Pelvic floor therapy in Old Monroe, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical pain; it can impact your self-perception and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from dominating on the basketball court, 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 require 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 function and satisfaction
• Increased confidence and well-being

Axes Physical Therapy in Old Monroe, MO specializes in developing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they love most safely and successfully. If you are curious in gaining more information about pelvic floor therapy or desire to book 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 restore control and confidence in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that create 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 protects organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping control several basic functions.

The pelvic floor has numerous functions and roles:

• Helps control your bladder and bowels by giving you control over the contraction and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and stops them from prolapsing
• Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports optimal sexual function
• Provides stability 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, helping to sustain vibrant 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 passageways or passages 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 mesh of muscles and tissues that forms a sturdy base, holding the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from sagging. It works like a reinforcing 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 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 supports the organs inside your abdomen (iliococcygeus). The coccygeus connects the side and back bones of your pelvis and works to keep your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have important roles. They aid in controlling the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the right times and play a part in sexual function and satisfaction by supporting the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is weakened or becomes too tense, it results in pelvic floor dysfunction.

Causes, Signs, and Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a condition where 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
• Regularly feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Sensation of needing to force out waste
• 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 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 committed to helping you regain the joy of engaging in the activities you cherish 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 far from a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans tailored for you by your Old Monroe, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and enjoy a pain-free life.

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 Monroe, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can assist 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 relaxing and contracting muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting less strong or stiffer muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can support in lessening or eradicating the pain you experience due to 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 assist in preparing the pelvic floor for labor, decreasing the risk of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to giving birth.
• Sexual health improvement — By concentrating on specific muscles and tackling any underlying issues, therapy can enhance sexual excitement, orgasm, and general sexual gratification.
• Education and self-management — Your customized pelvic floor therapy plan won’t exclusively consist of guided exercises. By offering information and instructing you in approaches you can practice autonomously, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and empowers you to sustain a way of life that supports pelvic floor health.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Old Monroe, MO who can assist you in improving your pelvic health and performance. While some instances of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate surgical treatment, the majority of patients in Old Monroe, MO will experience long-lasting and significant progress through less invasive physical therapy methods.

What Old Monroe, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Old Monroe, MO will comprise an evaluation of your existing pelvic floor health. The subsequent sessions will center around implementing your personalized treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. During this phase, your Old Monroe, MO physical therapist will spend time to understand 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 evaluate your current condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Old Monroe, MO may also involve an internal examination to further assess the muscle 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 determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support the development of an optimal 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 design a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will include defined goals, techniques, and expected results to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

Improving 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 release and engage the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Stretching exercises to release tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to build up weak muscles
• Functional training to incorporate new muscle patterns into everyday activities

The exercises your Old Monroe, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change based on your particular needs, but will all be aimed at retraining your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your existing health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may initially start with you lying flat on your back and gradually advance to seated 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 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 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 control and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles by giving you instant feedback on how they engage and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and relax the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle coordination and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a catalog of exercises to mark off – it also offers you entrée to professional, research-supported insights that enhance your everyday life. Your physical therapist may recommend you with:

• Adjustments to your nutrition
• Fluid control
• Appropriate posture and lifting techniques
• Approaches for addressing constipation
• Additional recommendations for a healthier everyday life and way of living

Augmenting the exercises and techniques used in pelvic floor therapy with these modifications fosters enhanced pelvic floor function and overall well-being.

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in offering personalized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Old Monroe, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting favorable patient results. We realize that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a sensitive and difficult issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the greatest respect, compassion, and personalized attention.

We also hold the belief in delivering evidence-based and holistic care to our patients. We utilize 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 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 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 hinder you from living your best life. At Axes, our dedicated physio and occupational therapists in Old Monroe, MO have a singular mission: getting you back to the things you love the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it challenging to navigate your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan exclusively to you and your goals. Schedule an appointment through our website or reach out to the most convenient location to you to commence your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Old Monroe, MO today.