Whether you are Pregnant, Postpartum, Crossfitter, Sports Athlete, Man or Woman at any age, this information is for you!
10 Signs Your Pelvic Floor Needs Help!
I offer holistic physical therapy, bodywork treatment sessions and prescriptive exercises for varied pelvic floor conditions. Click on the condition below for more information. These conditions are very treatable - don't suffer in silence.
Call today!
1.Urinary LeakageUrinary leakage is never normal. The longer you wait, the greater the potential your problem may worsen. Even leakage with cough, sneeze, laugh or jump is not normal as many women may think. Many women experience leakage during pregnancy or after childbirth; don't wait to seek treatment. There can be many reasons why you are leaking ranging from muscle weakness to muscle spasm. A Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist can provide you with the right treatment program- manual therapy, exercises for your condition and help you prepare your body for labor and childbirth. Studies have shown that close to 35% of women experience urinary incontinence after childbirth. You are not alone in this and know there is help! You deserve it!
2.Urinary UrgencyUnderstand that we should be able to control our bladder and not the other way around. If you have urgency that causes you to run to the toilet and be anxious you may not make it, treatment is available.
3.Fecal IncontinenceThere are many reasons why you may experience fecal incontinence. As a holistic practitioner, I look at the whys and treat the whole person. Incontinence may be due to excessive straining during Labor, injury to the pelvic floor during childbirth, IBS, muscle weakness, anal sphincter deficit, excessive straining with defecation, diet or incomplete evacuation. Again as a pelvic floor physical therapist this is something that is very treatable. Many of my patients wish they sought help sooner as incontinence can significantly affect quality of life issues. So don't wait.
4.Pelvic Pressure or ProlapseProlapse is a falling out of the bladder, uterus or rectum out of their normal position. This can be felt as pelvic pressure or pain. Ligaments and the pelvic floor muscles provide support to hold the organs in place. Physical Therapy can help to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles to provide more organ support and to properly align the pelvis, maximizing pelvic floor positioning and contraction. As a holistic practitioner I work with you on other contributing factors including poor bowel/bladder habits and constipation which can further exacerbate your condition.
5.Incomplete EvacuationCan be causal of pelvic floor spasm, short and tight pelvic floor muscle, pelvic misalignment, poor posture, poor bowel habits, ineffective bulging, pelvic floor decent, pelvic floor weakness, prolapse, poor toileting posture and more. This again is very treatable in my practice. Complete daily movement of your bowels is important to feeling good and health.
6.Narrow StoolsNarrow or pencil like stools can be the cause of a non-relaxing puborectalis or muscles of the pelvic floor. The puborectalis muscle needs to relax during defecation. If it does not, the anal opening will be relatively closed causing stools to be narrow. There are many reasons that contribute to narrow stools including constipation, pelvic misalignment, poor posture, pelvic floor muscle spasm, pelvic floor tension and more. Again, a very treatable condition.
7.ConstipationThere are many reasons a person may experience constipation and a one size fits all treatment regimen does not apply. Constipation is common in pregnancy due to an increase in progesterone, an increase iron supplementation, an increase uterine weight and pressure and possibly a decrease in activity. During defecation, the pelvic floor muscle needs to relax and open. Conditions that would make this process difficult may include holding tension in the pelvic floor muscle creating a tight muscle, tight pelvic, abdominal and leg muscles, poor posture or pelvic misalignment. Of course diet, fiber and water intake can also effect one's bowels. It is important to treat constipation holistically - treat the root cause and all other contributing factors.
8.Vaginal FlatulenceFlatus or queefs may be a normal occurrence due to air moving into the vagina with movement such as with intercourse. However, air can also come in from the bowel causing flatus. This may imply a fistula, an abnormal passageway between the vagina and rectum allowing air or sometimes fecal matter to pass from the bowel into the vagina. Evaluation by a Doctor is recommended to rule this out. Once ruled out, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy may help. After childbirth, the vagina and pelvic floor muscles may be stretched and lack its supportive function causing more air to enter. Treatment based on evaluation findings may include pelvic floor strengthening exercises, core retraining, manual therapy, posture training, pelvic alignment and bowel and bladder retraining.
9.Pelvic PainVaginal or rectal pain is never normal. Don't be shy to discuss issues with your doctor. Muscles in your vagina and rectum can spasm and cause pain just the same as your back or trap muscles. Understanding the root cause and other contributing factors should be included in the plan of care and treatment. There can be many reasons for pelvic pain including pelvic floor spasm, tightness, poor posture, pelvic misalignment, constipation, hemorrhoids, fissure, scar adhesions, pelvic weakness and more.
10.Scar Pain Scar Pain can be common after childbirth with pelvic floor trauma including perineal tearing, episiotomy and cesarean section. I treat this condition often in my practice which again is very treatable with manual physical therapy and a good home exercise program.
So again, I encourage you to get the help you need. See your doctor to rule out any other medical condition first and discuss referral for pelvic floor physical therapy. Call today! I know how this can affect your life and I would love to help.
Be Well,
Sandra
DISCLAIMER: The content on the blog for Evoke Physical Therapy and Wellness Center, LLC is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. The information contained on this blog should not be used to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease or health illness. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Please consult with your physician or other qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented here.
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