Throughout a woman’s life, her body undergoes physical changes – from pregnancy and childbirth to menopause and beyond – that can affect the strength and coordination of the pelvic muscles. These changes may lead to conditions such as incontinence, pelvic pain, or frequent and urgent bathroom trips. While common, these symptoms can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life. Fortunately, many effective treatments are available, starting with pelvic floor physical therapy.
What Is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy (PT) is a specialized form of rehabilitation that focuses on restoring strength, balance, and optimal function to the pelvic floor muscles. The muscles are responsible for:
- Supporting the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs
- Controlling the passage of urine, stool, and gas
- Contributing to sexual function and enjoyment
Who Can Benefit From Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic floor PT may be right for you if you experience:
- Frequent trips to the bathroom (6-8 times a day or more than once at night)
- Inability to prevent urine or stool leakage, especially with strong urges
- Leakages of urine during coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising
- Lower back, abdominal, hip, or buttock pain
- Painful bowel movements or constipation more than three times per week
- Pain during intercourse or vaginal discomfort
- Feeling like your bladder doesn’t empty completely or having to strain to empty
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Your first visit will be a thorough evaluation to determine treatment approach based on your symptoms and needs. It includes:
- A review of your medical and surgical history, including medications
- An assessment of your postural alignment
- Evaluation of your trunk, lower body, pelvic floor muscles to assess strength, endurance, and coordination as well as tenderness or pain.
Using this information, your therapist with design a personalized rehabilitation program for you. You will also receive a home exercise program and educational materials. After the evaluation, you will be scheduled for weekly treatments.
Pelvic Floor PT Treatments
Your treatment will be tailored to your individual needs and may include:
- Targeted exercises to strengthen abdominal, back, lower body, and pelvic floor muscles
- Biofeedback to increase awareness and control of pelvic floor function
- Electrical stimulation to build muscle strength, decrease bladder urges, and promote more complete emptying
- Bladder retraining to extend the time between bathroom visits and reduce urgency
- Education in urge-suppression techniques
- Prolapse management through positioning and exercise
- Relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery
- Fluid intake instruction for optimal bladder health
- Manual therapies including soft tissue massage, myofascial release, and stretching
- Scar tissue massage to improve flexibility in adhered areas
- Body mechanics training for safe lifting and movement
- Pain management technique such as ultrasound and TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
Schedule an Appointment
To make an appointment with a Cooper pelvic floor physical therapy specialist, please call 800.8.COOPER (856.325.6674).