floor therapy plan will not exclusively include monitored exercises. By offering education and guiding you in approaches you can practice independently, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and enables you to maintain a routine that promotes pelvic floor health.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Florissant, MO who can help you in enhancing your pelvic health and performance. Although some instances of pelvic floor dysfunction might necessitate surgical intervention, the majority of patients in Florissant, MO will likely find lasting and meaningful progress through non-invasive physical therapy methods.

What Florissant, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Florissant, MO will involve an examination of your existing pelvic floor health. The remaining sessions will focus on implementing your customized treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. During this phase, your Florissant, MO physical therapist will take the time to familiarize themselves with 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 determine your present condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Florissant, MO may additionally include an internal examination to more determine the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed rather than an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation conducted by your physical therapist will assist in identifying the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the development of an effective treatment plan to help you in getting back 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 create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will include precise goals, exercises, and projected outcomes to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to relax and engage the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Stretching exercises to increase flexibility in tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to develop weak muscles
• Functional training to include new muscle actions into daily tasks

The exercises your Florissant, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will be different based on your unique situation, but will all be aimed at rehabilitating your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your existing health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may initially start with you lying flat on your back and progress to sitting 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 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 utilizes a device to measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to control and align your pelvic floor muscles by giving you live feedback on how they engage and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and relax the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle coordination and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to mark off – it also offers you entrée to expert, evidence-based insights that boost your day-to-day life. Your physical therapist may recommend you with:

• Changes to your nutrition
• Fluid management
• Correct posture and lifting techniques
• Strategies for addressing constipation
• Additional advice for a better daily life and lifestyle

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

Other pelvic floor therapy techniques may include 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 firmly believe in offering personalized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Florissant, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting beneficial patient results. We realize that pelvic floor dysfunction can pose as a sensitive and demanding issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, empathy, and tailored attention.

We also hold the belief in delivering evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and advanced technology to inform our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we provide 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 exploring 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 ideal pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from living your fullest life. At Axes, our dedicated physical and occupational therapists in Florissant, MO have a singular mission: returning you to the activities you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it difficult to get through your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your goals. Schedule an appointment through our website or contact the nearest location to you to start your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in Florissant, MO today.