The pelvic floor is the group of muscles, ligaments and tissue that supports the organs in your pelvic
area. These muscles are responsible for controlling bladder and bowel movements as well as other
functions. When your pelvic floor muscles become weak or damaged, it affects the surrounding organs
and is known as pelvic floor dysfunction.

Pelvic health therapy can help you strengthen and retrain these muscles so they function better. A series
of appointments with a physical therapist will help you improve your pelvic floor strength and
coordination.

Our pelvic health therapist has received advanced training through the Herman & Wallace Pelvic
Rehabilitation Institute and American Physical Therapy Association Section of Pelvic Health to treat men,
women and children who are experiencing pelvic health disorders. Our expertise and experience allow
us to design a program to meet your specific needs.

What is pelvic health therapy?
Pelvic health therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy that uses evidence-based treatments to
improve the overall health of your pelvic floor. Your physical therapist will do an evaluation and then
develop a program of education, exercises and neuromuscular retraining to strengthen your pelvic floor
and relieve any pain or discomfort you have.

You need a prescription from your primary care provider or other specialist to receive pelvic health
therapy. Talk with your physician or advanced practice provider to see if pelvic health therapy is right for
you.

What are pelvic floor disorders?
Men and women have a pelvic floor. In men the pelvic floor supports the prostate, while in women it
supports the uterus and vagina. When this support structure stops working properly, you may lose
muscle control over the pelvic organs, resulting in incontinence and other issues. In some cases, organs
may shift, dropping from their healthy location. This is called organ prolapse. If left untreated, pelvic
floor dysfunction may cause long-term damage beyond the pain and discomfort you experience.

 

There are 3 main types of pelvic floor dysfunction:

• Bowel incontinence or rectal prolapse

• Urinary incontinence

• In women, pelvic organ prolapse (dropping of the uterus, vaginal walls or the vagina itself)
   

Conditions that may benefit from pelvic health therapy include:

• Abdominal, pelvic or tailbone pain

• Bowel symptoms including incontinence or constipation

• Oncology rehabilitation, including postsurgical or postradiation pain, scar tissue pain, tightness or incontinence

• Urinary symptoms including frequency, urgency or leakage

Pelvic floor therapy may benefit children who experience:

• Bed-wetting at night beyond the age when they should have bladder control

• General urinary incontinence

• Bowel incontinence or constipation

Many women may find that pregnancy or childbirth has weakened the pelvic floor, causing issues such
as urinary or fecal incontinence, constipation, pelvic organ prolapse, pain with intercourse and C-section
or perineal-scar pain. Treatment options are available to help women regain their pelvic health.
What to expect from pelvic health therapy

Your therapist will perform an evaluation to identify the cause of your symptoms. An initial evaluation
may include a medical history, internal examination and initiation of a home exercise program. Follow-
up appointments include treatments such as core strengthening, pelvic floor exercises and bladder
retraining. Therapy also offers techniques to help with pain, including relaxation techniques, manual
therapy and exercises to decrease pain and restore function.

To schedule an evaluation, call 620-786-6515.

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