What Is Pelvic Floor Therapy And How Can It Help Me?
Hi readers! My name is Dr. Anika Arevalo, Doctor of Physical Therapy at ASR Physical Therapy in Miami Beach,FL with certification in treating pelvic floor dysfunction. Today I wanted to shed some light on a topic that is rarely discussed in physical therapy, or life in general, and that is pelvic floor dysfunction. Individuals with these issues usually suffer in silence and don’t know there is help and a light at the end of the tunnel. But some of you might be saying pelvic floor what?! Don’t put much thought into it, it's exactly how it sounds. pelvic= meaning the pelvis, floor= muscles that act as a “floor” (think of a sling) on the bottom of the pelvis. These pelvic floor muscles support your vital organs above such as your bladder, rectum, stomach and diaphragm. The fact that these muscles function primarily to hold up structures against gravity is a testament to how incredible the human body is.
Occasionally, there are things that happen to disrupt that support that the pelvic floor muscles are providing. Events like pregnancy, post-partum, trauma to the pelvic area, and even stress. When issues like this disrupt the pelvic floor it can result in the musculature either being too tight or, conversely, overstretched and left in a weakened state. When this happens you can develop symptoms such as incontinence and/or pelvic pain.
To those unfamiliar with the term, incontinence is when you have leakage of urine or fecal matter. Incontinence can be with a simple laugh, jump, or cough, or it can come with physical activity and lifting objects. It can be caused by anything that increases the internal pressure of the abdominal cavity bearing down on the pelvic floor. It is not ok to leak! Leaking is a sign our body is telling us that something is off and needs help. The same goes for pelvic pain. Pelvic Pain with daily activities, physical activity, or intercourse is not normal and again should be a yellow flag to say, “Hey! There something is going on here that needs to be looked at.” These symptoms are even more likely to occur after pregnancy, so checking in with a pelvic floor therapist is very beneficial to make sure you are on the road to recovery.
It is also important to note that pelvic floor dysfunction can also contribute to common injuries such as low back pain and sciatica. Think of your pelvic floor as part of a team of muscles with your lumbar stabilizers, deep core and hip stabilizers that all work together to stabilize and support your spine. If there is a muscle imbalance in this group then it can cause an increase in back pain or sciatica. If you have been suffering with spine pain or sciatica, your pelvic floor is definitely worth taking a look at.
Let me now bring you the good news, there is help for issues such as incontinence or pelvic pain. You do not have to suffer in silence! At ASR Physical Therapy-Miami Beach we provide a thorough pelvic floor evaluation and develop a personalized treatment plan to begin your healing. Our goal is to help you heal and to equip you with the proper tools to maintain proper pelvic health for the long term.
ASR Physical Therapy is located in the heart of Miami Beach, Florida, serving the greater Miami Metro Area. We provide therapy and treatment for pain throughout the body, pelvic floor therapy, spine pain rehabilitation, dry needling, and numerous other PT services, with a concierge level of care. Please see our Services tab for a list of the conditions we can assist with.
Contact us today for an evaluation or to talk to Dr. Anika Arevalo to see if pelvic floor therapy is for you.