Some Clues That You Might Benefit From Pelvic Floor PT + What to Expect
wHO Benefits pELVIC fLOOR pt?
Many people think the only time you need pelvic floor physical therapy is after you have a baby, if they’re aware of it at all. But that’s not true! People of all sorts can have issues that pelvic floor PT can help with. Below, is a list of some common issues that can be assessed and treated by a pelvic floor physical therapist.
Problems with the pelvic floor usually fall into two categories, but people can experience a mix as well.
Too little muscle strength
Leaking urine
Trouble controlling bowel movements
Pressure or heaviness in the pelvis
Low back or hip problems
Too much muscle tension
Pain deep in the pelvis
Painful sexual intercouse
Frequent urination with high urgency
Constipation
Difficulty with sexual arousal
These are all common, but not normal!
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, whether you’ve had a baby or not, you might benefit from pelvic floor PT!
What Can I Expect If I See A Pelvic Floor PT?
All evaluations start with a thorough discussion of what you’re experiencing, when it started, the pattern of your symptoms, and how it’s affecting your life. Your PT might ask you very personal questions to help figure out what’s going on, but just know that there’s no TMI in pelvic PT. The more detail you provide us, the better. Trust me, we’ve heard it all!
After hearing your story, we will begin the physical exam with typical PT assessments like posture, movement analysis, and basic range of motion and strength in the low back and hips. Your pelvis is attached to the rest of your body, so we want to see how the whole system is working.
The pelvic floor exam is where things start to look different from a typical orthopedic PT exam. Typically you will undress from the waist down and be provided with a sheet for draping. Your pelvic PT will visually examine the genital region and ask you to perform pelvic floor contractions to get a sense of how your muscles are working.
After this, an internal examination is the best way to assess for pelvic floor muscle strength and tone. If you have a vagina this is done with a single gloved finger inserted into the vaginal canal. If you don’t have a vagina, or your symptoms warrant it, the rectal canal can also be used. Once a finger is inserted you will be asked to perform different types of pelvic contractions to assess your strength. Your pelvic PT will also put pressure on the muscles in several places to assess for muscle tension and pain that may be contributing to your symptoms. This what the basic pelvic floor examination looks like.
If that sounds a little intimidating, know that we only perform exams with your full consent and at your comfort level. Some people are not ready for an internal examination at first, or ever, and that is ok. We will work with whatever your comfort level is! We will also explain everything we are doing in the moment, as well as connect the dots afterward to help you understand how your pelvic floor is contributing to your symptoms.
Pelvic floor treatment can look very different depending on the individual needs of each client. If you have excessive pelvic floor tone you may benefit from internal muscle release and exercises to help reduce tension. If you have weakness then you may not have much internal treatment and the focus will be more on how to strengthen your muscles. We will also work on the areas surrounding the pelvic floor, like the hips and abdominals, to ensure the whole system can function optimally.
If you have questions about pelvic floor PT feel free to email me at lindsay@lindsaybrunnerpt.com.