How Physical Therapy Can Help Your Pelvic Floor Disorder

Are you someone who visits the bathroom frequently? Do you often suffer from constipation or painful urination? This isn't just a normal sign of aging you may be suffering from pelvic floor dysfunction and could benefit from physical therapy.

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common condition where you can’t correctly relax and coordinate the muscles in your pelvic floor to urinate or have a bowel movement.

Your pelvis is home to organs like your bladder, uterus, prostate, and rectum. Your pelvic floor muscles are like the home's foundation; they support the structure keeping everything in place.

Normally, people can go to the bathroom without issue because their body tightens and relaxes their pelvic floor muscles. But if you have pelvic floor dysfunction, your body keeps tightening these muscles instead of relaxing them. This tension could lead to:

• Trouble releasing a bowel movement.
• An incomplete bowel movement.
• Pee or poop leakage.
• For women, this could also cause pain during intercourse.
• For men, it could lead to erectile dysfunction.

Some additional common signs and symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction include:

• Frequent bathroom visits.
• Having to frequently start and stop when you’re trying to pee.
• Straining or pushing to pass a bowel movement.
• Constipation.
• Leaking stool.
• Leaking urine.
• Painful urination.
• Unexplained lower back pain.
• Ongoing pain in your pelvic region, genitals or rectum.

Luckily, surgery is not the only method to decrease pelvic floor symptoms. Treatments include:

• Pelvic floor physical therapy: A physical therapist can help you locate which pelvic floor muscles are too tense. They can teach you exercises to stretch these muscles and improve coordination.
• Biofeedback: This is a common treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction and often occurs alongside physical therapy. During your appointment, your physical therapist may use sensors and video to monitor your pelvic floor muscles as you relax or tighten them.
• Medications: Over the counter (OTC) stool softeners are often prescribed to keep your bowel movements soft and regular.
• Relaxation techniques: Your provider or physical therapist may recommend relaxation techniques such as meditation, warm baths, yoga and exercise to relieve tension in your pelvic floor muscles.

Are you ready to take the first step to treating your pelvic floor dysfunction? Reach out to your primary care provider or specialist and ask for a referral for pelvic floor physical therapy. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 989-488-5825.

Want to learn more about how physical therapy can help treat pelvic floor dysfunction? Watch the video below from Olivia Shelton and Jesse Pelkey, two physical therapists at MyMichigan Health. In addition to their doctorate training, both have completed specialized training in the therapeutic treatment of pelvic floor disorders in women and men.

Casey Odell, D.P.T. specializes in pelvic floor rehabilitation, orthopedics, manual therapy, and vestibular/balance dysfunction.