Pelvic floor therapy in House Springs, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical pain; it can affect your self-perception and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from returning to a beloved activity, beginning parenthood, or just getting through a day with the same confidence and ease you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you need to regain your lifestyle. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in House Springs, MO can help you with:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced pain and inflammation
• Enhanced sexual function and satisfaction
• Increased confidence and well-being

Axes Physical Therapy in House Springs, 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 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 get in touch to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you restore command and confidence in your pelvic health.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that create a supportive hammock-like structure at the bottom of the pelvis. It acts like a “floor” or a base for the organs in your pelvis, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor protects organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping manage several everyday functions.

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

• Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by giving you command over the squeezing and relaxing of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from prolapsing
• Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports optimal sexual function
• Provides stability and alignment 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 healthy tissue

Pelvic Floor Anatomy

The pelvic floor muscles extend 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 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 web of muscles and tissues that constructs a strong base, supporting the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from sagging. 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 helps 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 supports 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 aid in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the right 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 weakened 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 coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for optimal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Trouble urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are not fully finished
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Frequently feeling the urge to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to strain waste
• Pelvic aches
• 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 affect anyone deeply, it’s important to remember that proven, evidence-backed treatment plans exist with professional physical therapy in House Springs, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to assisting you regain the joy of participating in the things you hold dear 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 far from a life sentence. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your House Springs, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and enjoy a pain-free life.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can build strength in, stretch, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The benefits of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in House Springs, 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 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 resilient or less flexible muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can assist in diminishing or eradicating the discomfort you endure resulting from 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 delivery, minimizing the risk of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and promoting recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with giving birth.
• Sexual health improvement — By concentrating on specific muscles and addressing any hidden issues, therapy can enhance sexual excitement, climax, and overall sexual satisfaction.
• Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By providing information and instructing you in approaches you can practice independently, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and empowers you to maintain a lifestyle that fosters pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in House Springs, MO who can help you in enhancing your pelvic health and function. While certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may require surgical intervention, most individuals in House Springs, MO will experience long-lasting and significant improvement through minimally invasive physical therapy approaches.

What House Springs, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in House Springs, MO will involve an examination of your current pelvic floor health. The following sessions will emphasize implementing your tailored treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your House Springs, MO physical therapist will dedicate time to understand you and your symptoms. They will inquire 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 current condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in House Springs, MO may additionally involve an internal examination to further assess the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used rather than an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation conducted by your physical therapist will help in recognizing the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the creation of an effective treatment plan to help you in getting back to the activities you love.

Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises

Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in House Springs, MO will develop a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will incorporate precise goals, exercises, and anticipated results to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to relax and contract the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to harmonize your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Stretching exercises to loosen tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to strengthen weak muscles
• Functional training to integrate new muscle patterns into routine tasks

The exercises your House Springs, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change based on your particular needs, but will all be aimed at reconditioning your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your current health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may begin with you reclining on your back and progress 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 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 harmonize your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they contract and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and relax the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle coordination and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to cross off – it also provides you with entry to professional, evidence-based insights that improve your everyday life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Adjustments to your eating habits
• Liquid control
• Appropriate posture and lifting techniques
• Tactics for addressing constipation
• Additional recommendations for a better daily life and lifestyle

Enhancing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations 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 House Springs, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in offering individualized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in House Springs, MO, our practice puts our clients at the center and endeavors to attain beneficial patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a delicate and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, compassion, and personalized attention.

We also hold the belief in offering evidence-based and comprehensive 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 present 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 House Springs, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the House Springs, MO area, all committed to achieving your optimal pelvic health.

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your House Springs, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to prevent you from being your favorite version of yourself. At Axes, our dedicated physio and occupational therapists in House Springs, MO have a singular mission: returning you to the things you value the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your playing in your favorite sport or making it demanding to get through your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your aspirations. Request an appointment online or reach out to the most convenient location to you to commence your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in House Springs, MO today.