Pelvic floor therapy in Foley, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can impact your sense of self and independence. 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 comfort as before, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you need to regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Foley, MO can lead to:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Foley, MO specializes in developing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pursuits they enjoy most securely and effectively. If you are curious in finding out more about pelvic floor therapy or desire to book 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 command and confidence in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that constitute a supportive web-like structure at the bottom of the pelvis. It acts like a “floor” or a foundation for the organs in the pelvic area, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor safeguards organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping control several important functions.

The pelvic floor has numerous functions and roles:

• Helps control your bladder and bowels by giving you command over the squeezing and relaxing 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 stability and alignment to the core and back
• During pregnancy, stretches to accommodate a growing fetus and assists in childbirth
• Assists in blood and lymph circulation, helping to maintain 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 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).

Imagine the pelvic floor as a woven network of muscles and tissues that constructs a sturdy base, supporting the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from sagging. It works like a supportive sling to preserve 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 abdomen (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 assist in regulating the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the appropriate times and play a part in sexual function and pleasure 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 is a condition where you experience difficulty relaxing and aligning your pelvic floor muscles for ideal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Difficulty urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are not fully finished
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Often feeling the urge to use the bathroom
• Sensation of needing to push out waste
• Pelvic pain
• 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 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 Foley, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to assisting you regain the joy of engaging in the things 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, ashamed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is far from a permanent condition. With practical treatment plans customized for you by your Foley, 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 positive outcomes of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Foley, 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 essential functioning, such as relaxing and contracting muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting weaker or less flexible muscles and addressing sensitive areas, physical therapy can assist in diminishing or eliminating the discomfort you experience 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 delivery, minimizing the risk of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor connected to pregnancy and labor.
• Sexual health improvement — By targeting particular muscles and tackling any underlying issues, therapy can improve sexual excitement, climax, and general sexual fulfillment.
• Education and self-management — Your personalized pelvic floor therapy plan won’t solely comprise supervised exercises. By offering information and instructing you in approaches you can utilize on your own, your Axes physical therapist helps you engage actively in your own care and enables you to maintain a routine that fosters pelvic floor health.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Foley, MO who can support you in improving your pelvic well-being and performance. While some instances of pelvic floor dysfunction might necessitate surgical correction, most patients in Foley, MO will likely find lasting and substantial progress through minimally invasive physical therapy approaches.

What Foley, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Foley, MO will comprise an evaluation of your existing pelvic floor condition. The remaining sessions will emphasize implementing your customized treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. In this appointment, your Foley, MO physical therapist will dedicate time to get to know 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 assess your present condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Foley, MO may also include an internal examination to further determine the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used as an alternative to an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation performed by your physical therapist will aid in identifying the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the development of an suitable 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 Foley, MO will create a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will incorporate precise goals, techniques, and expected results to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to release and tighten 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 integrate new muscle patterns into daily tasks

The exercises your Foley, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will vary based on your unique needs, but will all be aimed at retraining your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your existing health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may commence with you lying flat on your back and progress 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 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 employs a device to measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to manage and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they contract and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and release the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle integration and command.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to cross off – it also offers you entry to expert, science-backed insights that boost your day-to-day life. Your physical therapist may suggest you with:

• Alterations to your nutrition
• Fluid regulation
• Proper body alignment and lifting techniques
• Tactics for dealing with constipation
• Additional tips for a more wholesome day-to-day life and lifestyle

Enhancing the exercises and techniques used in pelvic floor therapy with these adjustments encourages improved pelvic floor function and overall well-being.

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in providing customized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Foley, MO, our practice places our clients at the center and endeavors to obtain beneficial patient results. We realize that pelvic floor dysfunction can pose as a sensitive and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, compassion, and tailored attention.

We also embrace the belief in offering evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and advanced technology to guide 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 considering pelvic floor therapy in Foley, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Foley, MO area, all committed to attaining your best pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from leading your fullest life. At Axes, our devoted physical and occupational therapists in Foley, MO have a singular 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 personalize our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your ambitions. Request an appointment online or get in touch with the most convenient location to you to start your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Foley, MO today.