What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and Who Needs it?

What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and Who Needs It?

Guest post by Julie Haake, PT

Julie Haake, PT

Pelvic health, or pelvic floor, physical therapy is a niche of physical therapy for both women and men that focuses on the pelvis and pelvic floor, hips, low back, and abdominals. The pelvic floor is the layer of muscles that covers the bottom of the pelvic cavity (think of the area that touches the seat when you ride a bike) that supports the organs within the pelvis, aids in functions related to urinating and defecating, and assists in sexual function.

Just like a muscle in your arm can become weak, or tight and tender, the muscles of your pelvic floor can do the same and result in pelvic floor dysfunction. Your pelvic health physical therapist is highly trained to examine and assess the mobility, strength, endurance, and power of your pelvic floor and surrounding muscles. Most of the time, this consists of an internal (intravaginal or rectal) examination. They will also check for trigger points, or tight spots in your muscles, that may be referring pain to your hips or low back.

Your provider may give you exercises to help strengthen or relax your pelvic floor based on their findings. This is why it is so important to see a pelvic health physical therapist!! Everybody is different, and your treatment plan will be individualized and tailored to your specific needs. There is no one size fits all plan for rehab and recovery.

Some, but not all, of the symptoms a pelvic health physical therapist can treat are: urinary incontinence or frequency, fecal incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain, dyspareunia (pain with sex), post-prostatectomy, post-partum (vaginal delivery or C-section) conditions, and post-hysterectomy complications.

So… who needs it?

New moms

The list of ways a pelvic health physical therapist can help a new mom seems endless… and this is the case whether you gave birth vaginally or via C-section! From problems like urinary incontinence to managing your C-section scar, a pelvic health physical therapist is equipped to assist you through your postpartum journey, help you handle the effects of any complications you endured during the birthing process, treat and prevent clogged milk ducts, and guide you in safely returning to exercise or sexual activity without pain.

Someone who involuntarily leaks urine

Involuntary leakage of urine, also called “urinary incontinence,” commonly happens when you cough, laugh, lift something heavy or lift weights, run, get home from work, hear running water, or can’t get to the bathroom on time. This may be a common occurrence, but that does not mean that this is normal! This occurs when our intra-abdominal pressure increases (the pressure inside our body below the diaphragm and above the pelvic floor), or due to environmental or behavioral triggers. This problem can be treated with pelvic floor physical therapy intervention and behavioral changes!

Someone experiencing fecal incontinence or constipation

Many times, fecal incontinence is due to weak pelvic floor muscles, and constipation can be due to overactive pelvic floor muscles. Fecal incontinence occurs due to a lack of control of bowel movements, and can occur with running, lifting, and jumping, or when you just can’t make it to the bathroom on time. On the other hand, constipation is the occurrence of infrequent bowel movements, usually less than 3 times a week. In some cases, these bowel movements can be painful. Your physical therapist can assist you in finding the root of the issue, strengthening or relaxing your pelvic floor muscles, and creating behavior modifications so that you can live your life without worrying about leaking fecal matter or constipation.

Someone having pelvic pain

Pelvic pain is commonly related to overactive pelvic floor muscles. This type of pain could be a constant dull ache, a sharp pain with certain movements, numbness and tingling, pain with sex, or pain due to an underlying condition, such as endometriosis or PCOS. Your physical therapist is equipped to help you feel better, whether that be through manual therapy and trigger point therapy to assist in releasing tight muscles, helping to mobilize nerves to relieve numbness and tingling, or prescribing dilators to decrease pain with sex.

If you’d like to learn more about pelvic floor physical therapy and how it can help you, check out www.juliehaakedpt.com, @juliehaakedpt on instagram, or call or text (817) 680-1489 to schedule your complimentary 15 minute discovery call to see if we are a good match!