Pelvic floor therapy in Old Monroe, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause hurt; it can affect your sense of self 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 assurance and ease 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 Old Monroe, MO can lead to:
- Improved bladder and bowel control
- Reduced discomfort and inflammation
- Enhanced sexual performance and satisfaction
- Increased self-assurance and well-being
Axes Physical Therapy in Old Monroe, MO specializes in designing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they enjoy most securely and successfully. If you are curious in gaining more information about pelvic floor therapy or wish to schedule 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 restore control and confidence in your pelvic health.
How the Pelvic Floor Works
The pelvic floor is a group 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 outside pressure while helping control several basic functions.
The pelvic floor provides a number of vital functions for the body:
- Helps control your bladder and bowels by providing you control over the squeezing and relaxing of muscles
- Supports organs in the pelvis and stops them from prolapsing
- Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
- Supports well-functioning 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 sustain 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 connecting 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).
Think of the pelvic floor as a woven network of muscles and tissues that creates a strong foundation, supporting the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from descending down. It works like a reinforcing sling to uphold 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 poo (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 regulating the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the correct times and play a part in sexual function and satisfaction by supporting 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 occurs when you experience difficulty unwinding and aligning your pelvic floor muscles for optimal function.
Signs and Symptoms
- Challenges urinating or having bowel movements
- Feeling like your bowel movements are not fully finished
- Leakage of urine or feces
- Frequently feeling the need to use the bathroom
- Sensation of needing to strain waste
- Pelvic pain
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- 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 Old Monroe, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to assisting you regain the pleasure of participating 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 frustrated, embarrassed, or despairing. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a life sentence. With practical treatment plans customized for you by your Old Monroe, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and experience a pain-free life.
Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can build strength in, stretch, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The positive outcomes of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Old Monroe, 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 provide better support for the pelvic organs.
- Improved pelvic floor muscle coordination — Enhancing coordination facilitates 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 less flexible muscles and addressing trigger points, physical therapy can support in reducing or eliminating the pain you experience resulting from 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, decreasing the risk of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with giving birth.
- Sexual health improvement — By targeting particular muscles and tackling any underlying issues, therapy can improve sexual arousal, orgasm, and overall sexual fulfillment.
- Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By providing education and teaching you approaches you can utilize independently, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate 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 skilled pelvic floor therapists in Old Monroe, MO who can help you in enhancing your pelvic health and function. While certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction might necessitate operative treatment, the majority of individuals in Old Monroe, MO will likely find long-lasting and substantial improvement through less invasive physical therapy techniques.
What Old Monroe, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves
Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Old Monroe, MO will include an assessment of your current pelvic floor condition. The remaining sessions will focus on implementing your customized treatment plan.
Assessment and Evaluation
The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Old Monroe, MO physical therapist will spend time to understand you and your symptoms. They will ask about your medical history, lifestyle, and goals. Additionally, they will perform a physical examination and musculoskeletal assessment of your trunk and pelvis to assess your current condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Old Monroe, MO may additionally involve an internal examination to more assess the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used instead of an internal examination.
The assessment and evaluation carried out by your physical therapist will aid in identifying the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the formulation of an effective treatment plan to assist you in getting back to the activities you cherish.
Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises
Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Old Monroe, MO will develop a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will incorporate 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 Old Monroe, MO are:
- Kegel exercises to relax and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
- Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor motion
- Stretching exercises to release tight muscles
- Resistance exercises to build up weak muscles
- Functional training to incorporate new muscle patterns into routine activities
The exercises your Old Monroe, 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 present health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may begin with you lying flat on your back and gradually advance 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 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 understand how to regulate and align your pelvic floor muscles by giving you live feedback on how they tighten and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to engage and relax the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle alignment and mastery.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications
Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to complete – it also gives you access to professional, evidence-based insights that boost your daily life. Your physical therapist may recommend you with:
- Changes to your nutrition
- Liquid control
- Correct posture and safe lifting methods
- Approaches for dealing with constipation
- Further advice for a healthier daily life and way of living
Complementing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations fosters better pelvic floor function and overall well-being.
Other methods in pelvic floor therapy may incorporate therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and more alternatives.
Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Pelvic Floor Therapy in Old Monroe, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in providing personalized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in Old Monroe, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting positive patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a sensitive and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, empathy, and customized attention.
We also embrace the belief in providing evidence-based and holistic care to our patients. We utilize up-to-date research and advanced technology to guide 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 considering pelvic floor therapy in Old Monroe, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Old Monroe, MO area, all devoted to attaining your optimal pelvic health.
Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Old Monroe, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today
Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from leading your fullest life. At Axes, our dedicated physio and occupational therapists in Old Monroe, MO have a unified mission: returning you to the things you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your playing in your favorite sport or making it challenging to get through your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan exclusively to you and your goals. Request an appointment through our website or contact the closest location to you to start your recovery with Axes Physical Therapy in Old Monroe, MO today.
