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Pelvic Floor

Physical Therapy

"Life starts at our pelvis, from the day we're born to the first steps we take, it is essential to all of our function. Having a healthy pelvic floor lets us live the lives that we want to."

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- Tyra Abdalla, PT, DPT, PHC

What is the Pelvic Floor?

Everyone has a pelvic floor. Pelvic floor dysfunction can happen at any point throughout the lifespan. Pelvic floor dysfunction can look like a variety of things:

 

  • ​“I leak when I cough.”

  • “I have low back pain when I lift heavy weights.”

  • “I avoid sex because it’s painful.”

  • “My body has never felt the same since I had my child.”

  • “I always put a pad on just in case.”
     

The pelvic floor is made up of a group of muscles that form a sling from the front of our pubic bone traveling back to attach into our tailbone. These muscles are responsible for our control of going to the bathroom, strength of our core, support of our organs, stability of our low back and legs, sexual functioning and proper lymphatic circulation. These muscles play a major role in controlling the pressure in our belly which allows us to get up from a chair, lift objects and perform tasks around the house.

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Pelvic floor specialists are extensively trained in internal and external techniques to diagnose and treat the full musculoskeletal system into treatment for patients with primary pelvic floor dysfunction as well as to incorporate the pelvic floor into treatment for orthopedic dysfunction such as hip, low back, and pelvic girdle pain. Pelvic floor physical therapy aids in the process of helping restore a higher level of movement, mobility, and physiological functioning. Pelvic floor rehabilitation incorporates a number of non-surgical, holistic treatment approaches that address your specific needs. There is a broad range of treatments utilized throughout the process depending on your needs including:

 

  • Manual techniques (soft tissue mobilization, visceral techniques, joint mobilization, myofascial release)

  • Biofeedback

  • Pain neuroscience

  • Functional loading

  • Pelvic floor strengthening (up-training)

  • Pelvic floor relaxation (down-training)

  • Postural re-education

  • Sexual education

  • Mindfulness

  • Stress management techniques

  • Bladder re-training

  • Sensory integration techniques

  • Prolapse care

  • Neurodynamic techniques

  • Pregnancy & Postpartum care

  • Postmenopausal care 

 

Our goal is to restore function of your pelvic floor so you feel confident and comfortable to do all the things in life you want to do.

How does Physical Therapy help?

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Possible Symptoms

  • Bladder or bowel incontinence

  • Bladder or bowel overactivity

  • Low back/buttock/hip/leg pain

  • Chronic pain syndromes

  • Constipation

  • Pain with sex

  • Pain with tampon use or gynecological examinations

  • Pelvic organ prolapse

  • Pregnancy related changes

  • Postpartum recovery

  • Post operative care

What Is My Next Step?

The best way to tackle this issue is to get ahead of it. If you believe your pelvic floor is causing you pain, discomfort, or disruptions in your life, give us a call. You will be put in contact with a physical therapist who can discuss your issue and help build a plan tailored to your specific needs that will help you get better, stay better, and regain your freedom to do the things you love to do.

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