4 Reasons Why You Can Benefit from Pelvic Floor Therapy

This blog post was written by Alex Spencer a Core Physical Therapy PT specializing in Pregnancy and Postpartum Care.

According to the National Association for Continence, over 25 million Americans experience urinary incontinence1. Another 25% of healthy, non-pregnant women experience pelvic floor dysfunction of some kind2. In our society, incontinence and pelvic pain are typically issues that women sweep under the rug. Here at Core, we have certified pelvic floor therapists who make you feel comfortable discussing all health concerns, especially those involving the bowel, bladder, and pelvis.

Here are 4 major reasons to have yourself evaluated by a pelvic health specialist:

1. Incontinence– This consists of ANY involuntary loss of urine. Many people think this is something that happens to everyone as they age, especially if they have given birth. I’m here to tell you that although it’s a common symptom of both aging and childbirth, it is NOT normal.
2. Pelvic Pain– This affects up to 1 in 7 women3 and 1 in 10 men4. For either men or women, this pain can arise from nerve compression, poor lower back and sacral mechanics, stress, and much more. A pelvic floor physical therapist will complete a thorough evaluation to decipher the root cause of your pain.
3. Persistent lower back and/or hip pain– There are several pelvic floor muscles that work not only to control continence, but also work to stabilize the hips. If you are somebody who has tried physical therapy, massage, chiropractic, personal training, yoga, etc. and are still not noticing relief from your symptoms, it might be time to have a pelvic floor examination.
4. Pregnancy and postpartum– Women’s bodies go through many changes during both of these phases of life that lead to muscle weakness and joint laxity. These then create instability and pain through the pelvic, hip, and lower back regions in preparation for labor and delivery. A pelvic floor physical therapist can provide you with proper exercises to mitigate pain during this time, as well as with proper muscle retraining needed during the postpartum period.

If you are looking for relief from any of the above issues, I strongly encourage you to make an appointment with one of our pelvic floor specialists today. Each of our sessions last 45 minutes, in a private treatment room, helping you to feel safe and comfortable discussing any and every aspect of your health.

SOURCES:

1. “Urinary Incontinence in Women.” Www.hopkinsmedicine.org, 1 Nov. 2022, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/urinary-incontinence/urinary-incontinence-in-women#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20National%20Association.
2. Rocío Adriana Peinado‐Molina, et al. “Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Prevalence and Associated Factors.” BMC Public Health, vol. 23, no. 1, 14Oct. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16901-3. Accessed 10 Nov. 2023.
3. “Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women: Practice Essentials, Etiology, Epidemiology.” EMedicine, 5 Dec. 2023.
4. “Yes, Men Can Have Pelvic Pain Too.” Southern Pelvic Health Physical Therapy, www.southernpelvichealth.com/blog/yes-men-can-have-pelvic-pain-too#:~:text=So%2C%20today%2C%20we. Accessed 20 Dec. 2023.