Pelvic floor therapy in Spanish Lake, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can impact your self-perception and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from returning to a favorite sport, starting a family, or just getting through a day with the same confidence and ease you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you need to feel like your best you again. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Spanish Lake, MO can lead to:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced discomfort and swelling
• Enhanced sexual function and pleasure
• Increased confidence and quality of life

Axes Physical Therapy in Spanish Lake, MO specializes in developing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they love most safely and successfully. If you are interested in discovering about pelvic floor therapy or desire to book an appointment with one of our experts, please contact us online today or contact to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you regain control and confidence in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

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

The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:

• Helps manage your bladder and bowels by providing you authority over the squeezing and relaxing of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from descending
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports healthy sexual function
• Provides stability and alignment to the core and back
• During pregnancy, stretches to accommodate a growing fetus and supports vaginal delivery in childbirth
• Assists in blood and lymph circulation, contributing to preserve healthy tissue

Pelvic Floor Anatomy

The pelvic floor muscles span 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 passageways 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 network of muscles and tissues that constructs a sturdy foundation, holding the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from sagging. It works like a reinforcing sling to preserve 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 assists 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 abdomen (iliococcygeus). The coccygeus connects the side and back bones of your pelvis and helps to maintain your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have crucial roles. They assist in regulating the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the correct times and contribute 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 have difficulty relaxing and coordinating 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
• Frequently feeling the urge to use the bathroom
• Sensation of needing to push out waste
• Pelvic discomfort
• Pain during sex
• 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 Spanish Lake, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to helping 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, ashamed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Spanish Lake, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and enjoy a pain-free life.

Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can strengthen, stretch, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The positive outcomes of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Spanish Lake, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can aid in improving bladder and bowel control, alleviate 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 the ability to relax and contract the 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 assist in lessening or eradicating the discomfort you feel caused by pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Pre- and postpartum care — Pelvic floor therapy is frequently advised during pregnancy and following childbirth. It can aid in preparing the pelvic floor for delivery, minimizing the chance of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and promoting recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor connected to giving birth.
• Sexual health improvement — By concentrating on particular muscles and addressing any subsurface issues, therapy can boost sexual excitement, climax, and general sexual gratification.
• Education and self-management — Your customized pelvic floor therapy plan won’t just comprise guided exercises. By providing information and guiding you in methods you can try on your own, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and enables you to sustain a routine that fosters pelvic floor health.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Spanish Lake, MO who can assist you in boosting your pelvic well-being and performance. While certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may require operative correction, most patients in Spanish Lake, MO will likely find sustained and meaningful improvement through less invasive physical therapy approaches.

What Spanish Lake, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Spanish Lake, MO will involve an examination of your existing pelvic floor condition. The subsequent sessions will focus on implementing your personalized treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. During this phase, your Spanish Lake, MO physical therapist will take the time to get to know 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 evaluate your present condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Spanish Lake, MO may also include an internal examination to better assess the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be utilized instead of an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation carried out by your physical therapist will aid in identifying the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and enable the development of an suitable 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 Spanish Lake, MO will design a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will include specific goals, exercises, and expected results to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

Improving strength and coordination is crucial for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Spanish Lake, MO are:

• Kegel exercises to loosen and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to sync your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Stretching exercises to release tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to develop weak muscles
• Functional training to include new muscle actions into daily tasks

The exercises your Spanish Lake, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change based on your specific 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 begin with you reclining on your back and progress to sitting 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 release (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 employs a device to gauge and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you understand how to manage and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles by giving you live feedback on how they contract and release. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and relax the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle coordination and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to complete – it also provides you with entry to expert, science-backed insights that enhance your daily life. Your physical therapist may suggest you with:

• Alterations to your eating habits
• Liquid regulation
• Appropriate body alignment and safe lifting methods
• Strategies for managing constipation
• Any other recommendations for a better everyday life and way of living

Augmenting the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these modifications encourages enhanced 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 more alternatives.

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in providing customized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Spanish Lake, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting beneficial patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a challenging and difficult issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the greatest respect, empathy, and customized attention.

We also subscribe to 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 exploring pelvic floor therapy in Spanish Lake, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Spanish Lake, MO area, all dedicated to achieving your best pelvic health.

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Spanish Lake, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from leading your best life. At Axes, our committed physical and occupational therapists in Spanish Lake, 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 difficult to navigate your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your ambitions. Request an appointment online or get in touch with the closest location to you to start your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in Spanish Lake, MO today.