Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Focuses on the Evaluation and Treatment of Conditions Related to the Pelvic Floor Muscles and Associated Structures

The Big Picture

Pelvic floor physical therapy is for males and females of all ages and aims to address issues such as pelvic pain and dysfunction. This is done by examining and treating the muscles, joints, nerves, and other connective tissue of the pelvis as well as the surrounding regions.

Common Conditions Treated:

• Stress and urge urinary incontinence
• Fecal incontinence and constipation
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Pelvic and perineum pain
• Prenatal and postnatal care
• Recovery following pelvic surgeries

Digging a Little Deeper:

The pelvic floor can become weak, tight, uncoordinated, or painful just like all the other muscles of the body which can lead to a variety of hard to talk about symptoms. People may experience leaking urine or fecal matter, difficulty using the bathroom, pressure in the pelvis, pain with normal daily tasks, and pain or dysfunction during sex.

What is the Pelvic Floor?

If you think of your trunk as a house, your diaphragm is the roof, your abdominal and spinal muscles are the walls, and your pelvic floor is the concrete foundation. The multiple pelvic floor muscles work together to contract and relax to allow for bowel and bladder function as well as be the stable foundation that maintains organ positioning. All of the other parts of the “house” work hand in hand with the pelvic floor though, which is why pelvic floor therapy involves treatment of the whole body.