The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that sit at the base of the pelvis and act as a sling to provide support to your pelvic organs and hips. The pelvic floor assists in controlling bladder, bowel and sexual activity. Pelvic floor muscles can become too tight or too weak, resulting in dysfunction. It is reported that 1 in 4 women in the United States have at least one pelvic floor dysfunction. We also see that pelvic floor dysfunction is stopping almost 50% of women from exercising.
Our physical therapists at BRIO are experts in developing custom PT and rehabilitation programs to treat pelvic floor disorders and pelvic pain and offer new approaches to improve the function and condition of a patient’s pelvic floor.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction can include:
- Urinary / fecal urgency
- Pelvic pain
- Vulvar pain
- Pain with sex
- Urinary / fecal incontinence
- Prolapse / feelings of heaviness in the bladder
Diagnosis We Treat
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Endometriosis
- Overactive Bladder Syndrome
- Birth prep
- Postpartum care
How soon after giving birth can I participate in pelvic floor program?
You can begin care 4-6 weeks after giving birth. This allows time for your body to heal from your birth experience.
Can my baby or child come to the appointment?
Yes! They are welcome to be in the room during the assessment as it allows us to look at body mechanics during daily activities such as lifting/ carrying.
What should I expect from my first visit?
We will discuss the symptoms that you are currently experiencing as well as take a thorough medical history. Then you will perform a movement assessment which will look at posture, muscle strength, breathing, external exam of pelvis and associated musculature, and finally an internal pelvic muscle assessment is performed as appropriate. If you are not comfortable performing the internal exam at the initial visit, it can be performed later. An internal pelvic exam is best practice, but if this is not something you are comfortable performing at all, we can help manage your symptoms without it.
What should I wear to the evaluation?
You should wear clothes that are comfortable for you and that you can move in easily.
What is the typical plan of care/ length of PT course?
4-12 sessions but this highly varies on the patient.
If you are experiencing pelvic floor pain, Call Baudry Therapy Center to schedule a PT evaluation. Our therapists will help you understand how your pelvic floor works, determine the source of dysfunction, learn how to strengthen your pelvic floor so you can get back to doing the things you love. Our therapy consistently ranks in the Top 5% in outcomes nationwide.