Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialty in pelvic floor exercises that is concerned with rehabilitating the pelvic floor muscles after injuries or dysfunctions such as muscle weakness or muscle tension after childbirth, dyspareunia, vaginismus, vulvodynia, constipation, fecal or urinary incontinence, as well as vaginal prolapse and impotence. Pelvic floor physical therapy is often associated with women’s health due to the prevalence of pelvic floor problems after childbirth. In this article, we will learn in detail about pelvic floor exercises.
What Is Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a natural, systematic, effective, and safe treatment method that uses physical therapy principles to rehabilitate the pelvic floor muscles. The goal of pelvic floor exercises is to improve the strength and function of the pelvic floor muscles and relieve pain, weakness, and dysfunction of the muscles.
During treatment, a skilled physical therapist accesses the muscles through the rectum and vagina and manipulates them to improve their strength and function. The therapist may stretch the muscle if it is short and contracted or apply resistance to improve its strength if the muscle is weak and not working.
What do they do in pelvic floor physical therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy begins with a review of the patient’s medical, surgical, drug, sexual, obstetric and gynecological history, followed by a comprehensive orthopedic examination, with attention to the lumbar spine, hips, gait, and posture. Patients are often asked to stand, walk, or sit so that the therapist can detect postural and joint problems that affect the pelvic floor muscles.
The evaluation provides guidance for determining whether treatment is appropriate and for developing an appropriate care plan. The type of treatment recommended usually depends on the patient’s symptoms. For example, muscle relaxation or stretching exercises may be needed to relieve symptoms, while muscle strengthening exercises may be appropriate.
What is pelvic floor dysfunction?
Pelvic floor dysfunction are caused by the inability to control the pelvic muscles, which leads to leakage of urine or stool. This is very common and is seen as a normal occurrence with age and in women after childbirth. Therefore, women tend to live with this disorder and do not seek treatment. However, contrary to this popular belief, pelvic floor disorders are not a condition that occurs with age.
And there are many treatments available that can help such as home physiotherapy. When the pelvic floor muscles are functioning normally, they can contract and relax, allowing proper control of bladder and bowel functions. If these muscles become dysfunctional, pelvic floor disorders may begin to appear. It is estimated that one in four women will suffer from some form of pelvic floor disorder at some point in their life.
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Symptoms and Causes
Speaking about Pelvic floor physical therapy. Pelvic floor disorders can lead to a number of symptoms, such as health problems related to the urination mechanism, constipation, bowel leakage, pelvic floor pain, and lower back pain. The most common clinical forms of pelvic floor disorders include:
- Pelvic prolapse: where the pelvic organs such as the uterus, bladder, or rectum descend.
- Fecal incontinence: leakage of stool.
- Stress incontinence: where urine leaks as a result of exercise or coughing.
- Urge incontinence: means the inability to resist the urge to urinate.
- Pelvic pain.
Causes of pelvic floor disorders
Although the actual cause has not been determined, there are several factors that can contribute to a dysfunction in the functional mechanism of the pelvic floor, such as:
- pregnancy, childbirth, pelvic injury, obesity, muscle strain, and incorrect toileting behaviors.
Diagnosis and Tests
On the day of your pelvic floor assessment, you will be taken to a private treatment room. The Pelvic floor physical therapy will also perform an external and internal examination:
1. During the external examination
The Pelvic floor physical therapy will assess pain, stiffness, and soreness in the muscles surrounding and associated with the pelvic floor, including the lumbar spine, sacroiliac joint, rectus abdominis, psoas, and piriformis.
2. During the internal examination
The Pelvic floor physical therapy will assess the pelvic floor muscles for tone, flexibility, tenderness, and soreness. One or two gloved fingers will be inserted into the vagina and rectum to examine the pelvic floor muscles from the inside. Lubricants may be used to relieve discomfort.
The physical therapist will also check the ability of the pelvic floor muscles to contract and relax voluntarily and the movement of the pelvic floor muscles with breathing patterns.
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Management and Treatment
When it comes to Pelvic floor physical therapy, it is worth noting that there are multiple options for the patient to treat pelvic floor disorders;
Physical therapy
A physical therapist can guide you through Pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and improve their function.
Medications
In some cases, medications may be prescribed to control symptoms such as incontinence or pain.
Surgery
In severe cases, surgical options may be considered. Procedures can range from less invasive surgeries to more extensive repairs, depending on the severity of the dysfunction.
Lifestyle changes
These changes include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight.
