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Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions do not discriminate against the genders. Both men and women may have issues that make life a bit challenging or even painful at times. If you have any of the following symptoms, please call Libre Physical Therapy for help. Allow is to give you the freedom from pelvic floor dysfunctions you so desire.

Women’s Pelvic Health Concerns

  • Do you have Pelvic Pain?
  • Pain with intercourse?
  • Not able to use a tampon or consummate your marriage?
  • Vaginismus
  • Urinary or fecal leakage after giving birth
  • Diastasis Recti (Separation of abdominal muscles) after giving birth
  • Urinary leakage with athletics (Not associated to pregnancy)
  • Urinary frequency or urgency
  • Infertility issues
  • Bladder pain
  • Endometriosis affecting daily life
  • Abdominal pain associated with abdominal surgery or scar tissue
  • IBS, Constipation, Fibromyalgia (There’s a connection)
  • Scar tissue after GYN or colorectal surgery or cancer
  • Healing after sexual abuse, rape, trauma

Men’s Pelvic Health Concerns

  • Do you have Pelvic Pain?
  • Diagnosed with prostatitis, but not resolved
  • Specialized orthopedic issues: hamstring injury, tailbone
  • Osteitis Pubis
  • Bladder painPain after urination or ejaculation
  • Groin or abdominal pain after hernia repair or other surgery
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction or spasms
  • Rectal pain, Testicular pain
  • Cyclist with pain or numbness in saddle region
  • Pudendal Neuralgia
  • Urinary or fecal incontinence after prostate surgery

Assessment of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Before pelvic floor treatment begins, your pelvic health physical therapist will take your full medical history and thoroughly discuss your current problems and symptoms.

With informed consent, your pelvic floor physical therapist will perform a complete physical assessment of the joints and tissues affecting the area. This may include internal and external examinations to identify the affected tissues that may be contributing to your urinary, bowel or pelvic pain symptoms.

Common areas that refer pain to the pelvic region include: the abdomen, lower back, hips, pubic symphysis (the front part of your pubic bones) and sacro-iliac joint (the joint formed by the sacrum and ilium from your low back to your coccyx).

Based on your examination, your pelvic health physical therapist will work with you to put together a plan of care that is specific to your particular goals, symptoms and dysfunction.

Since every person has a unique case, it is important that your treatment is customized to address your specific needs.

Treatment for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

There are various modes of pelvic floor treatment that are well supported by the scientific literature and can be effective as part of your care. Some of these treatment options are:

Education: Education is power! You cannot under-estimate the importance of knowledge. Understanding the anatomy and physiology of the pelvic floor, posture education as well as knowing how to deal with chronic pain symptoms are vital to your recovery. Many clients have improved their symptoms by simply understanding how various aspects such as lifestyle, diet, urinary and bowel hygiene can affect the pelvic floor.

Personalized exercise program: As with other musculo-skeletal joints in the body, an individualized exercise program including stretching, strengthening, proper posture and breathing techniques are essential for overall pelvic health. Areas within the pelvic floor and other muscles surrounding the pelvis, thorax and lower limbs will be targeted.

Manual therapy: This is presently the preferred method when treating pelvic floor dysfunction. It involves various hands-on techniques such as: stretching, facilitation, soft tissue massage, mobilization as well as connective tissue, myofascial and trigger point release techniques to the affected muscles and tissue.

Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS): This is also known as neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). It involves the use of electrical impulses that help facilitate pelvic floor muscle contraction to improve strength. It can also be used to help with symptoms of pelvic pain and urgency.

Bladder training: It is important to review your voiding patterns with your therapist to ensure appropriate bladder and bowel habits. This is essential in helping to normalize your overall pelvic function.

Other treatments to minimize pain: This may include the use of heat, cold, trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), interferential current (IFC), guided imagery, breathing and relaxation techniques. Your therapist will be happy to discuss these other options with you.

Biofeedback: This form of treatment is also referred to as Surface Electromyogram, or surface EMG. It involves using small external electrode sensors much like an EKG, or an internal sensory probe connected to a computer screen for displaying muscle activity. An electrical device is used to help provide auditory or visual feedback on how well or poorly you are using your muscles. This feedback helps you to recruit the muscles more effectively resulting in improved continence or pelvic pain symptoms.

Shockwave therapy: With age and use, the cartilage can wear down or become damaged. Muscles and tendons in the hip can get overused as symptoms of pelvic pain . The hip bone itself can be fractured during a fall or other pelvic pain and injury. Any of these conditions can lead to pain and damage in the hip area.

For more information, request a free consultation with Libre Physical Therapy in Homestead and Miami, FL.