What is the Pelvic Floor?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and nerves that provide stability, support, and protection of the pelvis, bowel, bladder, and reproductive organs. The pelvic floor plays an integral role in proper bowel, bladder, and sexual function. Like any other muscle in the body, the pelvic floor muscles can become dysfunctional, and when this happens, one or more of the following symptoms may arise.
- Leakage of urine, feces, or gas when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising
- Urgency and/or frequent urination
- Constipation/abdominal bloating
- Difficulty voiding and/or difficulty emptying the bowel or bladder
- Chronic straining or holding of urine/stool
- SI joint, pubic symphysis, tailbone, and low back pain
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Dyspareunia (unwanted pain with intercourse)
- Diastasis Recti (abdominal muscle separation)
What You Should Know:
You are not alone and you do not have to live with these symptoms. One in four women, and one in five men, report having pelvic floor dysfunction. Every patient will have a plan tailored to their individual needs, created by a team of skilled specialists who care about your goals.
Treatments May Include:
- Evaluation of the pelvic floor musculature, either performed internally or externally, based on the patient’s needs
- Full body movement assessment
- Patient education
- Pain regulation
- Manual therapy
- Breath, core, and pelvic floor coordination (neuromuscular retraining)
- Bowel and bladder retraining (behavior strategies)
- Individualized exercise prescription
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Pre and post-natal care