Pelvic floor therapy in Innsbrook, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can impact your sense of self and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from dominating on the grass, beginning parenthood, or just navigating a day with the same assurance and comfort you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you require to regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Innsbrook, MO can help you with:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Innsbrook, MO specializes in creating customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they love most safely and successfully. If you are interested in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or wish to schedule an appointment with one of our experts, please contact us online today or get in touch to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you reclaim command and confidence in your pelvic health.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

The pelvic floor is a complex of muscles, ligaments, and fibers that form 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 provides a number of vital functions for the body:

• Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by giving you control over the squeezing and relaxing of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and stops them from prolapsing
• Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports optimal sexual function
• Provides stability 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, contributing to sustain vibrant tissue

Pelvic Floor Anatomy

The pelvic floor muscles extend 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 passageways 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 constructs a sturdy foundation, 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 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 maintains 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 works to keep your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have crucial roles. They help in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the appropriate times and contribute in sexual function and pleasure 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 is a condition where you have difficulty relaxing and aligning 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
• Regularly feeling the urge to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to strain urine or feces
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Erectile dysfunction and difficulty ejaculating
• 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, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Innsbrook, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to helping you recover the joy of engaging in the things 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 frustrated, embarrassed, or despairing. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Innsbrook, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and experience a pain-free existence.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can build strength in, improve flexibility of, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The benefits of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Innsbrook, 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 supports essential functioning, such as the ability to relax and contract the muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting weaker or less flexible muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can aid in reducing or eliminating the pain you feel due to pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Pre- and postpartum care — Pelvic floor therapy is frequently advised during pregnancy and following childbirth. It can assist in preparing the pelvic floor for childbirth, decreasing the chance of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and promoting healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By focusing on specific muscles and addressing any underlying issues, therapy can enhance sexual arousal, climax, and overall sexual satisfaction.
• Education and self-management — Your customized pelvic floor therapy plan won’t just comprise guided exercises. By offering information and instructing you in tips you can practice autonomously, your Axes physical therapist helps you engage actively in your own care and empowers you to maintain a lifestyle that supports pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Innsbrook, MO who can assist you in enhancing your pelvic well-being and function. Although certain instances of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate operative intervention, most patients in Innsbrook, MO will likely experience lasting and significant progress through non-invasive physical therapy approaches.

What Innsbrook, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Innsbrook, MO will include an evaluation of your existing pelvic floor condition. The subsequent sessions will emphasize implementing your tailored treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. During this phase, your Innsbrook, 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 conduct a physical examination and musculoskeletal assessment of your trunk and pelvis to assess your present condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Innsbrook, MO may additionally involve an internal examination to better determine the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be utilized as an substitute to an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation performed 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 resuming the activities you enjoy.

Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises

Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Innsbrook, MO will design a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will incorporate specific goals, techniques, and expected results to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to release and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to sync your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Stretching exercises to release tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to build up weak muscles
• Functional training to incorporate new muscle actions into daily tasks

The exercises your Innsbrook, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will differ based on your specific situation, 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 down on your back and gradually advance 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 decompression (freeing up compressed nerves), joint mobilization (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 learn how to regulate and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles by giving you instant feedback on how they engage and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and relax the muscles appropriately, optimizing your muscle alignment and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a catalog of exercises to complete – it also offers you access to skilled, research-supported insights that enhance your day-to-day life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Alterations to your diet
• Liquid control
• Proper posture and lifting techniques
• Strategies for managing constipation
• Any other recommendations for a better day-to-day life and lifestyle

Enhancing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations encourages 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 Innsbrook, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy, we firmly believe in offering customized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Innsbrook, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting positive patient results. We comprehend 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 personalized attention.

We also embrace the belief in delivering evidence-based and comprehensive care to our patients. We make use of up-to-date research and state-of-the-art technology to shape our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we present 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 Innsbrook, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Innsbrook, MO area, all committed to attaining your ideal pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from being the best version of yourself. At Axes, our dedicated physio and occupational therapists in Innsbrook, MO have a sole mission: getting you back to the activities you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your playing in your favorite sport or making it demanding to navigate your day, we will personalize our physical therapy treatment plan exclusively to you and your aspirations. Schedule an appointment through our website or contact the nearest location to you to embark on your path with Axes Physical Therapy in Innsbrook, MO today.