Your pelvic floor muscles, which are located between your pubic bone and tailbone, are responsible for the following things:
- Supporting key organs such as your bladder.
- Stabilizing your lower back and pelvis.
- Controlling your bowel movements and urination.
- Influencing your sexual function — particularly arousal and sensation.
- Ensuring proper blood flow to your heart.
If you are experiencing recurrent constipation, urine leakage, or pain between your pubic bone and tailbone, then you may have pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD).
In the United States, about 25% of women and 16% of men experience pelvic floor dysfunction. Taken together, these statistics suggest the need for everyone to prioritize their pelvic health. Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is when your pelvic muscles are weak or torn. PFD can lead to many health problems, including frequent urination and urine leakage.
5 warning signs of PFD
Untreated pelvic floor dysfunction may worsen your pelvic pain, so it is important to identify some common symptoms of PFD. Here are five warning signs of PFD:
- Persistent constipation — Researchers estimate that the typical frequency for bowel movements ranges from three per day to three per week. If your pelvic muscles are too tight, then you may experience pain during bowel movements, making it difficult to use the bathroom.
- Stress urinary incontinence — Stress urinary incontinence refers to involuntary urine leakage after exertion. Types of exertion that can cause leakage include sneezing, laughing or coughing. This leakage may make completing day-to-day tasks difficult. Stress urinary incontinence occurs because of improper support for organs such as your bladder.
- Pain in your pelvic area while urinating — A pelvic floor disorder weakens your pelvic muscles, which reduces the support to your bladder. This may cause more pain during urination.
- Muscle spasms in your pelvic area — Pelvic muscle spasms refers to the involuntary contraction or tightening of your pelvic muscles. This muscle tightening can impede daily actions such as using the bathroom.
- Lower back pain — Researchers indicate that lower back pain may be correlated with pelvic floor dysfunction. Both your spine and your pelvis ensure your ability to carry out certain movements.
If you have any of the above symptoms, you may want to consider pelvic physical therapy.
3 PT treatments that may improve PFD
Researchers suggest that pelvic physical therapy treatments may improve PFD. Here are four pelvic physical therapy treatments for PFD:
- Soft tissue mobilization — Soft tissue mobilization involves physical therapists using their hands to help relax your pelvic muscles. The goal is to increase blood flow to the weakened muscles and reduce muscle tightness.
- Lifestyle change recommendations — Physical therapists may recommend incorporating more self-care and mindfulness strategies into your daily life. The goal of these activities is to help relax your pelvic floor muscles, making it easier for these muscles to support your bladder.
- Therapeutic exercises — In pelvic floor physical therapy, physical therapists can help you discover which pelvic muscles are too tight and how to stretch those muscles for improved muscle function. One exercise that a physical therapist may suggest is Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises can reduce urine leakage, improve strength, and are more complicated than most people realize.
Forever Fit can help treat your pelvic dysfunction through physical therapy
Having difficulty with your daily activities because of pelvic floor dysfunction? Forever Fit is here to help you improve your pelvic health and your quality of life. Our team strives to address the main cause of your pain, not just your symptoms. In addition, we value one-on-one interactions and quality care.
Our licensed physical therapists offer pelvic physical therapy techniques that can help strengthen your pelvic muscles. During your first visit, a physical therapist will conduct an examination regarding your strength, motion range and potential areas of injury. Our physical therapists will use this examination to design a personalized treatment plan. The first visit for pelvic physical therapy typically lasts about 40 minutes. You should bring the following items for pelvic physical therapy:
- Loose clothing for easy access to the affected area.
- Insurance card.
- Photo identification.
- List of current medications.
- A referral (if you have one).
- Related test results.
Contact our team today for more information about pelvic physical therapy or to schedule an initial appointment.