Pelvic floor therapy in Hazelwood, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can affect your self-perception and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from dominating on the basketball court, 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 require to regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Hazelwood, MO can help you achieve:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced pain and swelling
• Enhanced sexual performance and pleasure
• Increased confidence and quality of life

Axes Physical Therapy in Hazelwood, MO specializes in designing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they enjoy most securely and effectively. If you are interested in discovering about pelvic floor therapy or wish to book an appointment with one of our physical therapusts, please contact us online today or get in touch to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you regain control and assurance in your pelvic health.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

The pelvic floor is a complex of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that constitute 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 protects organs and your spine from external pressure while helping manage several vital functions.

The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:

• Helps manage your bladder and bowels by providing you control over the contraction and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and stops them from prolapsing
• Resists belly 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 assists in childbirth
• Assists in blood and lymphatic circulation, contributing 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 linking to the hip bones on each side. These muscles have channels or canals 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 strong foundation, supporting the pelvic organs in place and preventing 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 poo (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 works to keep your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have essential roles. They aid in controlling the release of urine and stool by contracting 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 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 optimal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Challenges 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 force 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 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 Hazelwood, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to assisting you recover the joy of participating in the things 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 frustrated, ashamed, or despairing. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans tailored for you by your Hazelwood, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and enjoy a comfortable existence.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can build strength in, stretch, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The positive outcomes of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Hazelwood, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can assist in improving bladder and bowel control, diminish symptoms of urinary and fecal incontinence, and offer 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 weaker or stiffer muscles and addressing trigger points, physical therapy can support in diminishing or getting rid of the pain 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 preparing 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 related to giving birth.
• Sexual health improvement — By targeting particular muscles and tackling any underlying issues, therapy can improve sexual excitement, climax, and overall sexual satisfaction.
• Education and self-management — Your tailored pelvic floor therapy plan will not solely comprise monitored exercises. By providing information and teaching you techniques you can practice independently, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and enables you to sustain a way of life that supports pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Hazelwood, MO who can help you in boosting your pelvic health and performance. Although some cases of pelvic floor dysfunction might require surgical intervention, the majority of patients in Hazelwood, MO will experience long-lasting and substantial improvement through minimally invasive physical therapy approaches.

What Hazelwood, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Hazelwood, MO will include an assessment of your existing pelvic floor health. The subsequent sessions will center around implementing your customized treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Hazelwood, MO physical therapist will dedicate time to familiarize themselves with 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 determine your present condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Hazelwood, MO may also include an internal examination to better evaluate the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used rather than an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation performed by your physical therapist will aid in recognizing the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the development of an optimal treatment plan to assist you in resuming the activities you love.

Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises

Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Hazelwood, MO will design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will incorporate defined goals, techniques, and anticipated outcomes to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to loosen and contract 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 build up weak muscles
• Functional training to incorporate new muscle patterns into everyday tasks

The exercises your Hazelwood, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will differ 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 begin with you lying flat on your back and evolve to seated and standing 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 trigger point therapy (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve mobilization (freeing up compressed nerves), joint mobilizing techniques (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 harmonize your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they engage and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and release the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle alignment and control.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a catalog of exercises to cross off – it also offers you access to professional, evidence-based insights that boost your daily life. Your physical therapist may suggest you with:

• Alterations to your nutrition
• Liquid control
• Proper posture and safe lifting methods
• Tactics for managing constipation
• Additional tips for a healthier daily life and way of living

Complementing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adjustments promotes enhanced 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 additional alternatives.

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in providing individualized and empathetic treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in Hazelwood, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting beneficial 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 highest respect, compassion, and personalized 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 inform 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 Hazelwood, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Hazelwood, MO area, all committed to realizing your ideal pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to hinder you from being the best version of yourself. At Axes, our committed physical and occupational therapists in Hazelwood, MO have a singular mission: getting you back to the things you value the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your playing in your favorite sport or making it challenging to navigate your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your goals. Schedule an appointment online or reach out to the closest location to you to commence your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in Hazelwood, MO today.