Pelvic floor therapy in Washington, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical discomfort; it can affect your sense of self and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from getting back to a beloved activity, 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 feel like your best you again. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Washington, MO can help you experience:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced pain and swelling
• Enhanced sexual function and pleasure
• Increased self-assurance and well-being

Axes Physical Therapy in Washington, MO specializes in creating customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they love most safely and successfully. If you are interested in gaining more information about pelvic floor therapy or want to arrange an appointment with one of our physical therapusts, please contact us online today or get in touch to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you reclaim control and assurance in your pelvic health.

How the Pelvic Floor Works

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that create a supportive net-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 shields organs and your spine from external pressure while helping control several everyday functions.

The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:

• Helps manage your bladder and bowels by providing you control over the contraction and relaxing of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from descending
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports optimal sexual function
• Provides sturdiness and alignment to the core and back
• During pregnancy, stretches to accommodate a growing fetus and assists in childbirth
• Assists in blood and lymphatic circulation, helping 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 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 mesh of muscles and tissues that creates a resilient base, holding the pelvic organs in place and preventing them from dropping down. 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 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 crucial roles. They assist in controlling the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the correct times and play a part in sexual function and satisfaction by supporting the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is weakened 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 coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for optimal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Challenges urinating or having bowel movements
• Feeling like your bowel movements are incomplete
• Leakage of urine or feces
• Regularly feeling the need to use the bathroom
• Sensation of needing to force out waste
• Pelvic aches
• 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 have a negative impact on your physical, mental, and emotional health, it’s important to remember that proven, evidence-backed treatment plans exist with professional physical therapy in Washington, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to assisting you regain the pleasure of participating in the things 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 frustrated, ashamed, or despairing. But a diagnosis is far from a life sentence. With practical treatment plans customized for you by your Washington, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and enjoy a comfortable 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 Washington, MO include:

• Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can assist in improving bladder and bowel control, alleviate symptoms of urinary and fecal incontinence, and offer better support for the pelvic organs.
• Improved pelvic floor muscle coordination — Enhancing coordination promotes vitals functioning, such as the ability to relax and contract the 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 assist in diminishing or eliminating the pain 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 readying the pelvic floor for labor, decreasing the likelihood of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with childbirth.
• Sexual health improvement — By targeting particular muscles and addressing any underlying issues, therapy can improve sexual arousal, climax, and overall sexual satisfaction.
• Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By offering education and instructing you in methods you can practice independently, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and enables you to sustain a way of life that fosters pelvic floor wellness.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in Washington, MO who can support you in improving your pelvic well-being and function. While some cases of pelvic floor dysfunction might require surgical correction, the majority of individuals in Washington, MO will find lasting and substantial improvement through less invasive physical therapy approaches.

What Washington, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Washington, MO will comprise an assessment of your existing pelvic floor condition. The following sessions will center around implementing your tailored treatment plan.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial assessment. In this appointment, your Washington, 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 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 Washington, MO may additionally involve an internal examination to more evaluate the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be utilized instead of an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation conducted by your physical therapist will aid in identifying the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support the development of an effective 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 Washington, MO will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will include specific goals, techniques, and expected outcomes to guide your therapy.

Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy

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

• Kegel exercises to release and engage the pelvic floor muscles
• Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor movement
• Flexibility exercises to release tight muscles
• Strengthening exercises to develop weak muscles
• Functional training to integrate new muscle movements into everyday tasks

The exercises your Washington, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will change based on your unique situation, but will all be aimed at retraining 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 mobilization (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 employs a device to gauge and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to manage and align your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they engage and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and release the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle alignment and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

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

• Changes to your diet
• Fluid management
• Correct body alignment and safe lifting methods
• Tactics for managing constipation
• Any other tips for a better day-to-day life and way of living

Enhancing the exercises and techniques used in pelvic floor therapy with these modifications encourages improved pelvic floor function and general well-being.

Other methods in pelvic floor therapy may involve therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and additional alternatives.

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in offering personalized and caring treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Washington, MO, our practice places our clients at the center and strives to attain positive patient results. We comprehend 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 customized attention.

We also hold the belief in delivering evidence-based and holistic 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 provide 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 considering pelvic floor therapy in Washington, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Washington, MO area, all committed to achieving your best pelvic health.

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

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from being your favorite version of yourself. At Axes, our devoted physical and occupational therapists in Washington, MO have a unified mission: getting you back to the things you treasure the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it demanding to manage your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your goals. Request an appointment through our website or contact the closest location to you to commence your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in Washington, MO today.