- Quitting smoking.
- Avoiding heavy lifting.
Outlook and Prognosis
An accurate diagnosis is critical to effective treatment of pelvic floor physical therapy. A comprehensive evaluation typically includes:
Medical history and physical examination
A detailed medical history can help identify potential contributing factors, such as past injuries or chronic conditions. The physical examination may include palpation of the pelvic floor muscles to assess for tension and pain.
Imaging studies
In some cases, imaging studies such as ultrasound or MRI may be used to visualize the pelvic floor muscles and rule out other possible causes of symptoms.
Pelvic floor muscle evaluation
A specialized evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles by a trained physical therapist or health care provider can help determine the degree of muscle tension and pinpoint areas of dysfunction.
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Pelvic floor physical therapy exercises
Specific Pelvic floor exercises can be helpful in managing hypertonic pelvic floor physical therapy. These exercises focus on relaxing and gently stretching the pelvic floor muscles;
Diaphragmatic breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing involves deep, slow breaths that activate the diaphragm and promote relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles. Regular practice can help reduce muscle tension.
Gentle stretching
Gentle stretches that target the hips, lower back, and pelvic area can help relieve muscle tension and improve flexibility. Examples include the seated forward bend and the child’s pose.
Pelvic floor exercises
Pelvic floor drop exercises involve consciously relaxing and “dropping” the pelvic floor muscles. To encourage relaxation, this exercise can be done in a variety of positions, such as lying down or sitting.
Specific Exercises
pelvic floor physical therapy commonly used techniques include:
Education
Patients are taught in detail about the anatomy of the pelvis and how the different components work together. They also learn how hygiene and habits can affect symptoms.
Pelvic floor muscle exercises
Patients learn how to contract and relax the pelvic floor muscles in relation to other muscles. They also learn breathing and timing techniques that make the exercises more effective at home. The Pelvic floor exercises are designed to stretch stiff muscles, strengthen weak muscles, and improve flexibility. Physical therapists provide manual therapy and stretching exercises to improve circulation, movement, and posture.
Pelvic floor muscle biofeedback
Pelvic floor muscle feedback methods help monitor the function of the pelvic floor muscles. A probe is inserted into the male rectum or female vagina and the results are displayed on a computer screen.
Electrical stimulation
Patients are taught how to regulate muscle contractions at home using low-voltage electrical currents to help reduce pain and muscle spasms.
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Pelvic floor physical therapy at home
Women are more susceptible to weak pelvic floor muscles than men, and symptoms persist for a long period exceeding five years, negatively affecting the patient’s lifestyle, intimate relationships, mood, social integration, performance of daily tasks, and mental well-being. This is where physical therapists at home come in. Physical therapy through Lana Life Care home care services in Dubai helps enhance the patient’s self-management, strengthen the pelvic muscles, and improve their lifestyle.
In addition, the role of the pelvic floor physical therapy at home naturally includes reducing the financial burden of the disease, as the patient with weak pelvic muscles needs intensive care and various health equipment, and physical therapy can alleviate this by achieving the greatest possible degree of independence for the patient to help himself.
Through physical therapy sessions at home, physical therapists can teach patients the correct techniques to achieve the desired result, through several exercises aimed at maintaining and supporting internal organs such as the uterus, bladder, and intestines, and improving the functional capacity of the pelvic floor. Among the exercises provided by Lana Life Care team are the following :
- Kegel exercises that aim to strengthen the pelvic muscle by contracting and relaxing it
- Electrical stimulation to relieve pain that affects patients with weak pelvic floor muscles.
- Treatment of trigger points, which are spots inside or outside the body in physical therapy sessions at home.
- Biofeedback technology to measure the progress that the patient makes in the exercises.
Summary
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a treatment for weak pelvic floor muscles. It can help with problems with urination and intercourse. Symptoms of weak pelvic floor muscles tend to get worse over time and can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Starting pelvic floor physical therapy as soon as possible can help relieve pain and other symptoms and help you regain control of your life.
If chronic pain lasts longer than three months or if you have problems with urination, bowel movements, or intercourse, contact your healthcare provider to see if additional testing is needed to determine if a more serious problem is behind your pelvic symptoms.
FAQ
How do I take care of myself?
If you feel any pain in the pelvic area, and this pain continues for more than two months with increasing severity of the pain, you can undergo a medical examination.
Can I do pelvic floor therapy myself?
Pelvic floor disorder often requires specialized exercises, so you cannot do this without the help of a specialist.
