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How can you know if you are receiving the best physical therapy for your pelvic floor dysfunction?

Here are a few clues that may help:

  • Not every patient will benefit from pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercises (“kegels”). In fact, for some conditions, symptoms may worsen if kegels are performed. If pelvic floor exercises are being recommended, ask why. Exercise prescription always should be based upon patient history, current symptoms, and a thorough examination to determine appropriateness of the exercise.

 

  • Shy away from a strict protocol approach (i.e., patients are seen for a specific number of visits based on diagnosis, and/or the same interventions are provided, regardless of the condition).
    Individual care is key and should be based on patient history, symptoms, examination findings, and patient’s response to treatment.

 

  • Your physical therapist should always keep in mind the whole body (not just the pelvic floor!) and the various systems that may play a role in pelvic floor dysfunction. This whole body approach should be evident to you by the thoroughness of the initial examination, the in-office treatments provided, and the home activities prescribed by your PT.

 

  • The roles that your emotional well-being and response to stress may play should be discussed regardless of your condition/symptoms, but especially in the case of pelvic pain.

 

  • Your physical therapist should ALWAYS give you activities to work on at home. The physical therapist’s role during your office visits is not to “fix” or “heal” you, but to empower you through education and instruction – the most effective tools you need to help you restore or improve function and/or alleviate pain.

 

  • Your physical therapist should have an active physical therapy license in your state (ask for their license #) and should be trained in evaluation and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction.

Ask questions before scheduling your appointment for pelvic physical therapy. Always seek the highest quality of care…. you deserve nothing less!

What will take place during my first visit?

If your first visit is an evaluation appointment, your therapist will ask you questions about your specific concerns and discuss your treatment goals. Depending on your condition, your therapist may recommend an internal assessment of the pelvic floor. During an internal exam, therapists assess pelvic floor muscle tone and integrity and gauge motor control and function. 

Treatment plans vary, but therapists may use follow-up sessions to perform external trigger point release and connective tissue manipulation that calm the nervous system and increase blood flow to the area. They may also work on internal trigger point release and muscle lengthening. Expect to receive a home program with exercises and activities to address your specific concerns.What should I wear to Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

Comfortable clothes are encouraged. If you’ll need specific exercise clothes, your therapist will let you know. If an internal exam is required during your visit, you may be asked to disrobe from the waist down. You will discuss any internal exam with your physical therapist in advance and should feel comfortable before proceeding.  

Can I still come to my appointment if I’m on my period?

Physical therapy during menstruation is not contraindicated. As long as you’re comfortable, your session can proceed as scheduled.

What will Pelvic Floor PT do for me?

Our physical therapists are trained in treating and assessing a range of conditions including orthopedic conditions, pregnancy/postpartum related aches and pains and pelvic floor disorders impacting bowel, bladder and sexual function. For more information on what types of conditions pelvic floor physical therapy can help you with, check out our Who We Serve page.

Identifying and helping to manage the underlying musculoskeletal issues associated with these conditions can relieve the pain and discomfort associated with them. 

Additionally, if you have previously received physical therapy for low back, tailbone, hip or sacroiliac joint (SIJ) conditions that have not improved, you may be a candidate for pelvic floor physical therapy. 

If I tried Kegels and they didn’t work, will this session help?

While Kegel exercises can be helpful to some, only a trained Pelvic Floor PT can evaluate your symptoms, correctly diagnose issues, and provide you with a personalized treatment plan that will help you see results.

How long is a typical appointment?

Appointments can range from 45 minutes to an hour or more depending on the nature of the appointment.

When will I start feeling better?

Because every patient is different, it’s difficult to give a single “right” answer. Your physical therapist will work with you to develop a plan to treat you as effectively and efficiently as possible. This plan will include a home program with exercises, activities, and habit changes to address your specific goals.

Can I still have therapy if I’m pregnant?

Absolutely! Therapists frequently treat pregnant women. However, please alert your therapist if you are pregnant or think you might be.

What happens after my first appointment?

You’ll likely be given homework to reinforce what you’ve learned during your physical therapy visit. The homework is designed to help you incorporate changes into your daily habits that will help increase the likelihood of success in treating your underlying conditions. 

Ready for your first appointment? Contact us today to learn more.

What are Kegel Exercises?

Kegels are an exercise designed to strengthen the pelvic floor. They are so named after the American gynecologist Arnold Henry Kegel who proposed this as a first line of treatment for urinary incontinence in 1948. Today, we also refer to this exercise as a pelvic floor contraction and use it for various other conditions. 

The aim of a pelvic floor contraction is to train the muscles that run like a sling or hammock from the pubic bone (the bone just above the genitals) down and back towards the tailbone. To properly perform these exercises, it can be helpful to picture the perineal body – the space between the anus and vagina or anus and testicles – lifting up and in towards the belly button. After the contraction, you should also feel the muscles release or relax back to the starting position. 

