What Is Pelvic Floor Therapy

Pelvic floor therapy is a specialized kind of physical therapy aimed at relieving the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction and involves physical methods of strengthening and/or relaxing the muscles of the pelvic floor. While pelvic floor disfunction along with its common discomforts and concerns have been around for centuries, Pelvic Floor Therapy is mostly unknown to the average person.

What is the pelvic floor?

The pelvic floor consists of muscles that support functions related to the urinary tract and the reproductive tract. These muscles allow the body to control the release of urine, feces, and wind. The purpose of the pelvic floor in women is similar to the purpose in men. In women, the bladder is held in the front and the rectum in the back, by the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor in men assists in keeping the bladder, rectum, urethra, and bowels stationary. Overtime, these muscles can weaken due to age or injury, which can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction such as:

• Frequent and/or painful urination
• Constipation, or a straining pain during your bowel movements.
• Leaking stool or urine
• Lower back pain with no other cause
• Persistent pain in the pelvic region, genitals, or rectum

What is Pelvic Floor Therapy?

While in some serious cases, pelvic floor dysfunction may require minimal invasive surgery such as pelvic reconstruction surgery, performed through laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery, most pelvic floor conditions can be treated relatively easily.
In most cases, pelvic floor physical therapy includes both internal and external therapy. At Trio Rehab, our pelvic health specialist begin each new therapy program with a pelvic evaluation to assess core muscle strength and coordination. From there, our trained pelvic floor therapists will design a comprehensive treatment plan designed to strengthen and relax pelvic muscles.

External Pelvic Floor Therapy

Trigger Point Release.
Used to relieve painful trigger points, your physical therapist will apply gentle, firm pressure by hand or by using a tool.

Visceral Mobilization.
A gentle manual release technique to help restore normal movement to internal organs, such as the stomach, bladder, liver, urethra, prostate, and intestines, to reduce pain and restore function.

Scar Tissue Release.
A manual technique aimed at gently breaking up scar tissue, while stretching and relaxing surrounding muscles.

Skin Rolling.
Similar to trigger point release skin rolling identifies restricted or painful areas in the body, which are then massaged to release muscle tension, reduce pain, and improve flexibility.

Joint Mobilization.
Improves the range of motion of the joint and may reduce pain.

Internal Pelvic Floor Therapy

The goal of internal manual therapy is to improve the relaxation, lengthening and tenderness of the pelvic floor muscles. The process typically starts with the patient comfortably positioned on their back with knees bent, lying on their side, or the stomach; whichever is most comfortable. The therapist then places one gloved finger within the vaginal or rectal canal and gently presses on the muscles of the pelvic floor, while instructing the patient to perform one of the following:

• Focus on relaxing and breathing
• Flex and then relax muscles
• Bulge pelvic floor area
• Simultaneously pressing pressure points around the pelvis to produce slack in the muscle
• Sweeping stretches of belly muscles

We can help!

Now that you know a bit more about Pelvic Floor Therapy and its benefits, don’t suffer with pelvic pain. Give us a call, we can help!

Suzanne McCrum, PT, DPT, CSRS, AIB (American Institute of Balance)
Trio Rehabilitation & Wellness Solutions
Boerne, Texas