Pelvic floor therapy
Overview
Pelvic floor physical therapy addresses any disorders involving the pelvic floor muscles, including urinary or fecal incontinence, pelvic pain and pain with intercourse. We provide strength training before and after such pelvic surgeries as bladder repair, pelvic reconstruction and prostate surgery. We also use physical therapy techniques that can successfully treat painful scarring after pregnancy.
The "pelvic floor" refers to a group of muscles at the lower end of the trunk that support your internal organs. The vagina or penis, the urethra and the anus pierce through the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles help support the bladder and rectum, help control the urine and stool and maintain sexual function.
Disorders of the pelvic floor can occur and result in pain or dysfunction such as urine or fecal leakage. Physical therapy uses evidence-based treatment techniques such as strength training, biofeedback, electrical stimulation, manual therapy and behavior changes to promote pelvic floor health.
Conditions We Address
Pelvic floor physical therapy addresses disorders involving the pelvic floor muscles, including:
Therapies We Offer
We provide a range of physical therapy techniques, including
- Therapeutic exercise
Kegel exercises are used to strengthen and to relax the pelvic floor muscles. Often people confuse their buttock muscles with the pelvic floor muscles. A physical therapist can guide pelvic floor muscle exercise and encourage activation of pelvic muscles with overflow from hip rotator muscles.
- Manual therapy
Massage techniques may be used to relax trigger points within the muscles and desensitize painful scars.
- Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a non-invasive training technique that allows you to visualize muscle activity on a computer screen. This is a very effective way to teach relaxation and muscle control.
- Electrical stimulation
Electrical stimulation can be used in cases of severe muscle weakness to encourage a muscle contraction.
