Pelvic Floor Therapy
The pelvic floor is a series of 3 layers of muscles lining the base of your pelvis. These muscles are in charge of bowel, bladder, and sexual function and are involved in everything from breathing and coughing to urinating and lifting. By addressing problems in this area, we help many patients experience relief from the following:
- Pelvic pain
- Painful urination
- Urinary frequency/urgency
- Urinary incontinence
- Painful periods (dysmenorrhea)
- Painful intercourse
- Interstitial cystitis
What can I expect during my first session of pelvic floor therapy?
A major component of pelvic floor therapy is an internal vaginal assessment. This helps the therapist determine how well your muscles are functioning and how best to proceed with your treatment.
While an internal pelvic assessment may sound scary, most people do not find it to be uncomfortable. You’ll be undressed from the waist down with a sheet draped around you, lying comfortably on a treatment table in a private room. One gloved and lubricated finger is used to assess how well your pelvic floor muscles both contract and relax. There is no speculum involved as in a gynecological exam. If at any time you are uncomfortable or want to pause/discontinue the session, you are more than welcome to let your therapist know.
Because pelvic floor dysfunction may be accompanied by many other factors, your therapist may also assess the strength and function of your other core muscles. As with most aspects of the body, the appropriate function of one part is closely related to the well being of another.
