Pelvic floor therapy in Paulina Hills, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical pain; it can affect your self-esteem and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from dominating on the basketball court, beginning parenthood, or just getting through a day with the same assurance and ease as before, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you need to regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Paulina Hills, MO can lead to:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Paulina Hills, MO specializes in creating customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they love most securely and effectively. If you are interested in discovering about pelvic floor therapy or wish 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 command and assurance in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is a complex of muscles, ligaments, and fibers that constitute a supportive hammock-like structure at the bottom of the pelvis. It acts like a “floor” or a foundation for the organs in the pelvic region, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor safeguards organs and your spine from external 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 providing you command 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 support and alignment 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, contributing to preserve 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 joining to the hip bones on each side. These muscles have channels or canals 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 resilient base, holding the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from sagging. It works like a reinforcing sling to maintain 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 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 abdomen (iliococcygeus). The coccygeus connects the side and back bones of your pelvis and helps to keep 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 satisfaction by providing support to the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is diminished 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 relaxing and aligning your pelvic floor muscles for ideal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Trouble 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 push out 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 can affect anyone, regardless of 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 Paulina Hills, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to helping you regain 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 frustrated, embarrassed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is far from a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Paulina Hills, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and experience a comfortable 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 Paulina Hills, 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 promotes essential functioning, such as relaxing and contracting muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting less resilient or less flexible muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can assist in diminishing or eradicating the pain you experience caused by 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 delivery, reducing the risk of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to giving birth.
• Sexual health improvement — By focusing on specific muscles and addressing any hidden 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 methods you can utilize at home, your Axes physical therapist helps you engage actively in your own care and enables you to maintain a routine that promotes pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Paulina Hills, MO who can support you in enhancing your pelvic health and performance. Although certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate operative intervention, the majority of patients in Paulina Hills, MO will likely experience sustained and meaningful improvement through non-invasive physical therapy techniques.

What Paulina Hills, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Paulina Hills, MO will include an examination of your current pelvic floor health. The subsequent sessions will focus on implementing your tailored treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. During this phase, your Paulina Hills, MO physical therapist will spend time to familiarize themselves with 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 current condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Paulina Hills, MO may additionally include an internal examination to further evaluate the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed instead of an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation performed by your physical therapist will help in recognizing the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the development of an effective treatment plan to help 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 Paulina Hills, MO will create a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will include defined goals, exercises, and anticipated 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 Paulina Hills, MO include:

• Kegel exercises to relax and engage the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Flexibility exercises to increase flexibility in tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to build up weak muscles
• Functional training to include new muscle movements into routine activities

The exercises your Paulina Hills, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will be different 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 initially start with you lying flat on your back and evolve to sitting and standing 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 manipulating specific areas of your pelvis. It may include myofascial release (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve mobilization (freeing up compressed nerves), joint mobilization (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 makes use of a device to measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you understand how to regulate and harmonize your pelvic floor muscles by giving you instant feedback on how they contract and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to engage and release the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle integration and command.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to cross off – it also gives you entry to professional, research-supported insights that boost your daily life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Alterations to your eating habits
• Liquid control
• Correct body alignment and lifting techniques
• Tactics for managing constipation
• Any other advice for a healthier day-to-day life and way of living

Augmenting the exercises and techniques utilized in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations encourages improved 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 additional alternatives.

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in delivering customized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Paulina Hills, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting favorable patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can pose as a delicate and demanding condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the greatest respect, empathy, and customized attention.

We also embrace the belief in delivering evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We utilize up-to-date research and cutting-edge technology to inform our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we offer 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 Paulina Hills, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Paulina Hills, MO area, all devoted to achieving your best pelvic health.

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Paulina Hills, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to impede you from being the best version of yourself. At Axes, our devoted physio and occupational therapists in Paulina Hills, MO have a singular mission: getting you back to the activities you love the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation in your favorite sport or making it difficult to navigate your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan exclusively to you and your ambitions. Request an appointment through our website or get in touch with the most convenient location to you to commence your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Paulina Hills, MO today.