Pelvic floor therapy in Pinckney, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can impact your sense of self and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from getting back to a beloved sport, beginning parenthood, or just getting through a day with the same assurance and ease as before, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you need to regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Pinckney, MO can lead to:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced pain and inflammation
• Enhanced sexual performance and satisfaction
• Increased self-assurance and well-being

Axes Physical Therapy in Pinckney, MO specializes in developing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pursuits they love most securely and effectively. If you are interested in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or want to book an appointment with one of our specialists, please contact us online today or get in touch to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you regain command and confidence in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that create a supportive hammock-like structure at the base 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 vital functions.

The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:

• Helps manage your bladder and bowels by giving you command over the squeezing and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from prolapsing
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports healthy sexual function
• Provides support 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 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 linking to the hip bones on each side. These muscles have openings 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 web of muscles and tissues that constructs a strong base, supporting the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from sagging. It works like a supportive sling to uphold 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 assists 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 lower belly (iliococcygeus). The coccygeus connects the side and back bones of your pelvis and helps to maintain your pelvis stable.

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

Causes, Signs, and Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when you experience difficulty relaxing and coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for ideal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Difficulty 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
• Sensation of needing to strain waste
• 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 affect anyone deeply, it’s important to remember that proven, evidence-backed treatment plans exist with professional physical therapy in Pinckney, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to helping you recover the joy of engaging 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 frustrated, embarrassed, or despairing. But a diagnosis is far from a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Pinckney, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and enjoy a pain-free life.

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

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can help improving bladder and bowel control, diminish 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 relaxing and contracting 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 lessening or eliminating the discomfort you endure 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 childbirth, decreasing the risk of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to pregnancy and labor.
• Sexual health improvement — By concentrating on specific muscles and dealing with any underlying issues, therapy can improve sexual excitement, orgasm, and general sexual health.
• 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 take an active role in your own care and enables you to sustain a routine that promotes pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Pinckney, MO who can help you in boosting your pelvic health and performance. Although some cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may require operative intervention, most patients in Pinckney, MO will likely experience lasting and meaningful improvement through less invasive physical therapy approaches.

What Pinckney, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Pinckney, MO will include an examination of your current pelvic floor condition. The remaining sessions will focus on implementing your personalized treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. During this phase, your Pinckney, MO physical therapist will take the time to get to know you and your issues. 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 consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Pinckney, MO may additionally include an internal examination to better determine the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used instead of 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 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 Pinckney, MO will design a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will include specific goals, exercises, and expected results 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 Pinckney, MO include:

• Kegel exercises to release and contract the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to sync your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Stretching exercises to loosen tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to build up weak muscles
• Functional training to integrate new muscle movements into everyday activities

The exercises your Pinckney, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change based on your specific situation, but will all be aimed at rehabilitating 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 evolve to seated 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 trigger point therapy (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve mobilization (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 learn how to manage and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles by giving you live feedback on how they engage and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and release the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle alignment and command.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to cross off – it also provides you with access to expert, evidence-based insights that improve your everyday life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Alterations to your nutrition
• Fluid control
• Correct posture and safe lifting methods
• Tactics for addressing constipation
• Additional recommendations for a more wholesome daily life and lifestyle

Augmenting the exercises and techniques used 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 other alternatives.

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in delivering customized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Pinckney, MO, our practice puts our clients at the center and aims to obtain positive patient results. We comprehend that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a challenging and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, compassion, and tailored attention.

We also embrace the belief in providing evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We utilize up-to-date research and state-of-the-art technology to shape our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we offer 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 Pinckney, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Pinckney, MO area, all devoted to achieving your best pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from living your most life. At Axes, our devoted physio and occupational therapists in Pinckney, MO have a unified mission: returning you to the things you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation in your favorite sport or making it demanding to get through your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan exclusively to you and your goals. Schedule an appointment online or contact the closest location to you to start your recovery with Axes Physical Therapy in Pinckney, MO today.