Why Everyone Should Know About Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

0
This post is sponsored by Performance Optimal Health. Please support our sponsors.

A woman holding her stomach.Like many physical therapists, I started school to work with high-level athletes and dream of working for a professional team. I stumbled upon what felt like (at the time) a rather odd specialty, pelvic floor physical therapy

It changed how I thought about my body and how I looked at physical therapy as a profession. That day, I realized we are so much more than just the rehabilitation of sports injuries, and I needed to know more.

So, what exactly is the pelvic floor?

Take a moment to consider your abdominal area as a soda can with the respiratory diaphragm as the top, your “core” muscles as the front and sides, and your back muscles as the back of the can. The can is still missing an essential component, the bottom!

Your pelvic floor supports the bottom of the can by providing a hammock, or bowl-like support, at the bottom of the pelvis. You can try to locate these muscles by squeezing or pulling up-and-in the same muscles you would use to stop the flow of urine or hold back passing gas. 

These muscles have five very important functions:

  1. Supports the internal organs
  2. Sphincteric control of urethra and anus (urine and stool)
  3. Sexual (vaginal lubrication, blood flow to promote orgasm, pain-free penetration)
  4. Stabilization/core activation (completes the soda can!)
  5. “Sump pump” for circulation/lymphatic system

Origins of pelvic physical therapy.

Since no one knows about pelvic physical therapy, that must mean it’s new, right? Nope!

Some of the techniques used by pelvic physical therapists were described in the ancient texts of Chinese Taoism 6,000 years ago. Hippocrates and Galen of Ancient Greece and Rome also taught pelvic floor exercises. However, these techniques were long forgotten during the dark ages until modern medicine received its first dose of pelvic floor-specific exercises.

Margaret Morris stepped up to the plate when she connected the importance of pelvic health to the overall health and well-being of her dancers. She published a paper in 1936 introducing pelvic floor physical therapy to British society. Unfortunately, she is often overlooked in history. Many erroneously think the world was introduced to pelvic floor exercises by Dr. Arnold Kegel in the 1940s. While Dr. Kegel helped spread knowledge of pelvic health and his “Kegel” exercises, his techniques had been used worldwide for centuries.

What does pelvic physical therapy look like today?

Pelvic floor physical therapy is much more than “Kegel” exercises today. As pelvic floor/pelvic health therapists, we are musculoskeletal experts specializing in the area associated with and within the bony pelvis. This includes the innominate (ilium, ischium, pubis), sacrum, sacroiliac joints, and coccyx. The pelvis houses the pelvic floor, a region (not just one muscle!). We seek to see and treat the body as a whole and treat our clients as a WHOLE person. We are interested in how the gastrointestinal tract, reproductive, orthopedic, urologic, neurologic, and dermatological systems function together and how that affects your overall function and health.

The muscles of the pelvic floor are skeletal muscles. They behave just like other muscles in the body; they can be too short/tight (hypertonic) or too long and weak (hypotonic). In both instances, the muscle may be ineffective at their “jobs” and lack the coordination to move through their full range of motion. This can be partly due to poor proprioception or awareness of the position/movement of your body. It is hard to master the coordination of these muscles when you can’t see them working!

It’s not just you — and you can get help.

Unfortunately, many pelvic health issues go untreated and undiagnosed because of one simple fact. It’s a little weird to talk about, but it shouldn’t be!

New moms in France are referred to a pelvic physical therapist immediately after birth. They are insured for at least ten visits, which is not the case in the United States. There are many reasons to see a pelvic physical therapist or certified prenatal/postpartum specialist during pregnancy or after birth. Many modifications can and should be made to make the activity safe and effective during pregnancy (dependent on the trimester) and after giving birth, regardless of vaginal or cesarean delivery. These specialized providers can also help design your exercise routine to encourage positive changes throughout pregnancy and prep for the labor/delivery process. 

But it’s not just recent moms who are in need —other common diagnoses treated by pelvic therapists include (but certainly are not limited to):

  • Incontinence (urinary and fecal)
  • Prolapse
  • Constipation
  • Vulvodynia and Vaginismus
  • Dyspareunia (pain with intercourse)
  • Coccyx pain
  • Diastasis Recti
  • Interstitial Cystitis
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Endometriosis
  • Chronic pelvic pain

Although talking about issues in the pelvic region can seem a little strange and maybe even a little taboo at first, it is important to see how important this little area is to overall health and quality of life.


JessicaJessica Klecki, PT, DPT, is a pelvic health specialist who works with female and male clients alike. She works with clients to create a comprehensive treatment plan for pelvic health issues that goes beyond Kegels. Instead, Jessica takes a unique approach to pelvic health by incorporating various exercises, breathing techniques, and stretching methods in her care. Jessica chose to work in the field of physical therapy to instill a sense of resiliency in her clients. Having been injured herself, Jessica faced a lack of support during her healing process. Now, she wants to ensure others get the encouragement and guidance they need and deserve to return to all the activities they love.
 
To contact Jess, please email her at jessica@performanceoptimalhealth.com. For more information about Performance Optimal Health, check out their website at performanceoptimalhealth.com.

Performance Optimal Health

At Performance Optimal Health, we use comprehensive research and the latest technology to incorporate the four pillars of optimal health (exercise, recovery, nutrition, and stress management) into your care. Each pillar plays a significant role in your optimal health journey, and using tools and services from each of the pillars can greatly enhance and expedite your path to success.
 
Each of us has a goal, a unique vision of our best selves. Achieving that goal is easier with the help of experts in the fields of exercise, recovery, nutrition, and stress management. So whether it’s healing from an injury, increasing longevity, or improving fitness, at Performance Optimal Health, we put a coordinated and highly-personalized strategy in place so you can reach your goals…and exceed them.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here