Pelvic floor therapy in Wright City, MO. Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t just cause pain; it can impact your self-esteem and happiness. If pelvic floor dysfunction is keeping you from getting back to a beloved activity, beginning parenthood, or just navigating a day with the same assurance and ease as before, pelvic floor physical therapy could be what you require to regain your lifestyle. With evidence-backed treatment plans, pelvic floor therapy in Wright City, MO can lead to:
- Improved bladder and bowel control
- Reduced discomfort and inflammation
- Enhanced sexual function and pleasure
- Increased self-assurance and well-being
Axes Physical Therapy in Wright City, MO specializes in creating personalized treatment plans that gets pelvic floor patients back to the pastimes they enjoy most securely and effectively. If you are interested in learning more about pelvic floor therapy or wish to schedule 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 restore command and confidence in your pelvic health.
Understanding the Pelvic Floor
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and fibers that constitute 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 protects organs and your spine from external pressure while helping manage several vital functions.
The pelvic floor has numerous functions and roles:
- Helps manage your bladder and bowels by providing you authority over the squeezing and relaxing of muscles
- Supports organs in the pelvis and prevents them from prolapsing
- Resists belly pressure from lifting, coughing, or other activities
- Supports optimal sexual function
- Provides sturdiness and posture 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 preserve 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 passageways or canals 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 network of muscles and tissues that forms a sturdy foundation, supporting 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 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 lower belly (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 aid in controlling the release of urine and stool by tightening and relaxing at the correct times and contribute in sexual function and satisfaction 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 occurs when 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
- Feeling like you need to strain urine or feces
- Pelvic pain
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- 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, there is hope with professional physical therapy in Wright City, MO. At Axes, we offer an entire team devoted to helping you regain the pleasure of engaging in the activities you love 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 despairing. But a diagnosis is far from a permanent condition. With pragmatic treatment plans customized for you by your Wright City, MO physical therapist, you can regain control over your life and experience a comfortable life.
Pelvic floor therapy involves exercises that can strengthen, improve flexibility of, or coordinate the pelvic muscles. The positive outcomes of physical therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction in Wright City, MO include:
- Improved pelvic floor muscle strength — Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can assist in improving bladder and bowel control, reduce symptoms of urinary and fecal incontinence, and provide better support for the pelvic organs.
- Improved pelvic floor muscle coordination — Enhancing coordination supports 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 trigger points, physical therapy can support in reducing 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 assist in preparing the pelvic floor for childbirth, reducing the chance of after childbirth pelvic floor dysfunction, and promoting recuperation from changes and trauma to the pelvic floor connected to pregnancy and labor.
- Sexual health improvement — By targeting specific muscles and dealing with any underlying issues, therapy can improve sexual arousal, climax, and overall sexual health.
- Education and self-management — Your tailored pelvic floor therapy plan will not just consist of monitored exercises. By offering information and teaching you techniques you can utilize independently, your Axes physical therapist helps you actively participate in your own care and enables you to sustain a routine that promotes pelvic floor health.
At Axes Physical Therapy, we have a team of experienced pelvic floor therapists in Wright City, MO who can support you in boosting your pelvic health and performance. Although certain cases of pelvic floor dysfunction may necessitate operative intervention, the majority of individuals in Wright City, MO will find sustained and significant improvement through less invasive physical therapy techniques.
What Wright City, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Involves
Your initial pelvic floor therapy session in Wright City, MO will include an assessment of your existing pelvic floor condition. The following sessions will emphasize implementing your tailored treatment plan.
Assessment and Evaluation
The journey of pelvic floor therapy begins with an initial evaluation. During this phase, your Wright City, MO physical therapist will spend time to get to know you and your symptoms. They will ask about your medical history, lifestyle, and goals. Additionally, they will conduct a physical examination and musculoskeletal assessment of your trunk and pelvis to determine your current condition. With your consent, a pre-pelvic floor therapy assessment in Wright City, MO may also involve an internal examination to better assess the muscle strength level. Alternatively, biofeedback sensors can be employed instead of an internal examination.
The assessment and evaluation carried out by your physical therapist will aid in determining the potential causes of your pelvic floor dysfunction and enable the creation of an suitable treatment plan to assist 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 Wright City, MO will design a personalized treatment plan specific to your needs. This plan will incorporate precise goals, exercises, and expected outcomes to guide your therapy.
Exercises for Pelvic Floor Therapy
Improving strength and balance is crucial for any pelvic floor therapy plan. Exercises that may be included in your physical therapy treatment plan in Wright City, MO are:
- Kegel exercises to loosen and engage the pelvic floor muscles
- Diaphragmatic breathing to harmonize your breath with your pelvic floor motion
- Flexibility exercises to release tight muscles
- Resistance exercises to develop weak muscles
- Functional training to include new muscle patterns into routine tasks
The exercises your Wright City, MO physical therapist prescribes for your pelvic floor dysfunction will vary 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 initially start with you lying flat on your back and gradually advance to sitting and upright 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 trigger point therapy (releasing tight knots in your muscles), nerve decompression (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 utilizes a device to gauge and display the activity of your pelvic floor muscles on a screen. It help you learn how to control and align your pelvic floor muscles by giving you instant feedback on how they tighten and relax. This feedback helps you better understand understand how to activate and release the muscles appropriately, optimizing your muscle integration and command.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Modifications
Physical therapy isn’t just a list of exercises to mark off – it also gives you access to expert, evidence-based insights that enhance your everyday life. Your physical therapist may advise you with:
- Changes to your diet
- Liquid control
- Proper posture and lifting techniques
- Strategies for addressing constipation
- Further tips for a healthier day-to-day life and lifestyle
Enhancing the exercises and techniques used in pelvic floor therapy with these adjustments encourages enhanced pelvic floor function and overall well-being.
Other methods in pelvic floor therapy may include therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, vaginal dilators, weighted cones, medications, and more alternatives.
Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Pelvic Floor Therapy in Wright City, MO
At Axes Physical Therapy, we wholeheartedly believe in offering customized and empathetic treatment to our patients. Owned and operated by a devoted physical therapist in Wright City, MO, our practice is focused on the client and getting positive patient results. We understand that pelvic floor dysfunction can manifest as a challenging and demanding condition. That’s why we approach every patient with the greatest respect, compassion, and personalized attention.
We also embrace the belief in delivering evidence-based and comprehensive care to our patients. We utilize up-to-date research and state-of-the-art 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 considering pelvic floor therapy in Wright City, MO at Axes Physical Therapy, we are here to help. We have several convenient physical therapy locations in the Wright City, MO area, all dedicated to achieving your best pelvic health.
Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Wright City, MO Pelvic Floor Therapy Today
Don’t let pelvic floor dysfunction to hinder you from living your best life. At Axes, our committed physio and occupational therapists in Wright City, MO have a sole mission: returning you to the things you cherish the most. Whether pelvic floor dysfunction is preventing your participation in your favorite sport or making it demanding to get through your day, we will customize our physical therapy treatment plan exclusively to you and your ambitions. Schedule an appointment through our website or contact the nearest location to you to embark on your path with Axes Physical Therapy in Wright City, MO today.
