Interested in Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy? What to Expect During The Process
You may have heard of pelvic floor therapy, but many people aren’t fully aware of what it involves.
There may be a few things that scare people off about the process, like a pelvic floor exam. It’s a highly personal process, and because of that, the expectation is that patients will feel uncomfortable.
If you’re new to pelvic floor therapy, keep reading to learn more about pelvic floor therapy and what to expect during the process.
What is Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized form of treatment designed to alleviate the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction and strengthen or coordinate the muscles in the pelvic floor. It also focuses on the areas of the body around the pelvic floor including low back and hips.
Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
There are many common symptoms that indicate issues with the pelvic floor, including:
Leaking of urine or fecal matter
Pain or discomfort with intimacy
Difficulty emptying the bladder or bowels
Heaviness or pressure in the vagina
Pain in the pelvic girdle, low back, hips, or SI joint
If you're dealing with these issues and suspect they may be caused by pelvic floor dysfunction, it could be time to consult with a specialist.
What Causes Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction occurs when the muscles, ligaments, and tissues of the pelvic floor become weakened, tight, or damaged, leading to a variety of physical symptoms.
The pelvic floor is responsible for supporting the organs in the pelvis, such as the bladder, uterus, and rectum – however, when this system doesn’t function properly, it can lead to issues with urination, defecation, sexual health, and even pelvic organ prolapse.
There can be many possible causes of pelvic floor dysfunction, including:
Pregnancy and postpartum
Menopause
Hip or low back injury
History of trauma or sexual assault
Stress and anxiety
Medications
Medical conditions such as endometriosis
Improper body mechanics
Understanding the root cause of pelvic floor dysfunction is important for proper treatment and management, which may involve physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and in certain cases, surgery.
What to Expect With Pelvic Floor Therapy
If pelvic floor therapy is the recommended course of action, working with a pelvic floor expert can help relieve symptoms so you can live your life without interference.
The Process:
Here’s what new patients can expect with the pelvic floor therapy process.
Meet with a pelvic floor therapist to discuss what you’re going through.
Pelvic floor exam is performed, starting with an external examination of the pelvic region to assess posture, muscle tension, and any areas of tenderness or weakness. In some cases, an internal exam (vaginal or rectal) may be done to assess muscle tone, coordination, and strength.
Symptom Assessment: You may be asked to rate your symptoms, such as urinary urgency, frequency, or pelvic pain. This helps the therapist understand the severity and impact of your condition.
A pelvic floor therapist will then create a plan to follow to reduce symptoms and solve your issues. Your plan may include manual techniques, strengthening, mobility work, core activation, and breathing work. It may also include progression to higher level activities including jumping, running, lifting weights.
Meet with a pelvic floor expert for personalized continuation of care at a clinic.
Continue your work with prescribed pelvic floor exercises that can be done at home.
Lifestyle updates. A pelvic floor PT will likely make recommendations on diet, sleep, exercise, and other lifestyle updates.
Body empowerment to fully understand their symptoms and gain control over their bodies.
Start feeling better, and living life symptom-free, and learn how to maintain this for the long-term future for an improved quality of life.
Finding the Right Pelvic Floor PT to Work With
If you are looking for a pelvic floor physical therapist, there are a few things to keep in mind during your search.
Comfort
One important factor is to find a pelvic floor therapist that makes you feel comfortable. Issues that arise from pelvic floor dysfunction are highly personal and in some cases, people may feel embarrassed. Meeting with a pelvic floor expert and discussing your symptoms, you will get a sense of how comfortable you are with them.
Certifications
Another criteria is training and qualifications. Any provider in pelvic rehabilitation should have postgraduate training in the specialty, and it is okay to ask. It is important that they perform internal assessment and treatment to get the most benefit from your therapy.
Reputation
You’ll also want to find a pelvic floor therapist that has a good reputation. See what others have to say about their experience – whether it’s online reviews, or word-of-mouth from a friend or family member, you can get a sense of the work they do. Beyond a five star review, you can read how a pelvic floor therapist works with their patients and the experience a patient had.
We Take a Personalized Approach to Solving Your Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
At Alpha Project Phyzio, we believe that conditions related to the pelvic floor should not interfere with your life.
To solve your issues, we work with you on a 1-on-1 basis and will create a personalized plan to help you take control of your health. Working with us, you’ll get a sense of relief knowing there’s a pelvic floor expert guiding you through the process and focus on your success.
We have three clinic locations in Columbia, Frederick and Gaithersburg.
