Why Pelvic Health is Crucial: How Physical Therapy Can Support Your Well-being

Did you know pelvic floor dysfunction is common, but NOT normal?

Pelvic health physical therapy encourages you to be proactive with your health! Just because pelvic floor dysfunction is common; this does not mean you have to accept it as your new normal, there is so much we can do in this realm!

Pelvic PT not only addresses pain and leakage. It also can offer birth prep, exercise modifications for the pregnant athlete, postpartum recovery, and more!

The Importance of Pelvic Health

Our pelvic floor is part of our core! Our pelvic floor muscles play a significant role in sexual health, bowel and bladder control, supporting our organs, and of course, play an important role in pregnancy and childbirth!

Pelvic floor dysfunction can impact our daily activities, sexual health, and fitness! We should be able to run, jump, and lift heavy weights without the fear of leaking; we want to exercise with confidence!  Pelvic pain can impact our relationships and how we approach intimacy;  intercourse should NOT be painful.  We want to address these issues, not avoid them!

Our pelvic floor impacts more than our daily activities, it can impact our mental health as well!  Pelvic floor dysfunction can contribute to embarrassment, avoiding certain types of exercise, and/or avoiding being intimate. Those negative emotions can potentially lead to feelings of anxiety and depression.

We all live busy lives and are often consumed with taking care of others while putting our own needs on hold. Just like all of our other muscles, if we don’t exercise them or address pain, things can get worse and exacerbate issues!  Training motor patterns in the pelvic floor is key for optimal pelvic health that carries over into our fitness routines and sexual health. There is rarely an optimal time to take care of ourselves, so the time is NOW!

The Role of Physical Therapy in Pelvic Health

Pelvic floor therapy can include manual therapy, exercise, biofeedback, strengthening, and/or relaxing the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor physical therapy may or may not include internal assessments to help guide a plan of care. Pelvic floor PTs are trained to address pelvic floor dysfunction in different areas to help you live a more optimal quality of life.

• Common Treatments and Techniques:

• • Pelvic floor muscle exercise (Kegels):  Kegels can be a great pelvic floor strengthening exercise. Strengthening the pelvic floor can minimize or prevent leakage, as well as improve sexual health. For a kegel, you want to pull the pelvic floor  ‘up and in.’   Imagine you are in a public place and are about to pass gas, tighten the pelvic floor like you would want to prevent this from happening!

• • Biofeedback can also be used in pelvic floor PT, which includes a sensor to give you more information on how you are activating the muscles.

• • Manual therapy can be extremely beneficial!  External massage can be helpful in areas such as constipation or desensitizing irritable tissues.  Internal work can help alleviate pelvic floor pain and/or tension. Both can help with improving sexual health and bowel/bladder health.

• • Electrical stimulation is a type of biofeedback that can help activate the pelvic floor muscles as well. This can be used in conjunction with manual and exercise to improve outcomes.

Benefits of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy:

• Improved bladder and bowel control
• Reduced pelvic pain
• Enhanced sexual function
• Improved posture and core strength
• Reduced risk of prolapse

When to Seek Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Some signs and symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction are the following:

• Pelvic floor pain

• Urinary leakage

• Fecal Leakage

• Sexual dysfunction

• Prolapse

• Pelvic Floor Heaviness

What you can expect with an initial consult with a pelvic floor PT is a thorough assessment that may or may not include an internal exam. We will take a look at the core, hips, back, and pelvic floor. But of course,e after asking questions and having an in-depth discussion of what is going on and getting after some goals!

Conclusion

Pelvic floor dysfunction is common, but not normal!  Pelvic floor PT can include education, manual, exercise and biofeedback. Ultimately, it is geared towards your goals and what you want to get out of it!

The time is now, to take care of yourself!  Dealing with pelvic floor issues can deeply impact our daily lives, so let’s get after it!  Pelvic PTs are here to help!

Despite how frustrating pelvic floor dysfunction can be, the good news is pelvic floor PTs can help!  You don’t have to let your symptoms control you and your life! It is time to take control; reach out to a pelvic PT to help guide you along the way!