How Going to Pelvic Floor Therapy Could Help Transform Your Life
27 Jun 2023
Image by Shahariar Lenin from Pixabay
There are many things that can affect a woman’s quality of life and her health. Pelvic floor disorders are one of those things. Described by patients as uncomfortable, painful, and often debilitating, pelvic floor issues come with a range of unpleasant side effects that ought to be addressed one way or another. One of the solutions that’s helped numerous women manage their symptoms effectively is pelvic floor therapy.
Often accompanied by methods such as biofeedback, pelvic floor therapy has certainly gained traction and become more widespread in clinical settings. In this article, we’ll discuss how going to pelvic floor therapy could help transform your life, and why you should give this popular tool a try if you’re suffering from pelvic floor disorders.
How do pelvic floor muscles work?
There are several different important roles pelvic floor muscles perform. For starters, they provide support to your bladder, bowel, and uterus. They coordinate with urethra and anus, helping the body get rid of waste materials. They contract to keep the waste material inside and prevent it from leaking at inappropriate times. When they relax, this is when the narrow passages widen and the waste material exits the body. As such, they prevent incontinence.
Another important task pelvic floor muscles are in charge of is sexual function, and are largely responsible for arousal and sexual sensation. They also play a vital role when it comes to pregnancy – before, during, and afterwards. When they’re not performing the way they should, this is when an individual starts experiencing pelvic floor issues and disorders.
What are the symptoms and causes of pelvic floor issues?
When a woman’s pelvic floor is not at a state that’s considered normal, this is when she’s diagnosed with a pelvic floor dysfunction. Any dysfunctions that take place are either due to pelvic floor muscles underperforming or being overactive. Some of the most common symptoms of pelvic floor issues include pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, urge and stress incontinence, constipation, difficulty urinating, and ultimately, pelvic organ prolapse.
As for what’s causing these pelvic floor issues, here are some of the most common reasons:
• muscle trauma due to pregnancy and childbirth (both Cesarean and vaginal)
• trauma to the pelvic area
• surgical procedures (e.g. gender-affirmation)
• weakened muscle coordination due to frequent trips to the bathroom and straining rather than relaxing
• aging
What is pelvic floor therapy and when is it recommended?
Pelvic floor issues come with a plethora of symptoms that may interfere with your everyday life. It may be difficult for you to work and exercise, and you may find yourself being unable to engage in social activities, which could lead to feelings of embarrassment. Left untreated, it can lead to further health problems which, in turn, can prevent you experiencing life to the fullest.
As a response to uncomfortable and often unpleasant symptoms, physiotherapists recommend treatment in the form of a physical therapy. Trained in treating the affected muscles, an experienced Pelvic Floor Therapy specialist can help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and help coordinate them. By focusing on a series of different exercises, these professionals can improve the way your pelvic floor muscles function. This can go a long way in reducing the severity of the symptoms and improving various functions.
How can I take better care of my pelvic floor?
Aside from treatments such as physical therapy, your doctor may recommend other options as well. What type of treatment they recommend will mostly depend on your particular condition. What’s important is that you follow their guidance and only engage in activities that your doctor has approved. Any injuries to pelvic floor muscles (e.g. after having a baby) or straining could result in further injuries, so make sure that your doctor gives you the green light before you go back to doing your Kegels.
You can also try using biofeedback applications to monitor your performance. Other treatment options include insertion of Kegel balls or medical devices such as pessary into the vagina, constipation management, and reconstructive surgery.
Wrapping up
There’s no denying the benefits of pelvic floor therapy. A tool for addressing everything from painful intercourse, constipation, and urinary incontinence, this form of therapy can improve all the different types of abilities, including bladder control, bowel movement, and sexual function.
Schedule your appointment as soon as you experience the aforementioned symptoms. The earlier you begin to manage the condition, the sooner you’ll be able to relieve pain and improve your quality of life.
Carrie Davis
Carrie is a mom of two incredible kids and lifestyle writer in her free time. She writes mostly on beauty and lifestyle-related topics, mainly through blogs and articles.
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