Pelvic Floor Health

Physical therapy is a specialized, proven, and conservative approach to treating dysfunction within the pelvic floor and associated tissues and organs, which contribute to common conditions such as pelvic pain, urinary and fecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, abdominal pain, and many other issues that occur in both men and women. Pelvic dysfunction is often due to a complex variety of factors, requiring holistic examination and treatment.

What is the pelvic floor?

Many people don’t know what the pelvic floor even is, or, they often have a very vague awareness of what it might be. The contents of the pelvic floor go far beyond what we think of as genitalia. Our outward appearance does not encompass how complex the system actually is. Talking about the pelvic floor can seem intimidating, and even scary, but it doesn’t have to be.

So what is it, really?

The pelvic floor consists of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues that form a complex, dynamic, and reactive support to the body. It has five major functions: to provide support, to provide stabilization to the trunk with dynamic movement, to control bowel and bladder function, to regulate sexual function, and to act as one of the most important pressures regulating systems of the body. Because the pelvic floor is designed to be reactive and
supportive, any alteration to its structure can significantly impact bowel, bladder, and sexual function. These alterations can result from direct injury, postural dysfunction, childbirth, surgery, specific medical conditions, and also things like trauma, stress, anxiety, and depression. Due to its role in providing support and stability as a necessary component of the core, injury to the pelvic floor can also affect other parts of the body, such as the neck, back, hip, and knee. All parts of the body talk to one another. No injury happens alone.

Who is it for?

All humans. Truly. 100% of humans have a pelvic floor. Pelvic physical therapy is for everyone. All genders, all body types, all ages. At HOPE Physical Therapy & Wellness, we provide a holistic and individualized approach to creating treatment plans based on your personal diagnoses, personal needs, and goals.

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, your pelvic floor may not be functioning correctly! Physical Therapy is a highly effective treatment method for most pelvic floor disorders. Talk with your doctor about your concerns, and call us to find out if we can help you.

What is the treatment like?

We strive to create an environment that normalizes bodies and bodily functions, one that promotes safety and patient agency, as well as provides support, validation, and understanding. We approach your care as a team to provide high-quality, holistic treatment to reach your personal goals.

Our treatment sessions are private, and one-on-one with your therapist. We welcome partners and a support person if needed. A session typically includes hands-on manual techniques, exercise, and education. You may also benefit from sessions with our pelvic core retraining specialist for specific exercise-centric sessions.

If appropriate, we may perform an internal assessment of your pelvic floor to check for several things. During this assessment, we ask several questions: What are the muscles of your pelvic floor doing at rest? Are they activated or relaxed? Are you able to move them through their full range of motion? Are you able to relax them after a contraction? How strong is your contraction? Are your muscles coordinating the way that they are supposed to? Do any of your
muscles hurt with pressure or touch? Does this replicate a symptom you may be experiencing?

Altogether, what we find determines our course of treatment, which is specifically tailored to you. Our team is sensitive and attentive. We are dedicated to making your session validating, supportive, and worth your time with us.

Pelvic conditions we specialize in include:

Fecal and Urinary Incontinence
Constipation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain)
Overactive Bladder or Interstitial Cystitis
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Sexual Dysfunction or Pain with Intercourse
Inability to Orgasm
Vulvar Pain/ Vulvodynia
Vaginismus
Endometriosis, PCOS Symptoms
Post-surgical recovery following prostate and gynecological procedures: Prostate Removal, Laparoscopy, C-Section, Prolapse, or Hysterectomy, and other major abdominal surgeries
Pregnancy and Postpartum Support
Diastasis Recti
Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction
Pre-pregnancy conditions
Back, Hip, or Groin Pain
Pre Prostatectomy Support
Pudendal Neuralgia
Testicular Pain
Loss of Sensation

We offer free consultations with our pelvic floor expert. Don’t wait any longer to address your problem and get your life back!

Not sure if therapy will help you? Contact us to set up a free 15-minute consultation with one of our pelvic floor therapists.

Additional Pelvic Floor Health References:

What to Expect at Your First Pelvic Floor PT Appointment

How can Pelvic Physical Therapy help during pregnancy?

Retraining woman’s pelvic floor with manual therapy

At HOPE Physical Therapy & Wellness we believe that the client’s input is invaluable. If this service is an interest for your wellness needs, please CONTACT us here or call us at 719-466-6800 to schedule your FREE 15-minute consultation with one of our physical therapists.

You can also send us an email: info@hope4wellness.com

You can also check out many of the other SERVICES we offer or get more information on our WELLNESS PROGRAM.