Pelvic floor therapy in Oakland, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause hurt; it can affect your sense of self and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from returning to a beloved 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 regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Oakland, MO can lead to:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Oakland, MO specializes in creating customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they love most safely and successfully. If you are curious in gaining more information about pelvic floor therapy or wish to arrange an appointment with one of our specialists, please contact us online today or contact 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 hammock-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 safeguards organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping control several important functions.

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

• Helps manage your bladder and bowels by providing you control over the squeezing and relaxing of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from descending
• Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports well-functioning sexual function
• Provides support 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 lymphatic circulation, contributing to sustain 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 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).

Imagine the pelvic floor as a woven network of muscles and tissues that constructs a strong foundation, holding the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from sagging. 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 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 supports the organs inside your lower belly (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 assist in controlling the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the correct times and play a part in sexual function and satisfaction by providing support to 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 is a condition where you experience 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 urge to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to push out waste
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sex
• 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 can affect anyone, regardless of 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 Oakland, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to assisting you regain the pleasure of engaging in the pursuits 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 frustrated, embarrassed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a life sentence. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Oakland, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and experience a pain-free 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 Oakland, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can aid 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 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 trigger points, physical therapy can assist in diminishing or eliminating the pain you endure caused by 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 aid in preparing the pelvic floor for labor, reducing the risk of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By focusing on specific muscles and tackling any subsurface issues, therapy can boost sexual arousal, orgasm, and general sexual health.
• Education and self-management — Your personalized pelvic floor therapy plan won’t solely consist of monitored exercises. 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 sustain a lifestyle that supports pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Oakland, MO who can assist you in enhancing your pelvic health and performance. Although certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may require surgical correction, the majority of patients in Oakland, MO will find sustained and significant progress through less invasive physical therapy techniques.

What Oakland, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Oakland, MO will involve an evaluation of your current pelvic floor condition. The following sessions will focus on implementing your tailored treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Oakland, MO physical therapist will spend time to get to know 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 present condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Oakland, MO may additionally include an internal examination to better determine the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed instead of an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation conducted by your physical therapist will help in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support the formulation of an effective treatment plan to assist 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 Oakland, MO will develop a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will incorporate specific goals, techniques, and expected outcomes to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to relax and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate 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 movements into routine tasks

The exercises your Oakland, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change based on your particular needs, but will all be aimed at reconditioning 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 gradually advance to sitting 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 release (freeing up compressed nerves), joint manipulation (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 control and harmonize your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they engage and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and release the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle integration and control.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

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

• Changes to your nutrition
• Liquid control
• Correct body alignment and lifting techniques
• Approaches for addressing constipation
• Further recommendations for a healthier everyday life and way of living

Complementing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these modifications encourages enhanced pelvic floor function and general well-being.

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in delivering customized and empathetic treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in Oakland, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting positive patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can pose as a sensitive and demanding condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, compassion, and personalized attention.

We also hold 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 guide our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we provide 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 Oakland, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Oakland, MO area, all committed to achieving your ideal pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to hinder you from being the best version of yourself. At Axes, our dedicated physio and occupational therapists in Oakland, MO have a unified mission: getting you back to the activities you value the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your playing in your favorite sport or making it difficult to get through your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your aspirations. Request an appointment online or get in touch with the nearest location to you to start your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in Oakland, MO today.