Pelvic floor therapy in Imperial, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can affect your self-esteem and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from dominating on the field, beginning parenthood, or just navigating 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 evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Imperial, MO can lead to:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced discomfort and inflammation
• Enhanced sexual performance and pleasure
• Increased self-assurance and well-being

Axes Physical Therapy in Imperial, MO specializes in creating customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pursuits they love most safely and effectively. If you are curious in discovering about pelvic floor therapy or want to book an appointment with one of our physical therapusts, please contact us online today or reach out to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you regain command and confidence in your pelvic health.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints 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 your pelvis, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor protects organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping control several everyday functions.

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

• Helps manage your bladder and bowels by giving you command over the contraction and relaxing of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and stops them from prolapsing
• Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports well-functioning sexual function
• Provides sturdiness and alignment 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 preserve vibrant 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 openings or canals for the urethra (through which urine is passed), the vagina, and the anus (through which stool is passed).

Think of the pelvic floor as a woven web of muscles and tissues that creates a resilient base, supporting the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from dropping down. It works like a supportive sling to preserve 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 assists 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 aid in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the appropriate times and contribute in sexual function and satisfaction by supporting 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 have difficulty relaxing and aligning your pelvic floor muscles for ideal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Challenges urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are not fully finished
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Regularly feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to push out waste
• Pelvic aches
• 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 doesn’t just affect people of a single certain age, gender or physical ability. While it can have a negative impact on your physical, mental, and emotional health, it’s important to remember that proven, evidence-backed treatment plans exist with professional physical therapy in Imperial, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to helping you recover 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 disappointed, embarrassed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is far from a life sentence. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Imperial, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and experience a comfortable existence.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can strengthen, stretch, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The benefits of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Imperial, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can assist in improving bladder and bowel control, alleviate symptoms of urinary and fecal incontinence, and offer better support for the pelvic organs.
• Improved pelvic floor muscle coordination — Enhancing coordination supports vitals 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 aid in reducing or eliminating the discomfort you endure caused by pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Pre- and postpartum care — Pelvic floor therapy is frequently advised during pregnancy and following childbirth. It can aid in preparing the pelvic floor for labor, reducing the risk of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with pregnancy and labor.
• Sexual health improvement — By targeting specific muscles and addressing any subsurface issues, therapy can boost sexual arousal, orgasm, and general sexual satisfaction.
• Education and self-management — Your personalized pelvic floor therapy plan will not solely include guided exercises. By providing information and teaching you approaches you can try autonomously, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and enables you to maintain a lifestyle that fosters pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Imperial, MO who can support you in enhancing your pelvic well-being and function. While certain instances of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate operative correction, the majority of individuals in Imperial, MO will find long-lasting and significant improvement through minimally invasive physical therapy techniques.

What Imperial, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Imperial, MO will involve an assessment of your current pelvic floor health. The following sessions will focus on implementing your personalized treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Imperial, MO physical therapist will spend time to familiarize themselves with 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 evaluate your present condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Imperial, MO may additionally include an internal examination to further assess the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used instead of an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation performed by your physical therapist will assist in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support the creation of an optimal treatment plan to assist you in returning 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 Imperial, MO will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will include precise goals, techniques, and anticipated outcomes 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 Imperial, MO include:

• Kegel exercises to loosen and contract the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to harmonize your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Flexibility exercises to release tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to develop weak muscles
• Functional training to incorporate new muscle patterns into daily tasks

The exercises your Imperial, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will be different based on your specific needs, 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 begin with you lying down 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 myofascial release (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 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 align your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they tighten and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and release the muscles appropriately, optimizing your muscle integration and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

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

• Alterations to your nutrition
• Liquid management
• Appropriate body alignment and lifting techniques
• Strategies for managing constipation
• Additional advice for a better daily life and way of living

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

Other methods in pelvic floor therapy may include therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and additional alternatives.

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in offering individualized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Imperial, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting positive patient results. We comprehend that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a sensitive and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, empathy, and customized attention.

We also embrace the belief in providing evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We make use of up-to-date research and advanced technology to guide our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we present a range of other physical therapy services that can supplement 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 Imperial, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Imperial, MO area, all devoted to achieving your optimal pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to impede you from being the best version of yourself. At Axes, our devoted physical and occupational therapists in Imperial, MO have a sole mission: returning you to the things you value the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation 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 aspirations. Schedule an appointment through our website or get in touch with the closest location to you to start your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Imperial, MO today.