Are you experiencing discomfort or issues with urinary or bowel control? It could be a result of weakened pelvic floor muscles.
Pelvic floor health is a crucial aspect of overall health and should not be neglected. In this article, we’ll discuss what pelvic floor health is and how a physiotherapist can help.
What Is Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support the bladder, uterus, and rectum. These muscles help control urinary and bowel movements, sexual function, and childbirth.
Weak pelvic floor muscles can lead to incontinence, pelvic pain, and discomfort during sex or other activities.
How Can a Physiotherapist Help?
Physiotherapists are trained professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating problems related to the pelvic floor. They can help you identify whether you’re suffering from a weakened pelvic floor, and create an individualized treatment plan that can involve:
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Training: strengthening exercises to improve the strength and endurance of your pelvic floor muscles.
- Biofeedback: using technology to measure muscle activity and provide visual or auditory feedback to help you learn how to manage your pelvic floor muscles more effectively.
- Manual Therapy: hands-on techniques to improve tissue mobility, reduce muscle tension, improve blood flow and alleviate pain and discomfort.
- Lifestyle Changes: advice on nutrition, hydration, and exercise to improve overall pelvic health.
Benefits of Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
Pelvic floor physiotherapy can provide numerous benefits, including:
- Improved bladder and bowel control
- Reduced instances of incontinence
- Reduced pain during sex or other activities
- Improved recovery after childbirth
- Improved pelvic pain and abdominal discomfort
What to Expect During Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a non-invasive and safe treatment.
During a pelvic floor physiotherapy session, your physiotherapist will guide you through exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles, using biofeedback methods to measure muscle activity and provide visual or auditory feedback. Treatment sessions will be personalized according to individual needs.
4 Types of Pelvic Floor Issues and Conditions Physiotherapy Can Help
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition where one or more pelvic organs, such as the uterus or bladder, protrude into the vaginal canal. Weakness in the pelvic floor muscles is a common cause of pelvic organ prolapse, and it can lead to pain and discomfort as well as urinary and bowel dysfunction. Physiotherapy can help prevent and treat pelvic organ prolapse by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles to support the pelvic organs better.
Pregnancy and Postpartum
The changes that occur in the body during pregnancy and postpartum can greatly affect pelvic floor health. During pregnancy, the pelvic floor muscles have to support the weight of the growing uterus, and during childbirth, they are stretched and strained. Postpartum, the pelvic floor muscles need to recover from these changes. Physiotherapy can help women maintain or restore their pelvic floor health during and after pregnancy by identifying and treating any issues, and providing exercises and techniques to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
Men and Pelvic Floor Health
While pelvic floor issues are more commonly associated with women, men can also experience problems with their pelvic floor muscles. Weak pelvic floor muscles in men can lead to urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and pain during ejaculation. Physiotherapy can help improve pelvic floor health in men, and specialized exercises can help address any issues that may arise.
Pelvic Pain
Pelvic pain can have many causes, including endometriosis, ovarian cysts, fibroids, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Pelvic floor issues may also be a contributing factor to pelvic pain, and physiotherapy can help manage pain and discomfort by identifying and treating the underlying causes, such as tight or weak pelvic floor muscles.
Conclusion
If you’re experiencing symptoms such as incontinence, pelvic pain, or discomfort during sex or other activities, consider consulting with a pelvic floor specialist at Parkway. Pelvic floor health is essential to overall health, and a physiotherapist can help improve your pelvic floor muscle strength and endurance. Don’t let pelvic floor issues compromise your quality of life – book an appointment today to get started on your journey to improved pelvic floor health.
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/women/what-is-pelvic-floor-physical-therapy
