Pelvic floor therapy in Woodson Terrace, MO. Pelvic floor causes more than just physical discomfort; it can impact your self-perception and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing you from dominating on the basketball court, starting a family, or just navigating a day with the same confidence and ease as before, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you require to feel like your best you again. With research-supported treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Woodson Terrace, MO can help you achieve:
- Improved bladder and bowel control
- Reduced discomfort and swelling
- Enhanced sexual performance and satisfaction
- Increased self-assurance and well-being
Axes Physical Therapy in Woodson Terrace, MO specializes in designing personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they love most safely and effectively. If you are interested 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 contact to the Axes location nearest you. We’re here to help you reclaim command and assurance in your pelvic health.
How the Pelvic Floor Works
The pelvic floor is a complex of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that form a supportive net-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 shields organs and your spine from outside pressure while helping control several basic functions.
The pelvic floor has numerous functions and roles:
- Helps control your bladder and bowels by giving you authority over the squeezing and relaxing of muscles
- Supports organs in the pelvis and avoids them from prolapsing
- Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
- Supports optimal sexual function
- Provides stability 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).
Imagine the pelvic floor as a woven mesh 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 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 assists you to hold in your poo (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 helps to keep your pelvis stable.
The pelvic floor muscles have important roles. They help in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the right times and play a part in sexual function and pleasure 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 experience difficulty unwinding and aligning 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
- Often feeling the need to use the bathroom
- Sensation of needing to push out waste
- Pelvic pain
- Pain during sex
- 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 can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or physical ability. While it can affect anyone deeply, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Woodson Terrace, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team dedicated to helping you regain the joy of participating in the activities 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 far from a life sentence. With pragmatic treatment plans tailored for you by your Woodson Terrace, MO physical therapist, you can reclaim control over your life and experience a comfortable existence.
Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can strengthen, stretch, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The benefits of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Woodson Terrace, 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 facilitates essential functioning, such as relaxing and contracting muscles during urination, bowel movements, and sexual activity.
- Pain management — By targeting weaker or more rigid muscles and addressing trigger points, physical therapy can assist in reducing or eliminating the pain you endure 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 delivery, reducing the risk of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and promoting recovery from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor related to pregnancy and labor.
- Sexual health improvement — By targeting specific muscles and tackling any underlying issues, therapy can enhance sexual excitement, climax, and overall sexual health.
- 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 tips you can utilize independently, your Axes physical therapist helps you engage actively in your own care and empowers you to sustain a way of life that fosters pelvic floor wellness.
At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of skilled pelvic floor therapists in Woodson Terrace, MO who can help you in boosting your pelvic well-being and performance. Although certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate operative intervention, most individuals in Woodson Terrace, MO will likely find long-lasting and meaningful improvement through minimally invasive physical therapy methods.
What Woodson Terrace, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves
Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Woodson Terrace, MO will include an examination 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 Woodson Terrace, 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 evaluate your present condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Woodson Terrace, MO may also involve an internal examination to more assess the strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be used rather than an internal examination.
The assessment and evaluation carried out by your physical therapist will aid in recognizing the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and facilitate the formulation of an optimal treatment plan to help 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 Woodson Terrace, 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 balance is crucial for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Woodson Terrace, MO are:
- Kegel exercises to relax and tighten the pelvic floor muscles
- Diaphragmatic breathing to sync your breath with your pelvic floor motion
- Flexibility exercises to increase flexibility in tight muscles
- Resistance exercises to develop weak muscles
- Functional training to incorporate new muscle actions into everyday activities
The exercises your Woodson Terrace, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will differ 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 lying flat on your back and progress 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 decompression (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 utilizes a device to gauge and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you understand how to control and harmonize 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 contract and release the muscles correctly, optimizing your muscle integration and command.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications
Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to cross off – it also gives you entry to skilled, research-supported insights that enhance your day-to-day life. Your physical therapist may suggest you with:
- Adjustments to your eating habits
- Liquid control
- Appropriate posture and safe lifting methods
- Tactics for addressing constipation
- Further tips for a healthier day-to-day life and way of living
Complementing the exercises and techniques employed in pelvic floor therapy with these adjustments promotes enhanced pelvic floor function and general well-being.
Other methods in pelvic floor therapy may incorporate therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and more alternatives.
Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Pelvic Floor Therapy in Woodson Terrace, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we strongly believe in offering customized and compassionate treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a committed physical therapist in Woodson Terrace, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting beneficial patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can present as a delicate and difficult condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the utmost respect, empathy, and personalized attention.
We also hold the belief in providing evidence-based and comprehensive care to our patients. We employ up-to-date research and cutting-edge technology to guide 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 exploring pelvic floor therapy in Woodson Terrace, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Woodson Terrace, MO area, all dedicated to attaining your optimal pelvic health.
Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Woodson Terrace, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today
Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to keep you from being the best version of yourself. At Axes, our committed physio and occupational therapists in Woodson Terrace, MO have a unified mission: getting you back to the activities you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation in your favorite sport or making it demanding to navigate your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan specifically to you and your ambitions. Request an appointment through our website or get in touch with the nearest location to you to start your recovery with Axes Physical Therapy in Woodson Terrace, MO today.
