Pelvic floor therapy in Leadington, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical discomfort; it can impact your self-perception and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from dominating on the field, beginning parenthood, or just getting through a day with the same confidence and comfort you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you need to regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Leadington, MO can help you with:

• 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 Leadington, MO specializes in developing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they enjoy most securely and successfully. If you are curious in discovering about pelvic floor therapy or desire to schedule an appointment with one of our experts, please contact us online today or contact to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you reclaim control and assurance 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 foundation for the organs in the pelvic region, 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 has several functions and roles:

• Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by providing you authority over the contraction and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from descending
• 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, helping to sustain 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 joining 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 web of muscles and tissues that constructs a resilient base, supporting the pelvic organs in place and avoiding 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 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 lower belly (iliococcygeus). The coccygeus connects the side and back bones of your pelvis and works to maintain your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have important roles. They help in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the correct times and contribute in sexual function and satisfaction by providing support to the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is diminished 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 have difficulty relaxing and coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for ideal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Trouble urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are incomplete
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Regularly feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to strain urine or feces
• Pelvic discomfort
• 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 affect anyone deeply, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Leadington, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to helping you regain the pleasure of engaging 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 disappointed, ashamed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans tailored for you by your Leadington, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and experience a pain-free life.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can strengthen, improve flexibility of, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The benefits of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Leadington, 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 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 stiffer muscles and addressing trigger points, physical therapy can aid in diminishing or eliminating the discomfort you feel caused by pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Pre- and postpartum care — Pelvic floor therapy is frequently advised during pregnancy and following childbirth. It can aid in readying the pelvic floor for labor, reducing the chance of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By concentrating on particular muscles and tackling any underlying issues, therapy can enhance sexual excitement, climax, and overall sexual satisfaction.
• Education and self-management — Your tailored pelvic floor therapy plan won’t exclusively consist of supervised exercises. By providing education and teaching you methods you can practice at home, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and enables you to sustain a routine that supports pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Leadington, MO who can help you in boosting your pelvic health and function. While some instances of pelvic floor dysfunction might necessitate surgical correction, the majority of patients in Leadington, MO will likely experience lasting and substantial improvement through non-invasive physical therapy techniques.

What Leadington, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Leadington, MO will involve an examination of your current pelvic floor health. The remaining sessions will center around implementing your tailored treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Leadington, MO physical therapist will take the time to familiarize themselves with you and your issues. 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 approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Leadington, MO may also involve an internal examination to further evaluate the 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 recognizing the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the development of an effective 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 Leadington, MO will design a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will include precise goals, techniques, and expected results to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to loosen and engage the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Stretching exercises to release tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to build up weak muscles
• Functional training to include new muscle actions into daily tasks

The exercises your Leadington, 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 current health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may initially start 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, is a hands-on technique that involves your physical therapist applying pressure or massaging 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 employs a device to gauge and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you understand how to control and harmonize your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they tighten and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and relax the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle coordination and command.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

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

• Alterations to your diet
• Liquid control
• Proper posture and safe lifting methods
• Tactics for addressing constipation
• Further recommendations for a more wholesome day-to-day life and lifestyle

Augmenting the exercises and techniques used in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations promotes improved pelvic floor function and overall well-being.

Other pelvic floor therapy techniques may involve therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and other alternatives.

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in offering individualized and empathetic treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Leadington, MO, our practice puts our clients at the center and endeavors to achieve positive patient results. We comprehend that pelvic floor dysfunction can present as a delicate and demanding issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the greatest respect, compassion, and tailored attention.

We also hold the belief in providing evidence-based and holistic care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and state-of-the-art 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 interested in trying pelvic floor therapy in Leadington, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Leadington, MO area, all dedicated to achieving your ideal pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from living your most life. At Axes, our dedicated physio and occupational therapists in Leadington, MO have a singular mission: getting you back to the activities you love the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation in your favorite sport or making it challenging to manage your day, we will personalize our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your ambitions. Request an appointment through our website or reach out to the most convenient location to you to commence your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Leadington, MO today.