Are You Suffering from Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a general diagnosis that captures a wide variety of symptoms or conditions related to the pelvic floor muscles, bladder, bowel, and sexual function. This term may be shared with you by a healthcare provider, family member, friend, or even the result of an internet search you’ve conducted. Pelvic floor dysfunction does not discriminate, with the possibility of affecting persons of any age, gender, or health status, and is commonly experienced by individuals at some point in their life.

How Your Pelvic Floor Works
At the bottom of your pelvis, there is a group of muscles that work to control and coordinate bladder, bowel, and sexual function, as well as provide stability to the pelvic girdle and your core. This group of muscles is called the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor muscles, like any other muscles, can be weak, tight, or not functioning optimally, affecting your overall health and physical performance. Your pelvic floor function can be altered as a general result of the following conditions:

• Aging
• Change in overall health status
• Lifestyle factors
• Disease processes (especially those involving the bladder, bowel, or reproductive systems)
• Pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum
• Surgeries to the abdomen, bladder, bowel, or reproductive organs, including some orthopedic surgeries to the hips, spine, or pelvis
• Injury or trauma

The term “pelvic health,” also known as “pelvic floor physical therapy,” pertains to the treatment for individuals who experience symptoms affecting their bladder, bowel, and/or sexual functions.

Take the Pelvic Health Quiz
Answer “yes” or “no” to the following questions:

• Do you have an increased frequency of urination?
• Do you experience leakage or loss of control of urine, stool,
• or gas? At rest? With coughing or sneezing? During lifting or workouts?
• Do you have difficulty emptying your bladder or bowels?
• Are you constipated or need to strain with bowel movements?
• Do you have pain with bowel movements?
• Do you experience pain during or after intercourse?
• Are there any changes in sexual function?
• Do you have pain with gynecological exams or tampon use?
• Are your periods painful?
• Do you have worsening pain or feelings of instability during pregnancy or after delivery?
• Do you have pain in the abdomen, hip, lower back, or tailbone?
• Do you have an existing health condition that affects your bladder, bowels, or reproductive organ systems?
• Do you have chronic back, hip, and/or pelvic pain that has not resolved with more traditional therapy or conservative management?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions you may benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy to reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life.

How can physical therapy help?
Pelvic floor physical therapy assesses the pelvic floor muscles and closely related structures, aiming to identify symptoms of reproduction, muscle restrictions, tightness, and weakness. It evaluates overall alignment and performance, ranging from basic movements to high-level dynamic exercises. Following the assessment by a skilled physical therapist, an individualized treatment plan can be created to address your specific needs and help you achieve your desired goals.

Pelvic floor physical therapy can also contribute to various aspects of health and wellness, including preventive measures, conservative management of diagnoses, post-operative care, and recovery after injury or symptom onset. It is never too early or too late to seek care for your pelvic floor and learn what you can do to improve, prevent, or maintain pelvic floor muscle function. If you are experiencing symptoms, talk to your primary care provider, you may be a candidate for pelvic floor physical therapy.

Britt Gosse-Jesus, PT, DPT
Physical Therapy Department
Medical Associates Clinic

Physical Therapy Department