A Comprehensive Guide For Pelvic Floor Therapy

Pain that is felt in the lower abdomen (the stomach area), pelvis, or perineum is referred to as pelvic pain which is the area located between the rectum and the scrotum or vagina. There is a wide range of potential causes of pelvic pain, in fact, up to twenty percent of the population in the United States, including men and women, suffers from some form of pelvic discomfort. When it has lasted for longer than six months, a patient is said to be suffering from chronic pelvic discomfort. Physical therapists offer therapies such as pelvic floor therapy to alleviate pelvic discomfort and restore the strength, flexibility, and function of the muscles and joints in the pelvic area, and assist individuals in returning to their normal routines.

Movement is an area of expertise for physical therapists. They improve patients’ quality of life by providing hands-on care, educating patients, and recommending movement therapy. You can get an evaluation by getting in touch with a physical therapist on your own.

What Are the Common Causes for Pain in the Pelvic Region

There are a variety of potential reasons for pelvic discomfort, including:

Pregnancy and delivery, both affect the muscles of the pelvic region and induce alterations to the pelvic joints.
Pelvic problems that are non-pregnancy or child delivery related
Weakness or an imbalance in the muscles that make up the pelvic floor, trunk, or pelvis may be present.
Alterations in the muscles that govern bowel movement and bladder function.
Sore spots in the muscles that surround the pelvis, the abdomen (the stomach area), the low back, or the groin area.
A possibility that one or more nerves located in the pelvic region are compressed.
Muscles surrounding and supporting the pelvic area are weakened, especially those that support the pelvic floor.
The formation of scar tissue in the abdomen or pelvis following surgical procedures.
Disease.
A condition wherein the organs located in the pelvis move out of their normal place or prolapse.

How Does Pelvic Pain Feel?

Pain in the lower abdomen as well as in the pelvis may fluctuate. According to others, it feels like an agonizing discomfort while others describe it as a searing, sharp, stabbing, or “pins and needles” discomfort. You may also have:

Hip or buttock discomfort
Pain in the pubis or tailbone.
Joint discomfort in the pelvis.
Muscle soreness in the belly, low back, or buttock area.
A heavy sensation in the pelvic area.
The sensation of sitting on something firm, such as a golf ball.

Signs and Symptoms of Pelvic Pain

With pelvic pain, you may experience the following:

You cannot sit for a longer period.
Your mobility to your hips or lower back is reduced.
You have problems in doing daily activities, even with walking and sleeping.
Your pelvic region is in pain or is experiencing numbness when doing exercise or other activities such as biking or running.
You are in pain doing sexual activity.
Frequency, urgency, or incontinence when urinating, as well as discomfort during urination.
Constipation, straining, or bowel movement-related discomfort.
Problems with tampon insertion or sexual penetration.

How is Pelvic Pain Diagnosed?

Your physical therapist will examine your medical history and do a physical examination to determine the reasons for your pelvic discomfort and will also examine you for joint difficulties, stiffness or weakness in the muscles, and nerve involvement. The examination may consist of:

Screening of the pelvic girdle which is the basin-shaped skeletal component that links the spine to the legs.
Soft-tissue evaluation.
Visual examination of tissues.
Sensory evaluation.
Assessing your pelvic floor muscles internally.

Your physical therapist may also recommend you to a physician for assistance with your care plan.

How Will a Pelvic Floor Therapy Help With Pelvic Pain?

Your physical therapist will build a treatment program to match your requirements and goals based on their evaluation, your therapist may:

Help you in recognizing the right muscles including the pelvic floor, deep abdominals, and diaphragm.
Help you with the proper use of these muscles and will teach you with the appropriate execution of the following activities:
- Exercise.
- Adjusting your position.
- Standing from a chair.
- Squatting when picking up a child or item from the ground.
Perform stretching as well as strengthening exercises with you for the troublesome muscles. The goal is to aid your muscles in cooperating as effectively as feasible.
Instruct you in the proper pelvic floor muscle workouts.
Return you to all the activities you were able to perform before the onset of pelvic discomfort.

Are There Ways to Prevent Pelvic Injury or Condition?

Some risk factors impact your overall health and the power of your core and pelvic muscles and joints. These consist of:

Aging.
Coughing due to smoking
Inactivity.
Obesity.
Childbirth.

Exercises may enhance muscular function and reduce the chance of pelvic injury or discomfort. Examples include:

Abdominal wall, pelvic floor, and core stabilization exercises.
Flexibility training for muscles.
Body-consciousness exercises

Your physical therapist will tailor a treatment plan to your particular issue because the main objective of physical therapy is to restore muscular strength and mobility and alleviate pain.

Consideration When Choosing a Therapist for Pelvic Floor Therapy

Physical therapists are trained to handle a range of diseases and injuries through their education and expertise. You may like to contemplate:

A physical therapist with experience treating patients with pelvic health concerns.
A physical therapist who has completed a women’s health physical therapy residency or fellowship as this physical therapist possesses extensive knowledge, expertise, and abilities that may apply to your problem.
A board-certified physical therapist specializing in women’s health physical therapy.
A physical therapist who has received a credential from the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy’s CAPP-Pelvic program.

Find a PT is a program developed by the American Physical Therapy Association, that allows you to locate local physical therapists with certain qualifications and clinical experience.

General guidelines to follow while searching for a physical therapist (or any other health care professional):

Solicit suggestions from family, friends, and other medical professionals.
When contacting a physical therapy facility to schedule an appointment, inquire about the physical therapist’s expertise in treating pelvic discomfort.
Be ready to discuss your complaints in as much great detail at your initial appointment. Make notes of what improves or worsens your symptoms.

Ava Jones

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