Why Would Someone Need to do Kegels?

The pelvic floor can become weak for any number of reasons. In men and women some common culprits include a sedentary lifestyle, aging, obesity, chronic constipation/straining with bowel movements, a chronic cough and any surgical procedure that cuts the muscles of the pelvic floor (e.g. prostatectomy or prolapse repair). Women are also at risk from pregnancy, vaginal childbirth, and hormonal changes. 

A weak pelvic floor can lead to some uncomfortable issues. We already mentioned urinary incontinence, but urinary urgency, fecal incontinence, pain, pelvic organ prolapse, and changes in sexual function can also result from weak pelvic muscles. In some cases, a strong pelvic floor can help prevent or treat these issues. 

Not Everyone is Doing Kegels Correctly

An estimated 30 percent of women doing Kegels are performing them incorrectly! When you consider you can’t really see these muscles, it makes sense that so many people don’t know how to do these exercises. Here are some common signs you could be doing Kegels incorrectly:

  • Symptoms seem to be getting worse rather than better.
  • Lower back and/or abdominal pain increase after a Kegel exercise session
  • New pain with intercourse or other negative changes in sexual function occur
  • Development of new tailbone pain or pain with sitting

When we see patients in the clinic, we also keep an eye out and screen for some of these common mistakes:

  • Clenching or engaging other muscles like the abs, inner thighs or glutes. (Squeezing your butt does not strengthen your pelvic floor!)
  • Pushing instead of squeezing and lifting the muscles – usually also associated with holding the breath.
  • Strengthening at the wrong time. Often people hear they should do Kegels while urinating, but regularly interrupting the urine stream can set the body up for issues down the road. 
  • Overtraining or excessively tightening the muscles. This can occur because of not focusing on releasing the muscles after contracting or for other underlying reasons. 

Your Pelvic Floor Might Be Overworked

Like any other muscle in the body, the pelvic floor muscles can become overly fatigued. In some cases, this leads to even more weakness and in other cases, it can lead to spasms in the pelvic floor. Either can result in a worsening of symptoms. To avoid this, start gradually increasing in intensity and frequency. If you are unsure how to do this, a pelvic floor physical therapist can guide you and help you determine the best way to start a home routine of pelvic floor exercises. 

Should You Try Kegels for Your Symptoms?

Kegel exercises aren’t appropriate for everyone experiencing symptoms associated with a weakened pelvic floor, especially if the exercises are done incorrectly or if the muscles are being overworked. But even if you are doing Kegels correctly, some pelvic floor disorders require more than just Kegels. That’s why it’s important for anyone struggling with symptoms associated with pelvic floor weakness to be evaluated by a trained pelvic health physical therapist.

Where Does Pelvic Floor PT Come In?

Fortunately, 80% of pelvic floor dysfunction cases can be improved through physical therapy. A trained pelvic floor physical therapist can evaluate your symptoms, correctly diagnose issues, and provide you with a personalized treatment plan that will help you see results.

Read our reviews from patients like you! And contact us today for a consultation.

Did you know the pelvic floor is working hard throughout your entire pregnancy? The whole time your baby is growing, your pelvic floor is working harder and harder to hold her up against gravity. In fact, all the jobs of the pelvic floor become more difficult as your baby is growing.

Hormones circulating throughout our body relax ligaments that help to stabilize the pelvis normally. With less ligamentous support, your pelvic floor has to work even harder to take up the slack and keep you upright. It’s little wonder that so many women experience things like back or pelvic pain and incontinence during pregnancy and after — even when they have not had a vaginal delivery! 

For many women, these issues may improve postpartum or at least be less noticeable. But, what happens if the symptoms don’t go away, get worse or come back with your second pregnancy? This is where pelvic floor physical therapy can be of help. 

What is Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Physical Therapy?

Postpartum Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Physical Therapy is a type of physical therapy that focuses on the muscles and ligaments in the pelvic floor most affected by pregnancy and birth. It involves exercises that encourage improved function of the muscles of the lower pelvis. When pelvic muscles become too tight or too weak, it can cause inconvenient symptoms.

>> Learn more about What Happens to Your Pelvic Floor During Pregnancy

What Can I Expect from Postpartum Pelvic Floor PT?

Postpartum Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy accentuates the natural healing capacity of the body and addresses any of the postpartum physical symptoms you may be having. Different techniques are combined for a full spectrum of care.

Manual therapy

Any form of hands-on treatment used by physical therapists to treat musculoskeletal pain and disability is referred to as manual therapy. It can include kneading and manipulation of muscles, joint mobilization, and joint manipulation to name a few techniques.

