Pelvic floor therapy in Preston Woods, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause hurt; it can impact your self-esteem and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from dominating on the field, beginning parenthood, or just navigating a day with the same confidence and comfort as before, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you require to feel like your best you again. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Preston Woods, MO can lead to:

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

Axes Physical Therapy in Preston Woods, MO specializes in developing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pursuits they love most safely and successfully. If you are interested in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or desire to arrange an appointment with one of our physical therapusts, please contact us online today or reach out to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you reclaim control and assurance 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 area, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor protects organs and your spine from external pressure while helping manage several vital functions.

The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:

• Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by giving you command over the contraction and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from prolapsing
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports well-functioning sexual function
• Provides stability 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 lymph 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 connecting 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 network of muscles and tissues that creates a strong base, holding the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from dropping down. It works like a reinforcing sling to uphold 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 poo (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 helps 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 appropriate times and contribute in sexual function and satisfaction by providing support to 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 is a condition where you have difficulty relaxing and aligning your pelvic floor muscles for optimal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Difficulty urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are incomplete
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Frequently feeling the urge to use the bathroom
• Sensation of needing to force out waste
• Pelvic discomfort
• 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 Preston Woods, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to assisting you regain the pleasure of engaging 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 disappointed, embarrassed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is far from a life sentence. With practical treatment plans tailored for you by your Preston Woods, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and enjoy a comfortable existence.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can strengthen, stretch, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The benefits of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Preston Woods, 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 provide better support for the pelvic organs.
• Improved pelvic floor muscle coordination — Enhancing coordination facilitates vitals functioning, such as relaxing and contracting muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting less resilient or stiffer muscles and addressing sensitive areas, physical therapy can aid in diminishing or getting rid of the pain you feel 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 labor, minimizing the chance of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and promoting recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor connected to childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By targeting particular muscles and tackling any hidden issues, therapy can enhance sexual excitement, climax, and overall sexual gratification.
• Education and self-management — Your personalized pelvic floor therapy plan will not just include supervised exercises. By providing information and instructing you in methods you can try at home, your Axes physical therapist helps you engage actively in your own care and empowers you to sustain a routine that supports pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Preston Woods, MO who can support you in boosting your pelvic well-being and performance. While some cases of pelvic floor dysfunction might require operative treatment, most individuals in Preston Woods, MO will experience sustained and significant progress through less invasive physical therapy methods.

What Preston Woods, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Preston Woods, MO will include an examination of your existing pelvic floor condition. The following sessions will focus on implementing your personalized treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Preston Woods, MO physical therapist will dedicate time to understand you and your symptoms. 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 determine your current condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Preston Woods, MO may additionally include an internal examination to more assess the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed rather than an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation conducted by your physical therapist will assist in identifying the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the formulation of an suitable treatment plan to help you in resuming the activities you cherish.

Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises

Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Preston Woods, MO will design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will include precise goals, exercises, and anticipated 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 Preston Woods, MO are:

• Kegel exercises to relax and engage the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to sync your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Stretching exercises to increase flexibility in tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to develop weak muscles
• Functional training to integrate new muscle patterns into routine activities

The exercises your Preston Woods, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change based on your particular needs, 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 commence with you reclining on your back and gradually advance to sitting and upright 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 trigger point therapy (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve decompression (freeing up compressed nerves), joint mobilizing techniques (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 align your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they contract 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 list of exercises to mark off – it also gives you entrée to expert, research-supported insights that enhance your daily life. Your physical therapist may suggest you with:

• Alterations to your eating habits
• Fluid control
• Proper body alignment and lifting techniques
• Strategies for dealing with constipation
• Additional tips for a healthier everyday life and lifestyle

Complementing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these modifications encourages better pelvic floor function and general 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 Preston Woods, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in offering individualized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Preston Woods, MO, our practice places our clients at the center and aims to obtain beneficial patient results. We comprehend that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a challenging and difficult issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, empathy, and tailored attention.

We also hold the belief in providing evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We make use of up-to-date research and state-of-the-art technology to guide our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we present 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 considering pelvic floor therapy in Preston Woods, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Preston Woods, MO area, all committed to realizing your best pelvic health.

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Preston Woods, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to hinder you from leading your most life. At Axes, our committed physio and occupational therapists in Preston Woods, MO have a sole mission: getting you back to the activities you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation in your favorite sport or making it challenging to navigate your day, we will personalize our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your goals. Schedule an appointment through our website or reach out to the most convenient location to you to commence your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in Preston Woods, MO today.