Pelvic floor therapy in Twin Oaks, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can impact your self-esteem and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from getting back to a beloved activity, beginning parenthood, or just getting through a day with the same confidence and comfort as before, 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 Twin Oaks, MO 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 Twin Oaks, MO specializes in developing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the activities they enjoy most securely and effectively. If you are curious in finding out more about pelvic floor therapy or wish to schedule 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.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that create 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 shields organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping control several basic functions.

The pelvic floor provides a number of vital functions for the body:

• Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by providing you control over the contraction and release of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from descending
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports well-functioning 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 lymph circulation, contributing to maintain vibrant tissue

Pelvic Floor Anatomy

The pelvic floor muscles extend 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 creates a strong foundation, holding the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from descending down. It works like a supportive 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 feces (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 works to maintain your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have crucial roles. They help in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the correct times and contribute in sexual function and satisfaction by supporting the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is weakened 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 aligning your pelvic floor muscles for optimal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Difficulty urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are not fully finished
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Often feeling the urge to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to strain waste
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Erectile dysfunction and difficulty 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 doesn’t just affect people of a single certain age, gender or physical ability. While it can affect anyone deeply, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Twin Oaks, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to helping you regain the joy of engaging in the pursuits 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 disappointed, embarrassed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is far from a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Twin Oaks, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and experience a pain-free life.

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

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can assist in improving bladder and bowel control, reduce 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 more rigid muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can support in reducing or eliminating the discomfort you experience resulting from pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Pre- and postpartum care — Pelvic floor therapy is frequently advised during pregnancy and following childbirth. It can assist in preparing the pelvic floor for labor, decreasing the likelihood of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and promoting recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to pregnancy and labor.
• Sexual health improvement — By targeting particular muscles and addressing any hidden issues, therapy can improve sexual excitement, climax, and general sexual gratification.
• Education and self-management — Your customized pelvic floor therapy plan will not exclusively comprise supervised exercises. By offering education and teaching you techniques you can practice autonomously, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and empowers you to maintain a lifestyle that promotes pelvic floor health.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Twin Oaks, MO who can help you in improving your pelvic well-being and function. While some instances of pelvic floor dysfunction might require surgical correction, most patients in Twin Oaks, MO will likely find long-lasting and substantial improvement through less invasive physical therapy methods.

What Twin Oaks, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Twin Oaks, MO will include an examination of your current pelvic floor health. The subsequent sessions will emphasize implementing your tailored treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Twin Oaks, MO physical therapist will spend 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 evaluate your present condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Twin Oaks, MO may additionally include an internal examination to more evaluate the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed rather than an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation performed by your physical therapist will assist in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support 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 Twin Oaks, MO will develop a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will include specific goals, techniques, and anticipated results to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

Improving muscle strength and balance is vital for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Twin Oaks, MO include:

• Kegel exercises to loosen and engage the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to harmonize your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Flexibility exercises to increase flexibility in tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to strengthen weak muscles
• Functional training to include new muscle movements into everyday activities

The exercises your Twin Oaks, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will vary based on your unique situation, but will all be aimed at rehabilitating 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 evolve to seated 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 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 learn how to control and align your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they tighten and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to engage and relax the muscles appropriately, optimizing your muscle alignment and control.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to complete – it also provides you with entry to skilled, science-backed insights that boost your day-to-day life. Your physical therapist may recommend you with:

• Changes to your nutrition
• Fluid regulation
• Correct posture and safe lifting methods
• Approaches for managing constipation
• Any other advice for a more wholesome day-to-day life and way of living

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

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in providing personalized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Twin Oaks, MO, our practice puts our clients at the center and aims to attain favorable patient results. We comprehend that pelvic floor dysfunction can present as a delicate and demanding condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the highest respect, empathy, and customized attention.

We also embrace the belief in providing evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We make use of up-to-date research and advanced technology to inform our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we present a range of other physical therapy services that can supplement 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 Twin Oaks, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Twin Oaks, MO area, all committed to attaining your best pelvic health.

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Twin Oaks, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to hinder you from being the best version of yourself. At Axes, our committed physio and occupational therapists in Twin Oaks, MO have a sole mission: getting you back to the activities you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it demanding to navigate your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your aspirations. Schedule an appointment through our website or reach out to the nearest location to you to embark on your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Twin Oaks, MO today.