Pelvic floor physical therapy has a wide range of potential benefits. The therapy focuses on the lower back and pelvis, with the specific aim of coordinating the pelvic floor muscles. The health of the pelvic floor is critical for both men and women. In men, the pelvic floor supports the bowel, bladder, and prostate gland, and in women, it sustains the uterus, bladder, and bowels. The rectum and urethra both pass through the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor physical therapy has several benefits.

The Importance of Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor plays a critical role in bladder and bowel control in men and women. It is responsible for keeping the organs in position. A weakened pelvic floor can be a reason for erectile dysfunction, while women may feel pain during intercourse if the pelvic floor muscles are too tight. Another common ailment associated with a weak pelvic floor is urinary dysfunction.

For the pelvic floor to function, you need to have the strength to make the pelvis stable and prevent pain in the lower back, hip, and pelvis. If your pelvic floor is strong, it will prevent urine and stool from leaking when there is an increase in abdominal pressure when you sneeze, cough, jump, or squat. A strong pelvic floor will also allow you the flexibility to stretch and relax when urinating, defecating, giving birth, and engaging in vigorous physical activities.

Typical Benefits of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Bladder issues: One of the most popular applications of pelvic floor therapy is addressing issues like incontinence, increased frequency of urination, urgency, and pain, difficulty in emptying the bladder fully, and starting or stopping the flow of urine. Your physical therapist at Proactive Pelvic Health Centre will design a customized treatment program to assist you to gain control over your issues and reduce the need for medication and surgery.

Bowels: Pelvic floor therapy helps resolve stool incontinence or pain while moving your bowels. Your therapist may help you with specialized massage, exercises, education, and toileting mechanics. Chronic straining of the bowels, childbirth, and incorrect lifting techniques may also cause pelvic organ prolapse. According to the NHS, it is a condition in which the bladder, rectum, or uterus descends and bulges through the wall of the vagina. You can get enduring relief by undergoing therapy that strengthens and coordinates the core pelvic muscles.

Pelvic pain: While there can be several reasons for pain in the pelvic region, pelvic floor therapy can help alleviate pain in the genital or rectal region. The pelvic floor can also become weak due to aging, childbirth, or stress. The strain in the connective tissues may cause chronic pelvic pain. By undergoing physical therapy, you can get back your muscle strength, endurance, power, and reverse the damage in the muscle and connective tissues and get relief from pain.

Conclusion 

Pelvic floor physical therapy is a proven line of treatment for many issues arising out of weakened pelvic floor muscles. To get good results, you must seek an initial assessment by a competent and experienced pelvic floor function therapist to determine the most important issues and identify the treatments that will help you the most.