Women experiencing symptoms such as pain with intercourse, incontinence and back pain may want to consider pelvic floor physical therapy to get some relief.

Although this may sound unusual to some women, it can alleviate annoying occurrences such as leaking urine when working out or unnecessary pelvic pain. Additionally, it can help a woman’s body prepare for and recover from childbirth.

“I believe pelvic floor physical therapy should be a part of every woman’s life at some point or another,” said Emily Mason, a physical therapist at TMC Outpatient Therapy. “Many of us are not in tune with what is happening in the pelvic floor musculature and this region is responsible for bowel, bladder and sexual function.”

First, an assessment

A physical therapist will perform an assessment of your lower back, hips and pelvic girdle to identify any musculoskeletal problems. This may include an internal evaluation of your pelvic floor muscles vaginally or rectally, depending on your condition. Your therapist may also perform a biofeedback assessment of your pelvic floor with external sensors.

What exactly is pelvic floor physical therapy?

Pelvic floor physical therapy addresses the pelvic floor muscles and surrounding structures that affect bowel, bladder and sexual function and can be helpful in treating pelvic pain, as well as many cases of back, hip and abdominal pain, as they all have a pelvic floor component to them.

 “It can also be extremely helpful prenatal to help prepare for childbirth and deal with the aches and pains that come with the body’s major changes during pregnancy,” Mason said. “Additionally, postnatal pelvic floor physical therapy is important to help the body recover from the stresses the body undergoes during childbirth and the loads the body is expected to take on shortly after with having an infant.”

Signs and symptoms such as pain with intercourse, urinary or fecal urgency, frequency and incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and pain with prolonged sitting can clue you into pelvic floor muscle involvement contributing to symptoms.

Pelvic floor physical therapy treatments may include:

• Pain education

• Breathing techniques

• Strengthening and flexibility exercises

• Biofeedback

• Soft tissue massage

• Myofascial release

• Scar-tissue mobilization

• Dry needling

• Taping

• Functional movement and postural training

• Stress-reduction techniques

Call TMC Outpatient Therapy at (520) 324-7005 to learn more. Our recently opened facility provides occupational, physical and speech therapy, along with nutritional services for patients age 14 and up.

We are committed to creating a safe and compassionate health care environment in our hospital, clinics and specialty and primary care centers.