Pelvic floor therapy in Kinloch, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause hurt; it can affect your self-perception and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from getting back to a favorite sport, beginning parenthood, or just getting through a day with the same assurance and ease you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you need to feel like your best you again. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Kinloch, MO can lead to:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced discomfort and swelling
• Enhanced sexual function and satisfaction
• Increased self-assurance and quality of life

Axes Physical Therapy in Kinloch, MO specializes in creating personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they enjoy most safely and effectively. If you are interested in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or want to arrange an appointment with one of our experts, please contact us online today or reach out 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 create a supportive hammock-like structure at the bottom of the pelvis. It acts like a “floor” or a foundation for the organs in your pelvis, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor shields organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping control several basic functions.

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

• Helps control your bladder and bowels by providing you authority over the squeezing and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from descending
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports healthy sexual function
• Provides stability and posture 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, helping to preserve 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 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).

Picture the pelvic floor as a woven network of muscles and tissues that constructs a strong foundation, supporting the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from descending down. It works like a supportive sling to maintain 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 assists you to hold in your poo (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 sustains 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 important roles. They assist in regulating the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the right times and contribute in sexual function and satisfaction by supporting the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is weakened 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 unwinding and aligning your pelvic floor muscles for optimal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Challenges urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are incomplete
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Often feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Sensation of needing to push out urine or feces
• Pelvic aches
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• 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, it’s important to remember that proven, evidence-backed treatment plans exist with professional physical therapy in Kinloch, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to helping you recover the pleasure of participating 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 tailored for you by your Kinloch, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and enjoy a comfortable life.

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 Kinloch, 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 provide better support for the pelvic organs.
• Improved pelvic floor muscle coordination — Enhancing coordination supports vitals functioning, such as the ability to relax and contract the muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting less strong or less flexible muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can aid in reducing or getting rid of the discomfort you feel 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 childbirth, decreasing the chance of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor connected to childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By focusing on particular muscles and dealing with any subsurface issues, therapy can enhance sexual arousal, orgasm, and overall sexual satisfaction.
• Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By providing education and instructing you in tips you can utilize autonomously, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and empowers you to sustain a lifestyle that promotes pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Kinloch, MO who can assist you in boosting your pelvic well-being and function. While certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction might require operative treatment, most patients in Kinloch, MO will likely experience lasting and significant progress through minimally invasive physical therapy methods.

What Kinloch, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Kinloch, MO will comprise an examination of your current pelvic floor condition. The following sessions will center around implementing your tailored treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Kinloch, MO physical therapist will take the time to familiarize themselves with 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 evaluate your present condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Kinloch, MO may additionally involve an internal examination to further evaluate the 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 assist in recognizing the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and enable the creation of an suitable treatment plan to assist 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 Kinloch, MO will design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will incorporate specific goals, exercises, and anticipated outcomes 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 Kinloch, MO are:

• Kegel exercises to loosen and engage the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to sync your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• 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 Kinloch, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will be different based on your particular 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 progress to seated and standing positions.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy, such as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, is a hands-on technique that involves your physical therapist applying pressure or manipulating specific areas of your pelvis. It may include myofascial release (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve mobilization (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 real-time feedback on how they contract and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and relax the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle integration and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to complete – it also gives you entry to expert, science-backed insights that enhance your daily life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Changes to your eating habits
• Fluid management
• Correct posture and lifting techniques
• Strategies for dealing with constipation
• Additional advice for a healthier daily life and lifestyle

Enhancing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adjustments promotes enhanced pelvic floor function and general well-being.

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in providing individualized and empathetic treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Kinloch, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting favorable patient results. We realize that pelvic floor dysfunction can present as a challenging and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, compassion, and customized attention.

We also embrace the belief in delivering evidence-based and comprehensive care to our patients. We utilize up-to-date research and cutting-edge technology to guide our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we offer 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 interested in trying pelvic floor therapy in Kinloch, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Kinloch, MO area, all committed to attaining your best pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from leading your best life. At Axes, our dedicated physical and occupational therapists in Kinloch, MO have a sole mission: getting you back to the activities you love the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it difficult to navigate your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan exclusively to you and your goals. Schedule an appointment through our website or contact the most convenient location to you to start your path with Axes Physical Therapy in Kinloch, MO today.