What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

This specialty area of physical therapy is often not talked about, but its popularity is rapidly growing. As a physical therapist, my job is to understand the muscles, ligaments, bones, and nerves of the human body, and how they work together to help you live life without pain or inhibition. The pelvic floor is no different - at the bottom of our pelvis, we have a basket of muscles that support us every day:

These muscles do more than we realize. They automatically work during every activity we do!

• They are a trampoline, gently supporting our organs

• They are part of our core, working with the more well-known muscles of our hips, abdominals and back

• They are strong, closing sphincters and helping us maintain bowel and bladder control

• BUT they also relax and elongate so we can release our bowels and bladder at the right time

• They are part of our sexual health, using a dance of relaxation and strength to help us feel good

• They are part of our "pump" system, helping our overall circulation and blood flow.

All genders can struggle with their pelvic floors. Our anatomy actually has more in common with each other than it has differences. All genders can unfortunately struggle with urinary leaking or incontinence. We can all experience pain with sex, or difficulty with orgasm. We can all struggle with chronic low back pain. And so much more.

What does a Pelvic Floor Specialist do? We take a comprehensive view of how you feel and move, and we take a multi-directional approach to your care.

History

• We want to understand you. It goes beyond your symptoms. We want to know about how you feel about your health, your medications, your diet. We want to know how well you sleep, what you do for self-care. We want to know it all!

• Don't Hold Back - while it may seem strange at first to talk about your sexual health or bowel movements, we talk about it all day lon
  

• g. It's our job! And trust me - we've likely heard it before.

Your Movement

• We take an in-depth assessment of how you move in common daily activities, taking into consideration how the joints are functioning, areas that may need more flexibility or more stability. We look at how well the body is coordinating its movement, utilizing all the resources it has available to it.

  • This part of our assessment frequently includes palpation - which is how we touch and move your body to feel what is happening and how to address it. The pelvic floor muscles live inside the pelvis, for this portion of our assessment, the easiest way is an internal exam via the vagina or rectum. It is important that you feel in control and comfortable physically and emotionally through this process, and that you always have the option to opt out of an internal assessment.

• We discuss and assess your breathing - the foundation of all movement.

• We discuss and assess your rest - from daytime relaxation through sleep, a key and often ignored element in our overall health.

Helping you return to the life YOU want

• We use many techniques to optimize your movement

  • Manual therapy and mobility to enhance your freedom of movement

  • Strengthening support to bring stability where it's needed, when it's needed

  • Coordination training to ensure your body manages its ideal balance of strength and flexibility so daily tasks become comfortable and pelvic health is supported for the long-term

• Breathwork and Relaxation

  • The pelvic floor is highly involved in how we breathe. We look to optimize your breathing so it supports your body's coordination

  • We work on incorporating functional rest into your day to help manage energy levels and ensure muscles and nerves do not become overstimulated

  • We discuss stress management techniques, finding support in a way that fits into your lifestyle and makes it feel possible

  • We provide detailed education on sleep - the most valuable time for our body to heal physically and emotionally

• Chronic Pain Education

  • We provide education about how our bodies respond to long-term or complex pain, providing support and resources for reprocessing, healing, emotions, and more.

Long-term pelvic floor health is a key part of our overall health and wellness. We are grateful for the chance to share your journey. We welcome you to call or email us with any and all questions you have. We look forward to working with you!