Pelvic floor therapy in Shiloh, IL. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can impact your self-perception and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from getting back to a beloved sport, beginning parenthood, or just getting through a day with the same confidence and ease as before, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you require to regain your lifestyle. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Shiloh, IL can lead to:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced pain and swelling
• Enhanced sexual function and satisfaction
• Increased confidence and well-being

Axes Physical Therapy in Shiloh, IL specializes in designing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they enjoy most securely and successfully. If you are curious in discovering about pelvic floor therapy or desire to arrange an appointment with one of our experts, please contact us online today or reach out to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you restore control and assurance in your pelvic health.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that constitute a supportive web-like structure at the bottom of the pelvis. It acts like a “floor” or a base for the organs in the pelvic area, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor shields organs and your spine from external pressure while helping manage several basic functions.

The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:

• Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by giving you control over the contraction and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from prolapsing
• 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, helping to maintain 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 linking to the hip bones on each side. These muscles have channels or passages for the urethra (through which urine is passed), the vagina, and the anus (through which stool is passed).

Picture the pelvic floor as a woven web of muscles and tissues that forms a strong foundation, supporting the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from descending 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 feces (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 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 essential roles. They aid in regulating the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the appropriate times and contribute in sexual function and pleasure by providing support to the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is diminished 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 have 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
• Frequently feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to strain waste
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sex
• Erectile dysfunction and trouble 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, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Shiloh, IL. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to helping you recover the pleasure 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, ashamed, or despairing. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Shiloh, IL physical therapist, you can reclaim 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 Shiloh, IL include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can aid in 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 supports vitals functioning, such as relaxing and contracting muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
• Pain management — By targeting weaker or more rigid muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can aid in lessening or eradicating the pain you feel due to 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 likelihood of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and facilitating recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By concentrating on particular muscles and addressing any underlying issues, therapy can improve sexual excitement, climax, 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 guiding you in techniques you can practice on your own, your Axes physical therapist helps you engage actively 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 Shiloh, IL who can assist you in boosting your pelvic health and performance. While certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate surgical correction, most patients in Shiloh, IL will experience lasting and substantial improvement through minimally invasive physical therapy methods.

What Shiloh, IL Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Shiloh, IL will include an evaluation of your current pelvic floor health. The subsequent sessions will center around implementing your customized treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. In this appointment, your Shiloh, IL physical therapist will dedicate time to get to know you and your issues. They will inquire 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 approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Shiloh, IL may also involve an internal examination to better evaluate the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed as an substitute to an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation carried out by your physical therapist will aid in recognizing the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and enable the creation 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 Shiloh, IL will create a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will incorporate precise goals, exercises, and expected outcomes to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

Improving strength and coordination is essential for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Shiloh, IL include:

• Kegel exercises to loosen and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to harmonize your breath with your pelvic floor motion
• Flexibility exercises to loosen tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to strengthen weak muscles
• Functional training to integrate new muscle actions into routine activities

The exercises your Shiloh, IL physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will differ based on your particular needs, but will all be aimed at reconditioning your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your existing health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may initially start with you reclining on your back and progress 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 trigger point therapy (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 makes use of a device to measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to regulate and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they contract and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and relax the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle alignment and command.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to mark off – it also gives you entrée to expert, science-backed insights that improve your daily life. Your physical therapist may suggest you with:

• Alterations to your diet
• Liquid control
• Proper posture and lifting techniques
• Tactics for managing constipation
• Any other advice for a healthier everyday life and lifestyle

Complementing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these modifications promotes better pelvic floor function and overall well-being.

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

Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Pelvic Floor Therapy in Shiloh, IL

At Axes Physical Therapy, we firmly believe in offering customized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Shiloh, IL, our practice is focused on the client and getting beneficial patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a sensitive and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, compassion, and tailored attention.

We also hold the belief in offering evidence-based and comprehensive care to our patients. We employ 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 Shiloh, IL at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Shiloh, IL area, all devoted to achieving your ideal pelvic health.

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Shiloh, IL Pelvic Floor Therapy Today

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from living your best life. At Axes, our devoted physical and occupational therapists in Shiloh, IL have a singular mission: returning you to the things you love the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation in your favorite sport or making it challenging to get through your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan precisely to you and your goals. Schedule an appointment through our website or contact the closest location to you to embark on your recovery with Axes Physical Therapy in Shiloh, IL today.