Pelvic floor therapy in West Alton, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can impact your self-perception and independence. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from returning to a beloved activity, starting a family, or just getting through a day with the same confidence and ease as before, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you need to regain your lifestyle. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in West Alton, 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 West Alton, MO specializes in developing customized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pursuits they love most safely and successfully. If you are curious in gaining more information about pelvic floor therapy or wish to book an appointment with one of our physical therapusts, please contact us online today or reach out to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you restore command and assurance in your pelvic health.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that constitute 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 region, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor shields organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping manage several important functions.

The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:

• Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by providing you command over the contraction and relaxing of muscles
• Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from prolapsing
• Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
• Supports healthy sexual function
• Provides support and posture to the core and back
• During pregnancy, stretches to accommodate a growing fetus and assists 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 linking 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).

Picture the pelvic floor as a woven mesh of muscles and tissues that constructs a resilient base, holding the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from dropping down. It works like a supportive 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 poo (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 keep your pelvis stable.

The pelvic floor muscles have important roles. They aid in controlling the release of urine and stool by contracting and relaxing at the right times and contribute in sexual function and pleasure by providing support to 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 experience difficulty relaxing and coordinating your pelvic floor muscles for optimal function.

Signs and Symptoms

• Trouble 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
• Sensation of needing to push out urine or feces
• Pelvic pain
• 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, there is hope with professional physical therapy in West Alton, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to helping you recover the joy of participating in the things you hold dear 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 despairing. But a diagnosis is far from a life sentence. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your West Alton, MO physical therapist, you can regain 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 positive outcomes of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in West Alton, 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 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 weaker or stiffer muscles and addressing sensitive areas, physical therapy can aid in lessening or eliminating 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 delivery, reducing the chance of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and promoting healing from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to giving birth.
• Sexual health improvement — By focusing on specific muscles and tackling any underlying issues, therapy can enhance sexual arousal, climax, and overall sexual gratification.
• Education and self-management — Pelvic floor therapy is about more than just checking exorcises off of a list. By providing education and instructing you in methods you can try at home, your Axes physical therapist helps you take an active role in your own care and empowers you to maintain a way of life that promotes pelvic floor health.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists in West Alton, MO who can support you in enhancing your pelvic well-being and performance. While certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may require operative treatment, the majority of individuals in West Alton, MO will find lasting and substantial improvement through non-invasive physical therapy approaches.

What West Alton, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves

Your first pelvic floor therapy session in West Alton, MO will involve an assessment of your existing pelvic floor condition. The following sessions will center around implementing your customized treatment program.

Assessment and Evaluation

The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. During this phase, your West Alton, MO physical therapist will take the 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 evaluate your present condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in West Alton, MO may additionally involve an internal examination to more assess the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed rather than an internal examination.

The assessment and evaluation conducted by your physical therapist will aid in recognizing the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the formulation of an suitable treatment plan to help you in getting back 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 West Alton, MO will develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will incorporate defined goals, techniques, and anticipated results 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 West Alton, MO 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 release tight muscles
• Resistance exercises to build up weak muscles
• Functional training to integrate new muscle movements into everyday tasks

The exercises your West Alton, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will be different based on your unique situation, but will all be aimed at retraining your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your current health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may begin with you lying flat on your back and evolve to seated and upright 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 massaging specific areas of your pelvis. It may include trigger point therapy (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve decompression (freeing up compressed nerves), joint manipulation (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 measure and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you understand how to regulate and align your pelvic floor muscles by giving you live 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 coordination and mastery.

Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications

Physical therapy isn’t just a collection of exercises to complete – it also offers you entry to skilled, evidence-based insights that boost your daily life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:

• Changes to your nutrition
• Liquid control
• Appropriate posture and safe lifting methods
• Tactics for managing constipation
• Further recommendations for a better daily life and way of living

Augmenting the exercises and techniques utilized in pelvic floor therapy with these adaptations promotes better pelvic floor function and general well-being.

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in offering individualized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in West Alton, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting positive patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can present as a delicate and demanding issue. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, compassion, and personalized attention.

We also subscribe to the belief in providing evidence-based and holistic care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and state-of-the-art technology to shape our treatment plans and methodologies. In addition, we present a range of other physical therapy services that can complement 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 West Alton, MO, trust in Axes. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the West Alton, MO area, all dedicated to achieving your optimal pelvic health.

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your West Alton, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today

Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to prevent you from being your favorite version of yourself. At Axes, our dedicated physical and occupational therapists in West Alton, MO have a unified mission: returning you to the things you value the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your playing in your favorite sport or making it demanding to get through your day, we will personalize our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your aspirations. Schedule an appointment through our website or contact the most convenient location to you to start your journey with Axes Physical Therapy in West Alton, MO today.