What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is the application of evidence-based evaluation and intervention techniques for the treatment of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, including incontinence, prolapse, and urogynecologic pain syndromes. It involves a thorough musculoskeletal assessment and internal pelvic floor muscle evaluation based on which an individualized treatment program is created.
Treatment programs can include:
- Patient education
- Behavioral management
- Comprehensive exercise program
- EMG biofeedback
- Manual therapy
Who Will Benefit from Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Patients diagnosed with:
- Bladder and bowel leakage
- Difficulty emptying bladder or bowels
- Pelvic floor muscle weakness
- Patient education
- Cystocele
- Rectocele
- Uterine prolapse
- Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
- Vaginal and rectal muscle spasm
- Pelvic nerve injury
- Painful intercourse
- IC/Painful bladder syndrome
Postpartum women with:
- Pelvic pain
- Tailbone injury
- Episiotomy scarring
- Core weakness
- Pelvic instability
- Bladder leakage
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and Pelvic Surgery
Evidence suggests that pelvic floor muscle training, both before and after pelvic surgery, improves control following the procedure. Pelvic floor physical therapy can offer patients:
- Pre-op muscle evaluation with the use of surface EMG biofeedback to identify and improve pelvic floor muscle control.
- Early post-op behavioral and dietary information with initiation of core and pelvic floor strengthening.
- Progression of core and pelvic muscle strengthening with an individualized home exercise program.
The goal of pelvic floor physical therapy is to return patients to their optimal level of function using education, exercise, and manual treatment strategies.
Call us today to make your appointment with Becky Wilcox at Physical Therapy of Tulsa.