Do you struggle with any of the following?
• Frequent bathroom visits
• Trouble controlling your bowels or urine during every day activity, leading to leakage
• Pain during intercourse
• Constipation
You could be suffering from Pelvic Floor Dysfunction.
When you have pelvic floor dysfunction, your pelvic muscles can’t relax or work together the way they should. The pelvic floor muscles attach to your tail bone and pubic bone. If the muscles in the pelvic floor are weak or don’t work as they should, or can’t relax, only tighten, this is called pelvic floor dysfunction.
The Pelvic Floor is made up of the muscles that support the urinary and reproductive tracts. This group of muscles also controls your bladder and bowels.
In women, the pelvic floor keeps your bladder in place in the front and the vagina and rectum in the back. Your uterus is held in place at the top of the pelvic floor by muscles, tendons, and connective tissue.
In men, the pelvic floor helps keeps the bowels, bladder, urethra, and rectum in place.
Possible triggers that cause pelvic floor dysfunction are, pelvic surgery, aging, pregnancy, being overweight, overuse of the pelvic muscles, and serious injuries to the pelvic area.
Pelvic Floor Therapy can HELP!
Pelvic floor therapy is a specialized kind of physical therapy to relieve the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction and help the muscles work the way they should. This includes several exercises that help your pelvic muscles relax and get stronger.
When you begin pelvic floor therapy, a doctorate level trained physical therapist will learn more about your symptoms by asking extensive questions. Your PT will then check your core muscles to see how strong they are, along with how much core endurance you have. They will also have you try certain activities and positions to check the coordination of your pelvic floor muscles.
This assessment will help your therapist create a pelvic floor physical therapy plan that best suits your needs. Your treatment will likely include both internal and external therapy. Internal therapy will only happen when you are absolutely comfortable with this course of treatment.
Internal exams take place in a private room to allow for a relaxed, comfortable, and confidential setting. Privacy, comfort, and confidentiality are crucial to our method of treatment.
Along with your personal goals, physical therapy aims to ease your symptoms so that you can get back to your daily routine. This includes being able to control your bladder better or take part in sports and exercises that you enjoy. Physical therapy can also relieve the discomfort and pain that women may feel during sex.
There are a variety of exercises and types of therapy that will enable you to reach your goals. Some examples are”
Trigger point therapy. This technique puts pressure on a spot on your body, internally or externally, called trigger points. After some time, the muscle will begin to relax.
Kegels. Kegels are a specific exercise that should not be attempted without the assistance and feedback of your physical therapist. They assist in contracting and relaxing of pelvic floor muscles in isolation while incorporating specific breathing patterns. This exercise isn’t for every pelvic floor dysfunction, so ask your PT so you can get the most of this exercise.
Electrical stimulation. Sometimes larger muscles (hips and back) are involved in your pelvic floor dysfunction. This technique helps to reduce pelvic pain and muscle spasms by targeting external muscles.
Bladder Education. Including review of bladder stimulants, keeping a bladder diary, and in depth neuromuscular reeducation.
Mishock PHYSICAL THERAPY & Associates NOW offers Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation in 2 locations!
• Boyertown location (on Rt. 100, across from Bechtelsville Walmart)
• Phoenixville Clinic (on Nutt Rd. across from Phoenixville Hospital)
CALL to schedule an appointment if you would benefit from this technique 610-845-5000
If you are experiencing pain or limited function in any other areas, call for a FREE Phone Consultation or to schedule your visit (610)327-2600.
All Locations: Gilbertsville, Skippack, Phoenixville, Steiner Medical, Boyertown, Pottstown, and Limerick (inside the Spring Valley YMCA).
Appointments available 7:00am to 8:00pm, ALL locations, most days!
Saturday Appointments available
Visit our website to request an appointment, read informative articles, meet our physical therapy staff, and learn about our treatment philosophy.
www.mishockpt.com
by Jessica Duke, DPT and Monica Hallman, PTA, Clinical Director, Boyertown Clinic.
