Most Common Illness:
- Pelvic Pain Syndromes.
Severe pain located in the pelvic area might limit functioning.
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse.
Occurs when the muscles and tissues supporting the pelvic organs become weak and loose.
- Urinary Incontinence.
Signifies that a person accidentally releases urine.
- Fecal Incontinence.
Unable to control bowel movements can lead to stool leaks from the rectum without warning.
- Dyspareunia:
Description: Dyspareunia refers to painful sexual intercourse, which can occur in both women and men.
- Postpartum Rehabilitation
Description: After childbirth, women may experience various pelvic floor issues, including weakened muscles, incontinence, or pain.
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction.
The inability to relax and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles to have a bowel movement.
- Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome.
Involves mild to severe bladder pain and an urgent or frequent need to urinate.
Symptoms:
- Pelvic Pain.
Pain in the lower abdomen and pelvic region
- Pain During Intercourse (Dyspareunia).
Refers to painful sexual intercourse in both genders.
- Pelvic Pressure or Heaviness
Pelvic floor diseases causes Increase in the abdominal pressure from above and moving down (pelvic/abdominal organs, diaphragm, core)
- Urinary Symptoms:
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- Urinary Incontinence: Involuntary leakage of urine, especially during activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising.
- Increased Urinary Frequency
- Urgency: A sudden and strong urge to urinate, sometimes resulting in leakage.
- Difficulty Initiating Urination.
- Bowel Symptoms:
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- Fecal Incontinence
- Constipation
- Incomplete Emptying
- Pelvic Muscle Tension or Spasms.
Involuntary contractions of the pelvic floor muscles.
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse.
Occurs when the muscles and tissues supporting the pelvic organs become weak and loose.
- Lower Back Pain.
Pain between the lower edge of the ribs and the buttock.
- Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).
Three or more (UTIs) episodes within 12 months.
- Painful Bowel Movements.
Defecation pain accompanied by a scorching or pricking sensation
- Difficulty Starting or Stopping Urine Flow.
A condition where it’s difficult to start urinating or keep it flowing.
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Weakness.
The inability to relax and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles to have a bowel movement.
- Groin Pain.
Refers to discomfort in the area where the abdomen ends and the legs begin.
- Pain or Discomfort While Sitting.
Dull or aching pain that occurs when attempting to sit.
- Tailbone Pain.
Pain in the bone at the base of the spine (coccyx), near the top of the buttock.
Available treatment:
- Manual Therapy:
- Manual therapy techniques involve hands-on treatment by the physical therapist. This can include:
- Myofascial release: Soft tissue manipulation to release muscle and fascial restrictions in the pelvic area.
- Trigger point therapy: The release of tight and painful areas within the pelvic floor muscles.
- Joint mobilization: Gentle manipulation of the joints to improve mobility and reduce pain.
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Training:
- Pelvic floor muscle exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, are commonly prescribed. These exercises aim to:
- Strengthen weak pelvic floor muscles.
- Improve muscle coordination and endurance.
- Enhance awareness of the pelvic floor muscles.
- Biofeedback and electrical stimulation may be used to assist in muscle training and coordination.
- Breathing and Relaxation Techniques:
- Patients may learn diaphragmatic breathing and relaxation techniques to help manage pelvic pain and tension, improve muscle coordination, and reduce anxiety.
- Functional Training:
- Functional training involves teaching patients how to apply proper pelvic floor muscle activation during daily activities, such as lifting, bending, and transitioning from sitting to standing.
- Bladder and Bowel Management:
- If applicable, therapists help patients develop strategies to manage urinary or fecal incontinence, frequent urination, or constipation.
- Pain Management:
- Therapists may use modalities like heat or cold therapy, as well as techniques like mindfulness and visualization, to help manage pain and discomfort associated with pelvic conditions.
- Posture and Body Mechanics:
- Evaluation and correction of posture and body mechanics to reduce stress on the pelvic floor and promote better pelvic health.
- Home Exercise Program.
