Pelvic floor therapy is the treatment of problems associated with the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor consists of muscles supporting the reproductive and urinary tracts.
The therapy is offered to patients experiencing chronic pelvic pain, incontinence, difficulty with urination or bowel movement, and painful intercourse, to mention a few.
Weak pelvic floor muscles result in a condition known as pelvic floor dysfunction. Several symptoms can help you see if you have a dysfunction. They include constipation, pain during intercourse, and frequent peeing.
There are exercises and techniques incorporated in the therapy to help relieve pain. You can also do your research to learn more on pelvic floor therapy and more. With that said, here are a few exercises that might help.
Kegels
A woman’s body changes now and then. Some of these changes are when pregnant, after delivery, or during menopause. The changes may be a result of hormonal shifts that causes weakening of the pelvic floor. A pregnant woman is likely to have a dysfunction because of the fetus’s pressure inserted on her pelvic floor.
It causes symptoms like urgency and frequency, bowel leakage, incontinence, and frequent peeing, to mention a few. Kegel exercises help strengthen the pelvic floor by contracting and relaxing them.
After childbirth, you are likely to have tearing of scar tissues of your muscles that may result in pain during intercourse, among other symptoms. Visit a pelvic floor physiotherapist who will teach you how to do Kegels which will help in softening the scar tissues.
The exercises will also help to control incontinence and relieve pain during intercourse. Kegels are the most common exercises used by women to strengthen their pelvic floors.
Biofeedback
When you consult a therapist over a pelvic floor dysfunction, the first step would be to know about the symptoms you have been experiencing. The physical therapist will then check your core endurance and muscles to see how strong the pelvic floor is. Here, devices are used to prevent the contraction of your pelvic floor muscles.
Electrodes are put outside your body or an internal probe to measure the core muscles’ tensed or relaxed. Biofeedback is also used to monitor exercises and if there is any improvement. The practices are activities to check the coordination of your pelvic floor muscles.
Results from the biofeedback are then shown on a computer before the doctor explains or makes any recommendations for you. Biofeedback has successfully treated pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, and functional bowel symptoms.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger points are caused by tensed muscles that form a knot resulting in stiffness and pain. Trigger points can irritate a specific part of the body as it causes pain to other regions. Injecting anesthesia to block the central response can treat trigger points.
Trigger point therapy is used to reduce all types of pain. The treatment includes massages used to address and treat pain whenever a patient goes for medical pain relief. There are so many benefits of this kind of therapy. These have reduced headaches, lowered blood pressure, stress relief, and pain reduction from stiff and swollen muscles.
Electrical Stimulation
It is used to relieve pain and muscles spasms. Electrical stimulation controls incontinence, urgency and frequency, and pain. This technique also has a wide range of electrical stimulation processes.
Electrical stimulator devices are designed to help in training pelvic floor muscles. An electrical current creates a muscular response like Kegels by stimulating the muscles to contract. They are also used to desensitize tight hypersensitive pelvic floor muscles, making them relax.
Women with neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis are encouraged to use these devices to reduce deterioration. Click here to read more.
Conclusion
Everyone has a pelvic floor, and they need to be in good condition. The techniques discussed above are used in pelvic floor therapy to reduce pain in women. Note that pregnant women are discouraged from using electrical stimulator devices. Some of the causes of this dysfunction are pelvic surgery, pregnancy, aging, and severe injuries to the pelvic area. When you visit a physical therapist, a thorough assessment is done before evaluation. The therapist asks for your surgical, medical, sexual history, and medications. All these are necessary to help in finding the best technique used to treat your weak pelvic floor muscles. Immediately consult a gynaecologist if you experience the symptoms associated with pelvic floor dysfunction.
Pelvic floor therapy is a type of physical therapy that focuses on the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues that support the pelvic organs. Many women experience pain in this area due to a variety of reasons, including childbirth, surgery, chronic medical conditions, or trauma.
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