Pelvic floor therapy in Parkway, 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 activity, starting a family, or just navigating a day with the same assurance and comfort as before, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you require to regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Parkway, 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 Parkway, 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 interested in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or want 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 reclaim control and confidence in your pelvic health.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that create a supportive net-like structure at the base 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 safeguards 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 regulate your bladder and bowels by giving you control over the squeezing and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from descending
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports optimal sexual function
• Provides stability and alignment to the core and back
• During pregnancy, stretches to accommodate a growing fetus and assists in childbirth
• Assists in blood and lymph circulation, contributing to preserve healthy tissue

Pelvic Floor Anatomy

The pelvic floor muscles stretch 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 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 sturdy foundation, holding the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from sagging. It works like a reinforcing 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 stool (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 works to maintain your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have important roles. They assist in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the appropriate times and contribute in sexual function and pleasure by supporting 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 have difficulty unwinding and coordinating 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
• Often feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to strain urine or feces
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sex
• 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, it’s important to remember that proven, evidence-backed treatment plans exist with professional physical therapy in Parkway, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to assisting you regain the joy of participating in the activities you hold dear 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 hopeless. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a life sentence. With practical treatment plans tailored for you by your Parkway, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and experience a pain-free life.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can build strength in, improve flexibility of, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The benefits of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Parkway, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can help improving bladder and bowel control, reduce symptoms of urinary and fecal incontinence, and offer 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 resilient or stiffer muscles and addressing sensitive areas, physical therapy can support in reducing or eradicating the pain you feel resulting from 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, reducing the chance of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recuperation 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 enhance sexual excitement, orgasm, and overall sexual gratification.
• Education and self-management — Your tailored pelvic floor therapy plan will not solely comprise guided exercises. By providing information and instructing you in approaches you can utilize independently, your Axes physical therapist helps you engage actively in your own care and empowers you to sustain a way of life that supports pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Parkway, MO who can support you in boosting your pelvic health and performance. While certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may require operative correction, most patients in Parkway, MO will experience lasting and significant progress through non-invasive physical therapy methods.

What Parkway, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

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

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Parkway, MO physical therapist will dedicate time to familiarize themselves with 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 consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Parkway, MO may additionally involve an internal examination to more evaluate the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed rather than an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation carried out by your physical therapist will help in recognizing the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the formulation of an suitable treatment plan to assist you in returning 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 Parkway, MO will develop a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will include specific goals, exercises, and expected outcomes to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to relax and engage the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Flexibility exercises to increase flexibility in tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to develop weak muscles
• Functional training to incorporate new muscle patterns into daily tasks

The exercises your Parkway, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will be different based on your particular situation, but will all be aimed at retraining 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 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 myofascial release (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve decompression (freeing up compressed nerves), joint mobilization (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 employs a device to gauge and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you understand how to control and align your pelvic floor muscles by giving you live feedback on how they tighten and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and relax the muscles appropriately, optimizing your muscle alignment and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to complete – it also gives you entry to skilled, evidence-based insights that improve your daily life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Alterations to your diet
• Liquid management
• Appropriate posture and safe lifting methods
• Approaches for dealing with constipation
• Additional recommendations for a more wholesome day-to-day life and way of living

Enhancing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations promotes improved pelvic floor function and overall well-being.

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in delivering personalized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Parkway, MO, our practice places our clients at the center and aims to attain favorable patient results. We comprehend that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a sensitive and demanding condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, compassion, and customized attention.

We also hold the belief in offering evidence-based and comprehensive care to our patients. We make use of up-to-date research and cutting-edge technology to shape our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we provide 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 exploring pelvic floor therapy in Parkway, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Parkway, MO area, all committed to realizing your ideal pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from living your best life. At Axes, our dedicated physio and occupational therapists in Parkway, MO have a sole mission: returning you to the things you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it difficult to manage your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your ambitions. Schedule an appointment online or reach out to the nearest location to you to start your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Parkway, MO today.