Pelvic floor therapy in Oakville, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical pain; it can impact your self-perception and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from getting back to a favorite sport, starting a family, or just getting through a day with the same confidence and comfort as before, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you need to feel like your best you again. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Oakville, MO can help you achieve:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Oakville, MO specializes in creating personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they enjoy most securely and effectively. If you are interested in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or desire to arrange an appointment with one of our physical therapusts, please contact us online today or contact to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you regain command and assurance in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is a complex of muscles, ligaments, and fibers that form a supportive web-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 protects organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping manage several basic functions.

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

• Helps manage your bladder and bowels by giving you authority over the contraction and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from descending
• Resists belly 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, helping to preserve 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 joining to the hip bones on each side. These muscles have openings or passages 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 network of muscles and tissues that creates a resilient base, holding the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from sagging. It works like a reinforcing sling to uphold 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 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 sustains the organs inside your lower belly (iliococcygeus). The coccygeus connects the side and back bones of your pelvis and helps to keep your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have crucial roles. They aid in regulating the release of urine and stool by tightening 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 compromised or becomes too tense, it results in pelvic floor dysfunction.

Causes, Signs, and Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when you experience 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
• Often feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Sensation of needing to force out waste
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• 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 have a negative impact on your physical, mental, and emotional health, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Oakville, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to helping you recover the joy 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 disappointed, ashamed, or despairing. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a life sentence. With practical treatment plans tailored for you by your Oakville, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and enjoy a comfortable existence.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can strengthen, improve flexibility of, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The positive outcomes of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Oakville, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can aid in improving bladder and bowel control, diminish 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 less strong or stiffer muscles and addressing sensitive areas, physical therapy can aid in lessening or eradicating the discomfort you endure caused by pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Pre- and postpartum care — Pelvic floor therapy is frequently advised during pregnancy and following childbirth. It can aid in preparing the pelvic floor for delivery, reducing the risk of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to pregnancy and labor.
• Sexual health improvement — By targeting specific muscles and dealing with any hidden issues, therapy can enhance sexual excitement, climax, and overall sexual gratification.
• Education and self-management — Your personalized pelvic floor therapy plan won’t just include guided exercises. By providing education and teaching you methods you can utilize at home, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role 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 knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Oakville, MO who can assist you in enhancing your pelvic health and function. While certain instances of pelvic floor dysfunction may require operative intervention, most individuals in Oakville, MO will likely experience long-lasting and significant improvement through non-invasive physical therapy methods.

What Oakville, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Oakville, MO will involve an evaluation of your existing pelvic floor condition. The remaining sessions will center around implementing your personalized treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. In this appointment, your Oakville, MO physical therapist will take the time to understand you and your symptoms. 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 evaluate your current condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Oakville, MO may also include 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 conducted by your physical therapist will help in recognizing the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support the creation of an optimal treatment plan to assist you in returning to the activities you love.

Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises

Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Oakville, MO will design a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will include precise goals, exercises, and projected 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 Oakville, MO are:

• Kegel exercises to release and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to sync your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Flexibility exercises to increase flexibility in tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to strengthen weak muscles
• Functional training to integrate new muscle actions into everyday tasks

The exercises your Oakville, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change based on your specific needs, but will all be aimed at rehabilitating your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your current health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may begin with you lying down on your back and gradually advance to sitting and upright 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 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 utilizes a device to measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to manage and align your pelvic floor muscles by giving you instant feedback on how they contract and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to engage and release the muscles appropriately, optimizing your muscle integration and control.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

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

• Changes to your nutrition
• Liquid management
• Appropriate posture and lifting techniques
• Strategies for dealing with constipation
• Any other advice for a healthier daily life and lifestyle

Enhancing the exercises and techniques utilized in pelvic floor therapy with these modifications fosters better pelvic floor function and overall well-being.

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in providing personalized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Oakville, MO, our practice puts our clients at the center and endeavors to achieve beneficial patient results. We comprehend that pelvic floor dysfunction can present as a delicate and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, compassion, and personalized attention.

We also embrace the belief in providing evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and cutting-edge technology to shape our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we offer a range of other physical therapy services that can enhance your pelvic floor therapy, including:

• Orthopedic rehab
• Sports physical therapy
• Neurological physical therapy
• Geriatric physical therapy
• Pre- or post-surgery rehab

If you are considering pelvic floor therapy in Oakville, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Oakville, MO area, all committed to attaining your ideal pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from being your favorite version of yourself. At Axes, our committed physio and occupational therapists in Oakville, MO have a singular mission: returning you to the things you treasure the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it demanding to manage your day, we will personalize our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your aspirations. Request an appointment online or reach out to the most convenient location to you to embark on your recovery with Axes Physical Therapy in Oakville, MO today.