Pelvic floor therapy in Old Jamestown, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause hurt; it can impact your sense of self and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from returning 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 could be what you need to feel like your best you again. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Old Jamestown, MO can help you with:
- Improved bladder and bowel control
- Reduced pain and inflammation
- Enhanced sexual performance and pleasure
- Increased confidence and well-being
Axes Physical Therapy in Old Jamestown, MO specializes in designing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pursuits they love most safely and effectively. If you are interested in gaining more information about pelvic floor therapy or want to arrange an appointment with one of our experts, please contact us online today or get in touch 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 the soft tissues and joints that constitute a supportive hammock-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 shields organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping manage several vital functions.
The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:
- Helps manage your bladder and bowels by giving you command over the contraction and release of muscles
- Supports organs in the pelvis and stops them from descending
- Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
- Supports optimal sexual function
- Provides support and posture to the core and back
- During pregnancy, expands to accommodate a growing fetus and assists in childbirth
- Assists in blood and lymphatic circulation, contributing to sustain vibrant tissue
Pelvic Floor Anatomy
The pelvic floor muscles stretch 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 passageways 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 mesh of muscles and tissues that forms a strong foundation, holding the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from sagging. It works like a supportive sling to maintain the position and function of pelvic organs.
The primary 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 supports 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 assist in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the appropriate times and play a part in sexual function and pleasure by providing support to the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is compromised 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 coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for optimal 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 urge to use the bathroom
- Feeling like you need to strain urine or feces
- Pelvic pain
- 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, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Old Jamestown, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to assisting you recover the pleasure of participating 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, ashamed, or despairing. But a diagnosis is far from a permanent condition. With practical treatment plans customized for you by your Old Jamestown, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and experience a pain-free existence.
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 Old Jamestown, MO include:
- Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can help 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 promotes vitals functioning, such as the ability to relax and contract the muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
- Pain management — By targeting weaker or more rigid muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can assist in diminishing or eradicating the pain you feel 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 delivery, minimizing the risk of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor connected to childbirth.
- Sexual health improvement — By targeting particular muscles and dealing with any hidden issues, therapy can enhance sexual arousal, 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 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 enables you to maintain a way of life that promotes pelvic floor wellness.
At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Old Jamestown, MO who can support you in boosting your pelvic well-being and performance. Although certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction might require operative treatment, most patients in Old Jamestown, MO will experience lasting and substantial progress through minimally invasive physical therapy techniques.
What Old Jamestown, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves
Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Old Jamestown, MO will include an evaluation of your existing pelvic floor health. The following sessions will focus on implementing your customized treatment program.
Assessment and Evaluation
The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. In this appointment, your Old Jamestown, MO physical therapist will take the time to get to know 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 assess your present condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Old Jamestown, MO may also include an internal examination to more evaluate the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed as an alternative to an internal examination.
The assessment and evaluation performed by your physical therapist will aid in identifying the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and enable the creation of an optimal treatment plan to help you in getting back to the activities you enjoy.
Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises
Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Old Jamestown, MO will create a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will include specific goals, techniques, and anticipated outcomes to guide your therapy.
Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy
Improving muscle strength and coordination is crucial for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Old Jamestown, MO are:
- Kegel exercises to release and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
- Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor motion
- Stretching exercises to increase flexibility in tight muscles
- Strengthening exercises to strengthen weak muscles
- Functional training to incorporate new muscle movements into daily activities
The exercises your Old Jamestown, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change based on your unique situation, 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 lying down on your back and progress to sitting and upright 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 mobilization (freeing up compressed nerves), joint mobilizing techniques (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 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 coordinate your pelvic floor muscles by giving you live feedback on how they engage and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and release the muscles appropriately, optimizing your muscle alignment and mastery.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications
Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to mark off – it also offers you entry to skilled, science-backed insights that boost your everyday life. Your physical therapist may suggest you with:
- Alterations to your nutrition
- Fluid control
- Proper posture and safe lifting methods
- Approaches for dealing with constipation
- Additional tips for a healthier daily life and way of living
Complementing the exercises and techniques used in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations promotes enhanced pelvic floor function and overall well-being.
Other pelvic floor therapy techniques may include therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and other alternatives.
Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Pelvic Floor Therapy in Old Jamestown, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we firmly believe in providing personalized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in Old Jamestown, MO, our practice places our clients at the center and endeavors to obtain favorable 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 greatest respect, empathy, and customized attention.
We also hold the belief in offering evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We make use of up-to-date research and advanced technology to shape 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 interested in trying pelvic floor therapy in Old Jamestown, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Old Jamestown, MO area, all committed to realizing your ideal pelvic health.
Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Old Jamestown, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today
Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from being the best version of yourself. At Axes, our dedicated physical and occupational therapists in Old Jamestown, MO have a unified mission: returning you to the things you treasure the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your playing in your favorite sport or making it challenging to get through your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your ambitions. Schedule an appointment through our website or reach out to the closest location to you to commence your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in Old Jamestown, MO today.
