What Can Pelvic Floor Therapy Do For Me?
Confused? What does physical therapy have to do with incontinence, pelvic pain, sexual pain, bladder pain, constipation, urinary urgency and frequency?
Physical therapy focuses on how muscles work, and how therapy can help muscles and other soft tissues to work effectively.
We help weak muscles gain strength and endurance (fixing muscle weakness), and we help tense muscles relax and stretch, restoring baseline resting tone, helping muscles work together in harmony (fixing muscle tension).
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Conditions Related to Muscle Weakness
1 / Stress Urinary Incontinence
Urine leakage due to physical pressure like coughing, sneezing, or laughing
2 / Overactive Bladder
Urgency, frequency, and nocturia caused by involuntary bladder contractions
3 / Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Descent of pelvic organs causing heaviness, low back pain, and difficulty with urination or defecation
4 / Anal Incontinence
Leakage of gas, liquid, or stool
5 / Prenatal & Postpartum Issues
Weakness of pelvic floor and abdominal muscles after pregnancy and childbirth
Conditions Related to Muscle Tension
1 / Muscle Spasm and Trigger Points
Tight, tender pelvic floor muscles causing local and referred pain
2 / Sexual Pain
Pain with sexual intercourse due to pelvic floor muscle spasms
3 / Vulvodynia
Burning pain in the vulvar area due to hypersensitive tissues
4 / Pudendal Neuralgia
Nerve-related pelvic pain, often causing discomfort in the pelvic region
5 / Endometriosis
Inflamed organs cause pelvic floor muscle tension, perpetuating the pain cycle
How does Physical Therapy Help?
By targeting the muscles and soft tissues of the pelvic floor, therapists help patients regain muscle strength, relaxation, and coordination.
Treatment is tailored to address specific issues, whether they involve weak muscles leading to incontinence or tight muscles causing pain.
Below are the primary techniques and interventions used in pelvic floor physical therapy:
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Pelvic Muscle Exercises (Kegels)
These exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles to improve bladder control and reduce leakage. Proper technique and supervised practice ensure optimal results.
Manual Therapy
Manual techniques like trigger point release, perineal massage, and strain/counterstrain help release muscle tightness and improve flexibility and function. Dry needling may be used for deep muscle tension.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback uses sensors to measure pelvic muscle activity, offering visual feedback to help patients perform exercises correctly. It supports both strengthening weak muscles and relaxing tense muscles.
Pelvic Wand Therapy
Patients use a pelvic wand at home to apply gentle pressure to trigger points in the pelvic floor, helping release tension and improve relaxation.
Electrical Stimulation
Low-grade electrical current is used to stimulate pelvic floor muscles to contract, similar to Kegel exercises. This helps strengthen weak muscles and improve bladder control.
Vaginal Dilators
These graduated tools assist with stretching and opening the vaginal or rectal areas, helping with sexual pain or discomfort caused by pelvic floor muscle tension.
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Perineal Massage
Manual techniques used to relax tight pelvic floor muscles, easing discomfort during sexual activity and postpartum recovery.
Bladder Training
​Bladder training techniques help extend the time between urination, improving bladder control and reducing urgency and frequency.
Depth Limiting Rings
These devices limit the depth of sexual penetration, providing comfort for individuals with pelvic floor tension or pain.