Your pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that play a surprisingly important role in your daily life. You can picture your pelvic floor muscles like a hidden sling that supports your bladder, uterus/prostate and rectum. Keeping pelvic floor muscles healthy is crucial for men and women. Pelvic issues can affect around 1 in 3 women at some point in their lives and approximately 16% of men. The good news is that physical therapy may help improve your quality of life.
Life’s curveballs and pelvic floor dysfunction
Life can sometimes throw your pelvic floor muscles a curveball. Certain factors like childbirth, aging, surgery and even chronic straining can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction. This can manifest in a variety of ways, affecting both men and women differently. Pelvic floor dysfunction can be incredibly frustrating to deal with. Common pelvic floor issues include:
- Pelvic floor weakness — Sometimes, pelvic muscles can become too weak. Weakness can happen when pelvic muscles get stretched or torn, making it difficult to control urine, bowel movements or gas. It can happen to both men and women.
- Pelvic floor tension — This happens when pelvic floor muscles are too tight. Tight pelvic muscles can cause pain during sex, constipation, and even stomach pain.
- Pelvic organ prolapse — If the pelvic floor muscles move out of their correct position, the pelvic organs can push down into a woman’s vagina or into the rectum in men and women.
- Chronic pelvic pain syndrome — This condition can cause a constant ache in the lower stomach, groin or genitals. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is pelvic pain that happens without a clear medical reason.
- Painful intercourse — Tight or weak pelvic floor muscles can make sex uncomfortable. Sexual dysfunction can also cause difficulty in achieving orgasm and other sexual issues. It is a problem that can be experienced by both men and women.
- Vulvodynia — When a woman experiences a burning or stinging feeling in the outer part of her vulva, this is known as vulvodynia. It can be caused by tight muscles.
- Constipation and bowel disorders — Pelvic floor dysfunction can make it difficult to have a bowel movement or may cause incomplete emptying.
- Pelvic girdle pain — This pain occurs in the joints and ligaments around the pelvis. It can be caused by muscle strain, arthritis or other conditions.
- Interstitial cystitis — Interstitial cystitis is a bladder condition that can cause pain, pressure and frequent urination.
- Prostatitis — Inflammation of the prostate gland in men is known as prostatitis. It can cause pain, burning during urination and difficulty emptying the bladder.
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) — ED is the difficulty getting or keeping an erection in men. Pelvic floor dysfunction can be a contributing factor.
Remember that if you are experiencing any pelvic floor dysfunction, you’re not alone. There are ways to get help so you can feel better.
Physical therapy for pelvic conditions
A pelvic floor physical therapist is a physical therapist who is specially trained to help assess and treat issues that are related to this essential muscle group. Your physical therapist can evaluate your situation and create a personalized treatment plan to address your unique needs and concerns. Your treatment plan may include the following techniques:
- Manual therapy — Your physical therapist may use specialized manual therapy techniques to help address tight muscles, boost circulation and reduce pain in your pelvic region. Manual therapy techniques that can be used to help pelvic conditions include:
- Myofascial release — This technique helps focus on releasing tension in the connective tissue that surrounds your muscles and organs. Another name for this tissue is the fascia. Your physical therapist will use gentle, sustained pressure or slow motions. These movements can help the fascia relax, improve flexibility and reduce pain.
- Joint mobilization — Your pelvic floor muscle function may be affected by the joints in your pelvis and lower spine. If these joints have become restricted, your physical therapist can use gentle joint mobilization techniques to improve your mobility.
- Kegel exercises — Kegel exercises are specially designed exercises that involve contracting and relaxing your pelvic floor muscles. It can feel similar to holding and releasing your urine. Your physical therapist will help guide you through these exercises so you can do them with proper technique. Proper technique is essential to target the right muscles so you can maximize the benefits of the exercises.
- Electrical stimulation — Your physical therapist may use electrical stimulation to help stimulate weak pelvic muscles. Gentle electrical currents are delivered through probes that your physical therapist will place in your vagina or rectum. Electrical stimulation can be helpful if you’re having difficulty contracting your pelvic floor muscles on your own.
- Dry needling — Your physical therapist may use dry needling to help release trigger points, which are troublesome areas in your muscles that can cause pain. Thin, sterile needles will be inserted into these trigger points to help trigger a twitch. This twitch can help promote relaxation and reduce pain. It can also help improve blood flow to promote healing.
There are a number of effective physical therapy techniques your physical therapist may use based on your specific needs and conditions. This is just a small glimpse into beneficial techniques available to help improve your pelvic health.
REPAIR SI can help you overcome pelvic conditions that leave you in discomfort
If you’re struggling with pelvic floor dysfunction due to a pelvic condition, you don’t have to go it alone. At REPAIR SI, our experienced physical therapists understand the complexities of pelvic health in men and women. Our team can create a personalized treatment plan using effective physical therapy techniques to address your specific needs. Don’t wait to take back control of your pelvic health and work to improve your quality of life. We can help you see how physical therapy can help you get back to living your life to the fullest.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.