pelvic health physical therapist
Pelvic floor dysfunction can cause urinary and fecal incontinence, pain during urination or bowel movements, pelvic pain, feeling that something is falling out of the vagina, painful sex, and pelvic prolapse (where tissue gets herniated through a weak muscle). If these symptoms are not resolved by medications or surgery, physical therapy may be the answer. Women and men of all ages can benefit from physical therapy for pelvic floor disorders.
A physical therapist who specializes in Pelvic Health Physiotherapy East Sheen has completed advanced training in the muscles, ligaments and connective tissues of the pelvis. A PT with this expertise will be familiar with a wide range of conditions including:
On the first day of your evaluation, your therapist will take your history and discuss your specific symptoms. She will then do an external exam, looking at the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints as well as the muscles that attach to or surround the pelvis, such as the rectus abdominis and iliopsoas. She will also examine the vulva and rectum, and assess your ability to tighten or relax the pelvic floor muscles. An internal assessment of the pelvic floor muscles is optional and can be stopped at any time if you are uncomfortable with it.
what does a pelvic health physical therapist do
Your therapist will develop an individual treatment plan based on your specific condition. This plan may include manual techniques such as skin rolling, trigger point release and joint mobilization. It may also include exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, such as Kegels (repeated contraction of the muscle) and other strength-training and relaxation activities, like diaphragmatic “belly” breathing. Education is an important part of a pelvic health physical therapy program, and your therapist will teach you how to perform these strategies at home between sessions.
In some cases, your therapist may use a technique called dry needling or intramuscular injections to reset the trigger points that are causing your symptoms. This involves passing a needle through the outer layers of your pelvis or rectum to reach the trigger points. These techniques are often performed in conjunction with other treatments, such as massage or medication.
If your therapist thinks your pelvic floor muscles are contributing to your symptoms, she will use a variety of electronic therapies to retrain the muscles. This can include sensors placed on the body that send a low-grade electrical current to the muscles to help them respond. This is called biofeedback. These techniques are used in combination with manual therapy and exercises to improve the strength, sensitivity and coordination of the pelvic floor muscles, which can decrease bladder and bowel dysfunction. The length and frequency of your treatment will depend on your diagnosis, the severity of your symptoms and how well you respond to therapy. You and your therapist will work together to set realistic goals for the length of treatment. For example, you may be treated one session per week for eight weeks. Your therapist will also provide you with exercises to do at home to complement your treatment.
