Pelvic floor therapy in Weldon Spring Heights, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause hurt; it can affect your self-perception and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from dominating on the field, starting a family, or just getting through a day with the same assurance and comfort you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you need to regain your lifestyle. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Weldon Spring Heights, MO can help you experience:
- Improved bladder and bowel control
- Reduced discomfort and inflammation
- Enhanced sexual function and satisfaction
- Increased confidence and quality of life
Axes Physical Therapy in Weldon Spring Heights, MO specializes in developing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they enjoy most securely and successfully. If you are interested in finding out more about pelvic floor therapy or desire to arrange an appointment with one of our specialists, 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.
Understanding the Pelvic Floor
The pelvic floor is a complex of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that constitute a supportive hammock-like structure at the base 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 external pressure while helping manage several basic functions.
The pelvic floor provides a number of vital functions for the body:
- Helps manage your bladder and bowels by providing you control over the squeezing and release of muscles
- Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from prolapsing
- Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
- Supports healthy sexual function
- Provides sturdiness 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, contributing to sustain healthy 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 channels or passages 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 mesh of muscles and tissues that constructs a strong base, supporting the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from descending down. It works like a reinforcing sling to maintain the position and function of pelvic organs.
The main 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 stool (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 supports the organs inside your abdomen (iliococcygeus). The coccygeus connects the side and back bones of your pelvis and works to keep your pelvis stable.
The pelvic floor muscles have essential roles. They aid in regulating the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the appropriate 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 occurs when you have difficulty relaxing and coordinating 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 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 doesn’t just affect people of a single certain 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 Weldon Spring Heights, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team committed to helping you regain the pleasure of engaging in the things 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, ashamed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a life sentence. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Weldon Spring Heights, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and enjoy a comfortable existence.
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 Weldon Spring Heights, 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 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 strong or less flexible muscles and addressing trigger points, physical therapy can aid in lessening or getting rid of the discomfort you feel due to 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 assist in preparing the pelvic floor for childbirth, decreasing the risk of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and promoting recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor associated with childbirth.
- Sexual health improvement — By focusing on specific muscles and addressing any underlying issues, therapy can enhance sexual excitement, orgasm, and overall sexual health.
- Education and self-management — Your personalized pelvic floor therapy plan will not exclusively include supervised exercises. By providing education and guiding you in methods you can practice on your own, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and empowers you to sustain a way of life that fosters pelvic floor health.
At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Weldon Spring Heights, MO who can assist you in boosting your pelvic health and performance. While some instances of pelvic floor dysfunction may require surgical treatment, the majority of individuals in Weldon Spring Heights, MO will likely find long-lasting and significant progress through less invasive physical therapy methods.
What Weldon Spring Heights, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves
Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Weldon Spring Heights, MO will involve an evaluation of your existing pelvic floor health. 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 Weldon Spring Heights, MO 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 perform a physical examination and musculoskeletal assessment of your trunk and pelvis to determine your current condition. With your approval, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Weldon Spring Heights, MO may also include an internal examination to further determine the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed instead of an internal examination.
The assessment and evaluation conducted by your physical therapist will assist in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and support the creation of an effective treatment plan to help you in returning to the activities you love.
Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises
Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Weldon Spring Heights, MO will design a personalized treatment plan customized to your needs. This plan will incorporate defined goals, exercises, and projected results to guide your therapy.
Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy
Improving physical strength and coordination is vital for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Weldon Spring Heights, MO include:
- Kegel exercises to release and engage the pelvic floor muscles
- Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor movement
- Stretching exercises to loosen tight muscles
- Strengthening exercises to develop weak muscles
- Functional training to include new muscle patterns into everyday activities
The exercises your Weldon Spring Heights, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will differ based on your unique needs, 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 commence with you lying down on your back and gradually advance 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 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 makes use of a device to gauge and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to manage and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles by giving you real-time feedback on how they engage and release. 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 catalog of exercises to mark off – it also gives you entry to expert, research-supported insights that boost your day-to-day life. Your physical therapist may recommend you with:
- Alterations to your eating habits
- Liquid regulation
- Correct posture and safe lifting methods
- Tactics for addressing constipation
- Additional advice for a more wholesome day-to-day life and lifestyle
Enhancing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adjustments encourages improved pelvic floor function and overall well-being.
Other pelvic floor therapy techniques may include therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and other alternatives.
Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Pelvic Floor Therapy in Weldon Spring Heights, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in offering personalized and empathetic treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in Weldon Spring Heights, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting favorable 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 customized attention.
We also embrace the belief in delivering evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and cutting-edge technology to inform 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 Weldon Spring Heights, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Weldon Spring Heights, MO area, all dedicated to realizing your optimal pelvic health.
Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Weldon Spring Heights, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today
Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to prevent you from being your favorite version of yourself. At Axes, our committed physical and occupational therapists in Weldon Spring Heights, MO have a sole mission: returning you to the activities you love the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation in your favorite sport or making it challenging to manage your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan exclusively to you and your aspirations. Request an appointment online or contact the nearest location to you to start your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in Weldon Spring Heights, MO today.
