Pelvic health issues, including pain, discomfort, and incontinence are very common but should not be considered a normal way of life for anyone. Don't suffer because you are embarrassed or assume there are no solutions. The staff at Union Hospital Therapy specializes in pelvic health helping women improve their quality of life when dealing with pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dysfunction.
What is the pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles in your pelvic area. These muscles support the organs in your pelvis like a sling. The organs in this area include the bladder, uterus, and rectum. By contracting and relaxing these muscles you can improve control of your bladder and bowel movements. Dysfunction in the PFMs can affect any or all of these structures. Females of any age and in any life stage, including pregnant women, postpartum women, elderly women, and even girls, can experience PFM dysfunction. PFM dysfunction presents as painful bowel movements, perineal pain, and urinary urgency/frequency. Females with PFM dysfunction can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy.
What is pelvic floor muscle (PFM) syndrome?
For good bladder control, all parts of your system must work together. The pelvic floor must hold up the organs, the sphincter muscle must control the flow of urine, and the nerves must activate these muscles to function. Bladder and bowel control problems can occur when the muscles in the sphincter become weak.
Common causes of pelvic floor dysfunction:
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth
- Episiotomy (grade 1-4)
- Hysterectomy
- Abdominal surgery
- Obesity
- Hormonal imbalance, such as during menopause or post-menopause
- History of chronic infection
- Chronic cough or infection
- Muscle weakness
- Stretch weakness (faulty posture)
- Pelvic injuries, including pelvic fractures or dislocations
- Increased abdominal pressure with lifting or jumping
- Improper lifting techniques
- Poor trunk muscle training
How do you know if you suffer from pelvic floor muscle dysfunction?
If you have any of these symptoms, you should discuss them with your physician. Some symptoms may also indicate other conditions, but a complete physical exam should be able to determine what is causing your symptoms.
Common symptoms include:
- Loss of urine while lifting, laughing or sneezing, running, and/or jumping
- Increased frequency of urination, such as urinating more than eight times a day
- Sudden urgency to urinate, such as when you hear water
- Need to urinate often during the night
- Leaking urine during normal activities of daily living causes a need to wear a protective liner or pad
- Pelvic pain during sexual intercourse, exercise, or other activities
- Inability to void urine and bowels/constipation
- Lower back pain
- Diastasis recti, or separation of the abdominal muscles
- Pubic symphysis separation, which occurs often after childbirth
- Pelvic organ prolapse
How can Union Hospital Therapy help?
Physical therapy of the pelvic girdle can improve pelvic floor and bladder conditions by eliminating or managing incontinence and other pelvic floor disorder symptoms, giving you the confidence to live your life again.
Union Hospital physical therapists have advanced training in the pelvic floor to evaluate and treat joint dysfunction, muscle imbalances, and nerve entrapment, which can contribute to the aforementioned issues. Some of the most common referrals to pelvic health therapists are for management of the symptoms of urinary incontinence, chronic pelvic pain, constipation, and pelvic organ prolapse.
Pelvic health physical therapy addresses the muscles, ligaments, connective tissue, lymphatic system, and joints inside and surrounding the pelvic girdle, often in intimate regions that few people associate with muscle. Pelvic floor therapy is similar to other types of physical therapy in that the focus is on movement disorders such as hypermobility and hypomobility. The main goal of pelvic floor therapy is to promote maximal function and quality of life, specifically pertaining to muscles that can influence basic activities of daily life, such as urination, defecation, and sexual activity.
Evaluation and non-surgical treatment may include:
- Flexibility and core strength assessment
- Pelvic floor muscle EMG (biofeedback)
- Postural exercises
- Pelvic area muscle assessment and treatment
- Trunk strengthening
- Relaxation techniques and diaphragmatic breathing
- Myofascial release
- Development of an individualized home exercise program
How long will physical therapy take?
The plan of care is developed specifically to the individual's needs and goals defined by the patient and evaluating therapist - ultimately aimed to improve the patient's health and quality of life.
What to expect at your first visit?
Your first visit to Union Hospital Therapy with a pelvic health physical therapist will be an evaluation of your current condition and issues. This will include a thorough review of your medical history and questions about your eating, drinking, voiding, and sexual habits as they relate to your symptoms. Your posture, hip, abdominal, and pelvic floor muscles will be assessed for contributing factors such as weakness, tightness, or strain.
How to get started?
We recommend contacting your physician for a pelvic health evaluation referral to Union Hospital Therapy. If you need assistance, please contact us at 812.238.7210. We are here for you.