If you suffer from urinary incontinence, pelvic floor pain, or any number of other pelvic floor symptoms, pelvic floor therapy might be useful in improving your quality of life. Pelvic floor therapy has helped millions of women (and men) overcome the pelvic issues plaguing their lives.
But what is it, specifically, that makes pelvic floor therapy so effective?
What Is Pelvic Floor Therapy?
The pelvic floor is a name for a complex group of muscles near the bottom of your pelvis. You can think of them as forming a malleable hammock that reaches from your pubic bone to your tailbone.
This collection of muscles is responsible for supporting your internal organs, keeping your spine and pelvis stable, supporting bladder and bowel control, and even assisting with sexual function.
Because this group of muscles is so complex and so intricately tied to several body functions, it’s often hard to diagnose a specific problem and identify its underlying cause. This network of muscles is also invisible, so professionals must use subjective descriptions, imagery, and context clues to understand exactly what’s going on.
Pelvic floor therapy is designed to address a wide variety of pelvic floor issues, usually offering the following:
· A consultation and exam. Initially, a pelvic floor therapist will work with you in a consultation and initial exam. This is an opportunity for them to get to know you, better understand the issues you face, and assess your pelvic floor function. Using this information, they’ll be able to put together a flexible, individualized plan designed to help you overcome your issues and achieve your goals.
· Physical exercises. Most pelvic floor therapy sessions involve some physical exercises. Like any muscle in your body, your pelvic floor muscles can be exercised and strengthened; this is often necessary to recover from injury or mitigate certain issues.
· Stretches. Stretches can also help encourage greater elasticity, improved functionality, and less pain. Your physical therapist will work with you to teach you these stretches, so you can even practice them outside of your sessions.
· Manual therapy. In some cases, an ideal approach is manual therapy. Certain therapeutic techniques can directly relieve pain, encourage healing, and more.
· Biofeedback and electrical therapy. Some pelvic floor therapists also incorporate elements of biofeedback and electrical therapy. Using sophisticated tools, therapists can apply stimulation directly to your pelvic floor and generally create conditions that allow your body to heal itself.
· Other forms of therapy. What you’re reading here is only the beginning. Depending on the nature of your condition and the initial results of your therapy sessions, your pelvic floor therapist may recommend other forms of treatment.
Why Is Pelvic Floor Therapy So Effective?
Why is this set of exercises and practices so effective for relieving pelvic floor pain and addressing other related issues?
· Accessibility. One of the reasons behind the widespread effectiveness of therapy is simply its accessibility. Pelvic floor physical therapy is not invasive, it doesn’t require surgery, and it’s something most people can reasonably and affordably pursue. This makes it the ideal option for millions of people suffering from pelvic floor issues.
· Recognition of complexity. Pelvic floor therapists are also successful in part because they recognize how complex pelvic floor issues can be. They’re quite familiar with the intricacy of this piece of human anatomy, and they’re unwilling to dismiss a complicated issue as a simple or trivial one. They’re willing to use a wide variety of different exercises and techniques to spark meaningful improvement.
· An individualized plan. Additionally, most pelvic floor physical therapists put together individualized plans. There’s no set routine for them to follow; Instead, they use a combination of exercises, stretches, and therapeutic techniques that are designed for the unique individual receiving them. This helps ensure that each patient gets the treatment they need.
· Natural encouragement. Mini therapeutic techniques aren’t designed to address an issue specifically, but rather enable the body to address the issue naturally. The human body, as well as the pelvic floor, can accomplish a lot with the right encouragement.
· Consistency and long-term support. Your pelvic floor muscles function like the other muscles in your body. They can be weakened and overused. They can be trained and strengthened. Just like in preserving the strength and functionality of any muscle, consistent exercise is important for the pelvic floor – and physical therapy gives you the knowledge you need to practice it.
· Flexibility and adaptation. Pelvic floor physical therapy is highly flexible and adaptable, so your sessions can evolve to suit your needs as they change in real-time.
Pelvic floor therapy isn’t for everyone, but it has helped millions of women overcome pelvic floor issues quite successfully. If you’re currently struggling with bladder control, pelvic floor pain, or other related issues, you should consider scheduling an initial consultation to see if pelvic floor therapy is right for you.
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