Urinary Incontinence
There are several different types of urinary incontinence, stress, urge, mixed, overflow, and functional
incontinence.
Ultimately no matter what type you have, there is a loss of control of the bladder and problems with leakage.
Many of the symptoms associated with any type of incontinence is caused by pelvic floor muscle weakness and
dysfunction.
Pelvic floor muscle training has been found to be an excellent and reliable form of treatment for incontinence.
But it is important to remember that these exercises are not a “one size” fits all and a Pelvic Floor Physical
Therapist, someone who has highly specialized training in this treatment, can help create the right plan for you.
Pelvic Floor Muscle Weakness
The pelvic floor has 5 functions, to control emptying and voiding while preventing leakage, to support our organs
against gravity and abdominal pressure, to provide stability to our pelvis and low back, to assist in sexual
function, and to help with circulation and pumping blood back up to the heart.
Pelvic floor muscle strength is important in maintaining optimal function.
Besides urinary incontinence, pelvic floor muscle weakness can cause low back and pelvic pain, pelvic organ
prolapse, difficulty with sporting activities, household chores, yardwork, and other functional activities.
Pelvic floor exercises can be initiated during pregnancy to decrease the risk of urinary incontinence during
pregnancy and into the postpartum period.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can identify the best way to help train your pelvic floor to ensure you don’t miss
out on anything else in life!
Prolapse
1 in 2 parous women will experience some degree of prolapse.
Some women may have a prolapse without any symptoms.
Common symptoms include low back or pelvic pain, pressure or heaviness in the pelvic region, pain with intercourse,
and urinary incontinence.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy has been found to be an effective first line of treatment for the symptoms associated
with any degree of pelvic organ prolapse.
Chronic Pelvic Pain
45% of women who are pregnant and 25% of women in the postpartum period experience pelvic pain.
Chronic pelvic pain is also common in women who have not been pregnant.
This is defined as debilitation pain of the pelvic region that has lasted over one year.
Besides the pain, significant emotional stress can occur, adversely affecting your quality of life.
If this is left untreated, other dysfunctions can occur.
Highly trained Physical Therapists can work with you one on one to identify the cause of your pain and how to
properly work to improve your symptoms, giving you your life back.
Dyspareunia (Painful intercourse)
Painful intercourse is more common than you would think, affecting at least 20% of women.
Pain with sexual activity can cause significant stress and can negatively impact a women’s mental and physical
health, body image, relationships, and efforts to have a child.
While there are several causes of painful intercourse, internal pelvic floor therapy can help to identify and treat
some of these causes.
Whether there are areas that are overworking or areas that are weak and not contracting, highly trained Physical
Therapists can work with you through this sensitive subject.
Vaginismus
This involuntary muscle spasm of the pelvic floor can make it nearly impossible to have sexual intercourse, have a
pelvic exam, let alone insert a tampon.
Manual therapy and relaxation techniques can be performed to help relieve this spasm and allow you to get back to
your life.
Vulvodynia
Painful intercourse is more common than you would think, affecting at least 20% of women.Similar to pelvic pain,
except this pain is of the vulva, or the area outside of the vagina.
Pain can be provoked with even the lightest of touch.
Nearly 28% of women experience this at some point in their adult life.
80% of patients experiencing pain in this region also present with muscle hypertonicity, aka tightening of the
surrounding muscles.
Treatment can include education on pain controlling and relaxation techniques, manual therapy to improve the
hypertonic muscles, and muscle retraining techniques.
Vestibulodynia
Also very similar to vulvodynia except pain is of the vestibule, or the opening of the vagina.
Symptoms, occurrence and treatment is nearly the same as for vulvodynia.
Pain from Interstitial Cystitis
Interstitial cystitis is a painful bladder disorder that can cause pain of your low back, abdomen, and pelvis.
In addition to pain, urination increases significantly, even up to 40-60 times a day.
This is much more commonly found in women than men.
Interstitial cystitis is found to be commonly associated with migraines, allergies, irritable bowel syndrome,
fibromyalgia, and vulvar or vestibulodynia pain.
Physical Therapy can help to relieve the pain associated with this painful bladder disorder.
Episiotomy Scars
Whether your episiotomy scar is from natural tearing or a planned incision, the scar can become sensitive, perhaps
painful, and tight.
Manual therapy techniques from specialized and highly trained pelvic floor Physical Therapists can help to relieve
these symptoms, improving the mobility and overall healing of your scar.
ysical Therapy can help to relieve the pain associated with this painful bladder disorder.
