What Exactly Is the Pelvic Floor?
In women, the pelvic floor is a set of muscles that help keep your bladder, bowel and uterus in place. These muscles control things like urination, bowel movements and sexual function. They also help support a healthy pregnancy by holding everything in place as the baby grows.
Problems can happen when these muscles weaken or are damaged, which is common after childbirth, aging or surgery. Signs of pelvic floor issues include:
- Leaking urine when you cough, laugh or exercise
- Urgent or frequent need to urinate
- Difficulty urinating or emptying your bladder
- Painful urination or pain during intercourse
- Pelvic pain, sometimes during pregnancy
- Constipation
- Fecal incontinence
- Frequent urinary tract infections
- Pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in your tailbone, lower back or lower extremities
- Diastasis recti (separation of the ab muscles due to pregnancy)
What Is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is all about strengthening or relaxing the muscles in the pelvic area to help you get control back and reduce symptoms. "It’s a non-invasive and non-surgical option that helps address the root cause of symptoms caused by pelvic floor dysfunction,” explains Carilion physical therapist Laura Thomas. Some of the key techniques offered at our Urogynecology Pelvic Floor Disorders Clinic are:
- Kegel Exercises: You might have heard of these! Kegels are exercises where you tighten and relax your pelvic muscles to make them stronger. Over time, these simple exercises can help with bladder control and even prevent things like prolapse from getting worse.
- Biofeedback: Sometimes it’s hard to know if you’re using the right muscles down there. Biofeedback uses sensors to help you see what your muscles are doing in real time. This helps you learn how to properly contract and relax your pelvic muscles.
- Manual Therapy: Some people have tight pelvic muscles, which can cause pain or discomfort. Manual therapy techniques can help ease tension in these muscles—kind of like a massage.
- Bladder Retraining: If you're dealing with bladder control issues, bladder retraining might help. This involves going to the bathroom at scheduled times, learning to hold it longer and using techniques to calm the urge to urinate.
Many people are embarrassed to talk about pelvic floor issues. But putting off treatment of these common problems can lead to worsening symptoms or more serious problems. If you think you have pelvic floor issues, talk to your primary care physician or OB/GYN. They can provide a referral to our Pelvic Floor Disorders Clinic.
