Pelvic floor therapies are a collection of treatments that help to restore the function and strength of your pelvic floor muscles. The most common type of therapy, also known as Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PFPT), involves physical exercises and manual therapy designed to improve coordination and control of these muscles. This can help alleviate or prevent symptoms such as urinary or fecal incontinence, recurrent pelvic pain, and/or sexual dysfunction. Other types of therapy include biofeedback and electrical stimulation, ultrasound treatment, therapeutic stretches and massage, relaxation techniques, behavioral modification and lifestyle modifications.
Physical therapy for the pelvic floor falls into two categories: External pelvic floor therapy and internal pelvic floor therapy.
External Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
External pelvic floor therapy can include modalities such as myofascial release, stretching, and massage to target muscles of the lower body and core. This type of treatment may help relieve tightness, restrictions, and pain in the lower back and hip area. External therapies typically involve physical manipulation of external bodily structure to target pelvic floor muscles and tendons. Examples of external pelvic floor manual therapy include:
- Nerve release
- Deep-tissue massage
- Skin rolling
- Joint mobilization
- Muscular cueing
- Myofascial Release
- Strengthening
- Relaxation
External pelvic floor physical therapy is similar to physical rehabilitation for other injuries. The main difference is the focus on the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles are a vital part of the core and have an incredible impact on our overall health.
Internal Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Internal pelvic floor physical therapy directly targets the pelvic floor muscles using internal manipulation techniques such as dilators, weighted balls, wands, and cones. Internal therapies focus on muscle relaxation and strengthening to help restore proper neuromuscular control of the pelvic floor. This type of treatment is most effective when combined with external therapies. Examples of internal treatments include:
- Pelvic muscle retraining
- Internal massage or trigger point release
- Kegel exercises and other strengthening techniques
- Biofeedback
- Electrical stimulation (EMS)
- Ultrasound therapy
- Therapeutic stretching and massage
- Myofascial Release
- Manual Activation
- Internal muscular cueing
With internal pelvic floor physical therapy, the Physical Therapist will examine tender points inside your body with their finger and help you map out your Pelvic Floor pain.
The type of pelvic floor therapy you need depends on your specific condition. We start with an evaluation which includes postural, muscle and external treatments and then move to internal pelvic floor therapy.
By providing a personalized, comprehensive treatment plan for the pelvic floor, physical therapists can help restore normal function to the affected muscles and tissues. This can result in improved bladder and bowel control, less pain during intercourse, and fewer symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse.
Additionally, physical therapy is a drug-free way to treat chronic pelvic pain issues and can help you get back to a better quality of life. If you are experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, talk to your doctor about the benefits of physical therapy and make an appointment with a qualified physical therapist today.