Pelvic floor therapy offers pretty amazing benefits for both men and women with pelvic health issues. So, why does it continue to get overlooked, while prescription medication and surgical procedures seem to always be the go-to options?
What is Pelvic Floor Therapy?
While it can involve any number of different treatment options, pelvic floor therapy is best described as a specialized form of physical therapy that centers around treating issues related to the pelvic floor muscles. These are the muscles that are located at the very base of your pelvis, and while they certainly don’t get much attention from most people, they play a role in key functions related to your bladder, bowels, and reproductive organs.
Exploring the Big Benefits of Pelvic Floor Therapy
The question is, why do people get pelvic floor therapy? And what are the advantages? While circumstances are highly unique on a patient-by-patient basis, here are a few of the biggest benefits:
1. Strengthens Pelvic Muscles for Better Control
One of the biggest benefits of pelvic floor therapy – and a primary reason why people pursue it as an option – is its ability to strengthen the muscles in the pelvic region. These muscles support vital functions like bladder and bowel control, sexual health, and core stability. When they weaken due to age, childbirth, surgery, or other factors, it can lead to embarrassing and inconvenient issues like urinary or fecal incontinence.
Pelvic floor therapy includes exercises that target these muscles, much like how you would strengthen any other part of your body. “By doing these exercises, you can regain control over your bladder and bowel functions, allowing you to live without the constant worry of accidents,” says Dr. Marie Woerner of Woerner Physical Therapy.
2. Reduces Pain During Sexual Activities
Pelvic pain during sexual activity is an issue that many people struggle with in silence. Pelvic floor dysfunction can lead to painful intercourse, which can create physical and emotional strain on intimate relationships. Many people are unaware that pelvic floor therapy can help alleviate this pain, allowing for more comfortable and enjoyable sexual experiences.
Through pelvic floor exercises and relaxation techniques, therapy can help loosen tight muscles, improve blood flow, and reduce sensitivity in the pelvic region. This not only decreases discomfort during sexual activity but can also improve your overall sexual health and well-being.
3. Improves Bladder and Bowel Control
For those who experience bladder or bowel control issues, life can feel pretty unpredictable and limiting. Pelvic floor dysfunction is often the root cause of conditions like stress incontinence (leaking urine when you laugh, sneeze, or exercise) and urge incontinence (a sudden, intense need to urinate). These problems can severely impact your quality of life, but pelvic floor therapy offers a solution that addresses the root cause rather than just masking the symptoms.
Pelvic floor therapy focuses on strengthening and relaxing the muscles that control bladder and bowel functions, giving you more control and reducing or eliminating accidents. By retraining these muscles, you’ll gain more awareness of your body’s signals and improve your ability to hold urine or stool until you can reach a bathroom.
4. Supports Postpartum Recovery
Pregnancy and childbirth place immense strain on a woman’s body, particularly on the pelvic floor. After delivery, many women experience problems like incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and weakened pelvic muscles. Pelvic floor therapy can play a key role in postpartum recovery, helping new mothers regain their strength and stability in the pelvic region.
Through gentle exercises and hands-on techniques, pelvic floor therapy will usually restore muscle function, reduce pelvic pain, and prevent long-term complications like prolapse or chronic incontinence. For women who have had a cesarean section, therapy can also help with scar tissue management, ensuring proper healing and reducing discomfort.
5. Reduces Chronic Pelvic Pain
Chronic pelvic pain is a frustrating condition that can affect your ability to sit, stand, walk, or even sleep comfortably. Pelvic floor dysfunction is often a contributing factor, especially when the muscles in the pelvic area become tense or hyperactive. This tension can lead to persistent pain that radiates throughout the pelvic region, lower back, and hips.
Pelvic floor therapy focuses on relaxing and lengthening the pelvic muscles, relieving tension that contributes to chronic pain. Techniques like manual therapy, biofeedback, and pelvic floor exercises can reduce discomfort and improve your range of motion, allowing you to return to a more active and pain-free lifestyle.
Whether your pelvic pain is due to surgery, injury, or an underlying condition like endometriosis, therapy can provide relief and help you manage the pain more effectively.
Adding it All Up
While pelvic floor therapy won’t always cure your condition, it’s almost always a helpful alternative (or supplementary treatment) to medication or surgical procedures. Just be sure to find a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor therapy and follow their advice!