Pelvic floor therapy in Marlborough, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause hurt; it can impact your self-perception and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from dominating on the basketball court, starting a family, or just navigating a day with the same assurance and ease as before, 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 Marlborough, MO can lead to:
- Improved bladder and bowel control
- Reduced discomfort and swelling
- Enhanced sexual performance and pleasure
- Increased self-assurance and well-being
Axes Physical Therapy in Marlborough, MO specializes in creating personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they love most safely and successfully. If you are curious in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or wish to schedule 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 restore command and confidence in your pelvic health.
Understanding the Pelvic Floor
The pelvic floor is a complex of muscles, ligaments, and tissues 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 your pelvis, 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 authority over the squeezing and release of muscles
- Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from prolapsing
- Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
- Supports optimal sexual function
- Provides support 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 lymph circulation, helping to maintain healthy 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 channels 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 forms a sturdy base, holding the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from dropping down. It works like a supportive sling to maintain the position and function of pelvic organs.
The chief 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 maintains 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 essential roles. They help in regulating the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the correct times and play a part in sexual function and pleasure by supporting the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is diminished 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 unwinding and coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for optimal function.
Signs and Symptoms
- Difficulty urinating or having bowel movements
- Feeling like your bowel movements are incomplete
- Leakage of urine or feces
- Frequently feeling the need to use the bathroom
- Sensation of needing to force out urine or feces
- Pelvic pain
- 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 doesn’t just affect people of a single certain 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 Marlborough, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to assisting you recover the pleasure of engaging in the activities 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 tailored for you by your Marlborough, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and enjoy a comfortable 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 Marlborough, 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 vitals 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 stiffer muscles and addressing trigger points, physical therapy can assist in lessening or eradicating the pain you endure due to pelvic floor dysfunction.
- Pre- and postpartum care — Pelvic floor therapy is frequently advised during pregnancy and following childbirth. It can assist in readying the pelvic floor for childbirth, minimizing the risk of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with childbirth.
- Sexual health improvement — By targeting specific muscles and dealing with any underlying issues, therapy can improve sexual excitement, climax, and overall sexual health.
- Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By offering information and instructing you in tips you can utilize on your own, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and enables you to maintain a routine that supports pelvic floor wellness.
At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Marlborough, MO who can assist you in enhancing your pelvic well-being and performance. Although certain instances of pelvic floor dysfunction might necessitate surgical correction, the majority of patients in Marlborough, MO will likely find lasting and significant improvement through non-invasive physical therapy methods.
What Marlborough, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves
Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Marlborough, MO will comprise an evaluation of your current pelvic floor condition. The following sessions will emphasize implementing your personalized treatment program.
Assessment and Evaluation
The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. During this phase, your Marlborough, MO physical therapist will dedicate time to understand you and your issues. 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 determine your current condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Marlborough, MO may additionally involve an internal examination to better assess the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used rather than 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 formulation of an optimal treatment plan to help you in resuming the activities you cherish.
Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises
Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Marlborough, MO will design a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will incorporate defined goals, exercises, and expected outcomes to guide your therapy.
Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy
Improving strength and coordination is essential for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Marlborough, MO include:
- 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
- Resistance exercises to build up weak muscles
- Functional training to integrate new muscle actions into routine tasks
The exercises your Marlborough, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will be different 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 commence with you reclining 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 trigger point therapy (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve decompression (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 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 contract and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and release the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle coordination and command.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications
Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to mark off – it also gives you entrée to expert, science-backed insights that boost your day-to-day life. Your physical therapist may recommend you with:
- Adjustments to your diet
- Fluid management
- Correct posture and safe lifting methods
- Strategies for dealing with constipation
- Additional tips for a better everyday life and way of living
Augmenting the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adjustments fosters 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 Marlborough, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in offering personalized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in Marlborough, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting favorable patient results. We realize that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a challenging and difficult issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the greatest respect, empathy, and personalized attention.
We also hold the belief in providing evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and cutting-edge technology to inform our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we provide 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 Marlborough, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Marlborough, MO area, all dedicated to attaining your ideal pelvic health.
Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Marlborough, 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 Marlborough, MO have a unified mission: returning you to the things you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation in your favorite sport or making it demanding to navigate your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your ambitions. Request an appointment online or get in touch with the closest location to you to commence your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Marlborough, MO today.
