Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

The pelvic floor is a very important group of muscles that is located in our pelvis. The pelvic floor plays a significant role in continence, support of internal organs, respiration, lumbo pelvic motor control and sexual function.  Pelvic floor dysfunction can contribute to symptoms associated with urinary or fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, constipation, pelvic pain, Coccydynia, and Dyspareunia (consistent pain during intercourse). 

Our clinicians will perform a thorough examination and evaluation of your pelvic floor to properly diagnose your symptoms. They will then establish a plan of care to treat your condition and provide you with education and tools to help you on your way to recovery.

  • Pelvic Floor Muscles
    • The muscles of the pelvic floor are the Levator Ani muscle group. They function in a sling like fashion, maintaining constant low level of contraction for postural support of the internal organs. The sphincter muscles contract and tighten to close off and stop urine or bowel movements until it is appropriate to release them.
  • Urinary Incontinence
    • A state in which a person possesses and exercises the ability to store urine / stool and void at a socially acceptable place and time. Incontinence is NOT a normal part of aging. It is a symptom of a condition, and is often reversible.
    • Types of Urinary Incontinence
      • Stress Incontinence
        • Leakage of small amounts of urine during physical movement (coughing, sneezing, and exercising).
      • Urge Incontinence
        • Involuntary loss of urine associated with a strong desire to void. This can cause leakage of large amounts of urine at unexpected times, including sleep.
      • Overflow Incontinence
        • Unexpected leakage of small amounts of urine because of a full bladder. Occurs without movement.
      • Functional Incontinence
        • Untimely urination because of physical disability, external obstacles, or problems in thinking or communication that prevent a person from reaching a toilet.
      • Mixed Incontinence
        • Combination of both stress and urge incontinence symptoms.
  • Fecal Incontinence
    • Fecal incontinence is the inability to control bowel movements, causing stool (feces) to leak unexpectedly from the rectum. Also called bowel incontinence, fecal incontinence ranges from an occasional leakage of stool while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control.
    • Loss of bowel control can be devastating. People who have fecal incontinence may feel ashamed, embarrassed, or humiliated. Some don’t want to leave the house of the fear they might have an accident in public. Most try to the hide the problem as long as possible, so they withdraw from friends and family.
    • Common causes of fecal incontinence include diarrhea, constipation, and muscle or nerve damage, or pelvic floor dysfunction. Fecal incontinence may be accompanied by other bowel problems, such as diarrhea, constipation, gas and bloating.
  • Constipation
    • Constipation is defined as having a bowel movement fewer than three times per week. With constipation stools are usually hard, dry, small in size, and difficult to eliminate. Some people who are constipated find it painful to have a bowel movement and often experience straining, bloating, and the sensation of a full bowel.
    • Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints in the United States. Those reporting constipation most often are women and adults ages 65 and older.
    • Common causes of constipation include:
      • Not enough fiber in the diet
      • Lack of physical activity (especially in the elderly)
      • Medications
      • Milk
      • Irritable bowel syndrome
      • Changes in life or routine such as pregnancy, aging, and travel
      • Abuse of laxatives
      • Ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement
      • Dehydration
      • Specific diseases or conditions, such as stroke (most common)
      • Problems with the colon and rectum
      • Problems with intestinal function
  •  Chronic Pelvic Pain
    • Chronic Pelvic Pain may be secondary to many specific diagnoses. Although several medical specialties such as gastroenterology, gynecology, oncology, colorectal surgery and urology may be involved in the treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain, physical therapy may provide relief from the dysfunctions caused by the biomechanical, postural, and musculoskeletal components not addressed in a typical medical or surgical management of Chronic Pelvic Pain.

Chronic Pelvic Pain is any pelvic pain that lasts for more than six months. Many times, the problem that originally caused the pain has lessened or even gone away completely, but the pain continues. This makes it much more difficult for a doctor to find the cause of the pain and to provide treatment. The pain may be in the lower abdomen, the volva/vagina, the perineum, the anus, or the tailbone. Males can have pain in the lower abdomen, perineum, penis,Your cat is very secretive about levitra prescription supplementprofessors.com his pains. testes and anus, or tailbone. In both men and women, low back pain often occurs. Bladder, bowel, sexual pains, and changes in function of these organs are common.

  • Problems Secondary to Chronic Pelvic Pain
    • Stress
      • Chronic Pelvic Pain has a strong emotional component, and stresses from external factors and internally from the underlying cause of Chronic Pelvic Pain are likely to result in increased pain. Stress reduction techniques include diaphragmatic breathing, Jacobsen’s progressive relaxation exercises, and imagery/visualization. 
    • Soft Tissue Changes
      • Chronic Pelvic Pain may cause referred pain and tissue tension in the skeletal muscles of the trunk, abdomen, pelvic and lower extremities. Postural deviations are coming in patients suffering from Chronic Pelvic Pain. Excessive guarding and holding of abdominal musculature, particularly the rectus abdominis, creates kyphotic posture that ca create or increase other musculoskeletal complaints, including headache, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), or shoulder pain. Patients with very tender abdomens may have poor abdominal tone and have support / weakness issues due to visceral pain.
  • Chronic Pelvic Pain Disorders
    • Vulvodynia
      • Vulvodynia is a syndrome of vulvar discomfort characterized by burning, stinging, and /or rawness.
    • Interstitial Cystitis
      • Interstitial Cystitis means “inflammation of the bladder wall”. Interstitial Cystitis is a chronic and disabling disease that affects approximately 1 million individuals, including both women and men. Patients with Interstitial Cystitis often present with increased frequency of urination, urethral burning, and pain that mimics the symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Over time, the bladder becomes hypersensitive, and patients with Interstitial Cystitis relate a pressure sensation over the bladder that is perceived as urgency.
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
      • According to the American Gastroenterological Association, IBS is defined as a combination of chronic or recurrent symptoms not explained by structural or biomechanical abnormalities, which is attributed to the intestines, and associated with symptoms of pain and disturbed defecation and symptoms of bloating and distention. IBS effects 10-15% of the United States population, and is responsible for 25%-50% of patient referrals to gastroenterologists. IBS presents itself in 3 ways: Diarrhea predominant, constipation predominant, and those individuals who have both.