Pelvic floor therapy in Wilbur Park, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can affect your sense of self and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from dominating on the field, beginning parenthood, or just navigating a day with the same confidence and comfort you used to, pelvic floor physical therapy may be what you need to feel like your best you again. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Wilbur Park, MO can help you with:
- Improved bladder and bowel control
- Reduced discomfort and inflammation
- Enhanced sexual performance and pleasure
- Increased confidence and well-being
Axes Physical Therapy in Wilbur Park, MO specializes in designing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pursuits they enjoy most securely and successfully. If you are curious in finding out more about pelvic floor therapy or want to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, please contact us online today or reach out to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you regain control and confidence in your pelvic health.
How the Pelvic Floor Works
The pelvic floor is the soft tissues and joints that create a supportive web-like structure at the base of the pelvis. It acts like a “floor” or a foundation for the organs in your pelvis, including the bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum. The pelvic floor safeguards organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping control several vital functions.
The pelvic floor has several functions and roles:
- Helps regulate your bladder and bowels by providing you control over the squeezing and release of muscles
- Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from descending
- Resists abdominal pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
- Supports optimal sexual function
- Provides support 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, 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 linking to the hip bones on each side. These muscles have openings or canals 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 web of muscles and tissues that constructs a strong base, holding the pelvic organs in place and avoiding them from dropping down. It works like a reinforcing sling to uphold 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 assists 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 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 assist in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the appropriate times and play a part in sexual function and pleasure by providing support to the organs involved in sexual activity. When the pelvic floor is diminished 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
- 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
- Sensation of needing to force out urine or feces
- Pelvic aches
- 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 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 Wilbur Park, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to helping you recover the joy 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 disappointed, ashamed, or hopeless. But a diagnosis is not the same thing as a life sentence. With practical treatment plans customized for you by your Wilbur Park, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and enjoy 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 Wilbur Park, MO include:
- Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can aid 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 the ability to relax and contract the muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
- Pain management — By targeting weaker or more rigid muscles and addressing painful spots, physical therapy can aid in lessening or eradicating the pain you endure due to 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 labor, minimizing the likelihood of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and helping recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to giving birth.
- Sexual health improvement — By focusing on particular muscles and dealing with any hidden issues, therapy can boost sexual excitement, orgasm, and overall sexual gratification.
- Education and self-management — Your tailored pelvic floor therapy plan won’t exclusively comprise guided exercises. By providing education and instructing you in tips you can practice independently, 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 experienced pelvic floor therapists in Wilbur Park, MO who can assist you in boosting your pelvic health and function. Although some cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate operative intervention, the majority of individuals in Wilbur Park, MO will find lasting and substantial progress through less invasive physical therapy techniques.
What Wilbur Park, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves
Your first pelvic floor therapy session in Wilbur Park, MO will involve an evaluation of your current pelvic floor health. The subsequent sessions will center around implementing your personalized treatment program.
Assessment and Evaluation
The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. In this appointment, your Wilbur Park, MO physical therapist will spend 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 evaluate your present condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Wilbur Park, MO may also include an internal examination to further determine the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used instead of an internal examination.
The assessment and evaluation performed by your physical therapist will assist in identifying the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and enable the formulation of an optimal treatment plan to assist you in getting back to the activities you enjoy.
Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments and Exercises
Upon reviewing the findings from your assessment and evaluation, your pelvic floor therapist in Wilbur Park, MO will design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will include precise goals, techniques, and expected results to guide your therapy.
Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy
Improving muscle strength and coordination is crucial for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Wilbur Park, MO include:
- Kegel exercises to relax and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
- Diaphragmatic breathing to coordinate your breath with your pelvic floor movement
- Flexibility exercises to release tight muscles
- Strengthening exercises to strengthen weak muscles
- Functional training to incorporate new muscle movements into routine activities
The exercises your Wilbur Park, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will differ based on your particular needs, but will all be aimed at rehabilitating your body and muscles for optimal health. Depending on your present health and level of pelvic floor dysfunction, exercises may commence with you reclining on your back and progress to seated and standing 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 mobilization (lifting and rolling the skin to reduce adhesions).
Biofeedback Training
Biofeedback training utilizes 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 instant feedback on how they engage and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to contract and relax the muscles properly, optimizing your muscle integration and mastery.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications
Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to cross off – it also gives you entry to expert, research-supported insights that improve your day-to-day life. Your physical therapist may recommend you with:
- Alterations to your nutrition
- Liquid regulation
- Correct posture and lifting techniques
- Approaches for addressing constipation
- Further tips for a better everyday life and lifestyle
Augmenting the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adjustments encourages improved pelvic floor function and overall 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 Wilbur Park, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in offering customized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a dedicated physical therapist in Wilbur Park, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting positive patient results. We comprehend that pelvic floor dysfunction can pose as a delicate and demanding condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the greatest respect, compassion, and tailored attention.
We also embrace the belief in providing evidence-based and integrative care to our patients. We utilize up-to-date research and cutting-edge 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 Wilbur Park, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Wilbur Park, MO area, all dedicated to achieving your best pelvic health.
Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Wilbur Park, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today
Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from leading your most life. At Axes, our committed physical and occupational therapists in Wilbur Park, MO have a sole mission: returning you to the things you love the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping your participation in your favorite sport or making it difficult to navigate your day, we will tailor our physical therapy treatment plan exclusively to you and your goals. Schedule an appointment through our website or contact the most convenient location to you to commence your rehabilitation with Axes Physical Therapy in Wilbur Park, MO today.
