Pelvic Floor Specialist

Pelvic Floor Specialist

Pelvic floor physiotherapists help women rehabilitate their pelvic floor region. The muscle groups within the core and pelvic region can be weakened by childbirth, surgery, genetics, heavy lifting, rapid weight gain, constipation, menopause, improper breathing mechanics, and more. These muscle groups aid in supporting the uterus, bladder, and bowels. They form a slinglike grouping from the pubic bone to the front of the tailbone at the back. Damaged or weakened pelvic floors can affect bladder and bowel control, leading to urinary and rectal incontinence or even pelvic organ prolapse.

At times, the pelvic floor can become overactive or hypertonic. This means that their pelvic floor muscles are overly tight and tense all of the time, even when they should be relaxed. Learning to relax and release the pelvic floor muscles (muscles contractions like the short contraction of the bulging of a bicep or long contraction, like the slow, contained stretching out of a bicep) will help ease overactivity. An overactive pelvic floor can cause many symptoms such as: back pain, pain during sex, heaviness or incontinence.

What is a pelvic floor specialist?

Doctors who specialize in pelvic floor dysfunction issues are called urogynecologists and physiotherapists. A urogynecologist will care for women with pelvic floor disorders by providing services that help evaluate pelvic floor health and provide primarily surgical treatments for pelvic organ prolapse. Their speciality covers the muscles, ligaments, connective tissues, and nerves within the uterus, vagina, bladder, and rectum.

A physiotherapist or Occupational therapist who specializes in pelvic floor treatment helps treat pelvic floor issues non-surgically. This is commonly done through exercise and manual therapy as well as extended education and advice on how to properly engage and strengthen your pelvic floor. Other specialists who aid in pelvic floor therapy include movement specialists and occupational therapists. Movement therapy can play a significant part in retraining the body toward correct posture, alignment, deep-tissue manipulation, and provide educational instruction on how the body works and how it heals.

What is involved in pelvic floor physical therapy?

Pelvic floor therapy most commonly involves exercises and education on how to properly engage and strengthen the pelvic floor. A specialist like a physiotherapist will help instruct their clients with a range of techniques ranging from:

• Breathing mechanics
• Therapeutic exercise & core building
• Pelvic floor realignment
• Proper posture
• Symptom treatment
• Physical education

Pelvic floor therapy seeks to instruct women in how their bodies work while also treating any conditions causing pain or embarrassing symptoms – like pelvic organ prolapse. When seeking treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction or POP, there are a few things you should keep in mind.