Trigger point therapy

Trigger point therapy is designed to alleviate sources of pain through cycles of isolated pressure and release.

Scar Management

Designed to help improve healing, reduce sensitivity and minimize restrictions at the site of surgical cuts (e.g. episiotomies and cesarean scars) and perineal tears that occur naturally during vaginal delivery. 

Muscle training 

This may include lengthening or relaxing tight muscles or strengthening weak, underactive muscles. Your physical therapist will assess your pelvic floor muscles and make personalized recommendations to help you reach your goals. 

Bowel and Bladder Training

Regaining control of bladder and bowel function postpartum is often high on the list of priorities for new moms. Physical therapists work to identify the source of your problem – whether it’s leakage, frequency, or difficulty voiding – then guide you through key dietary or habit changes to reduce these pesky symptoms. 

>> Learn more about the treatment techniques that Provenance Physical Therapists utilize

What Postpartum Issues Can Pelvic Floor Rehab Help With?

Urinary issues

People who suffer from pelvic floor disorders can experience urinary issues such as incontinence, an urgent need to urinate, painful urination or incomplete emptying of their bladder.

Bowel issues

Constipation, urgent need to have a bowel movement, inability to hold back gas and stool leakage are just a few of the common postpartum complaints women experience.

Pelvic pain

Pelvic pain can arise from muscles, nerves, connective tissues and scars.

Diastasis recti

This occurs when the large abdominal muscles separate. Common during pregnancy, it does not always resolve postpartum. A bulge in the middle of the belly or a reduction in core strength are some of the common symptoms.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse happens when the muscles and tissue of the pelvic floor can not support the pelvic muscles resulting in the drop of the pelvic organs from their normal position. Symptoms can include a feeling of heaviness or fullness in the vagina, feeling of “sitting on a golf ball” or feeling of something falling out. 

Kegels Don’t Solve Every Postpartum Issue

Kegels can help a weak pelvic floor, but many people are not doing Kegels correctly. Positioning can be wrong, quantity or the number of Kegels may be too much or too little, and not identifying the proper muscles while doing Kegels can cause more damage. As stated by Kate Marple for BabyCenter, “if your problem is caused by chronic tightness in the pelvic floor muscles, practicing contracting but not releasing them can actually make the muscles tighter and the symptoms worse.”

Provenance Rehabilitations Healthy Moms Postpartum PT Screening in Alpharetta, GA

Provenance has a screening at our office in Alpharetta, GA for new moms starting 6+ weeks after delivery. It is an individualized wellness program that offers physical therapy screening for common postpartum conditions such as diastasis recti (abdominal muscle separation), incontinence (leaking of urine or feces), pain from a vaginal tear, episiotomy, or C-section, and pelvic floor dysfunction (weakness, pain, etc).

>> Sign up for your Postpartum PT screening at our Alpharetta office today

An ounce of prevention…

We often limit our view of postpartum to the year or so immediately after giving birth. That’s a pretty limited view given the degree of permanent changes that happen in a woman’s body during and after pregnancy. Often in our practice, we see women who begin experiencing pelvic floor issues with subsequent pregnancies or even as late as menopause.

Having the tools to recover well from a first pregnancy can in some instances reduce the risk of developing these issues down the road. As the old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Give your local pelvic floor therapist a call to discuss your concerns and see if pelvic floor therapy may be right for you. 

The pelvic floor encompasses several muscles that run like a sling from the tailbone forward to the pubic bone at the front of the pelvis. These muscles have several functions. They support our organs (especially bowel, bladder, and uterus), help control bladder and bowel movements and even have a role in sexual function. If that wasn’t enough for one group of muscles, they also are part of our deep core muscles and help contribute to stabilizing our pelvis and spine during upright movements. Age, a sedentary lifestyle and pregnancy (even if you had a c-section), can lead to pelvic floor changes. This is where pelvic floor physical therapy and yoga come into play.

Yoga teaches us how to mindfully strengthen, relax and stretch muscles throughout the body to keep them in equilibrium. This balanced approach makes it an optimal technique for strengthening the pelvic floor muscles and addressing pelvic pain. 

Breathing Techniques

The deep breathing taught in yoga is crucial to pelvic floor rehab. Deep breathing techniques when performed correctly, engage the diaphragm – a large, dome-shaped muscle that sits under our lungs. When we take a diaphragmatic breath, this muscle contracts and compresses the organs in the abdomen down towards the pelvic floor. In response, the pelvic floor relaxes to accommodate this downward pressure creating a passive stretch on these muscles. When we inhale, these muscles passively return to their starting positions. 

But, that’s only one of the benefits of deep breathing. Regularly performing various deep breathing techniques actually can help improve pelvic floor coordination (crucial before beginning a strengthening routine) and decrease our body’s stress response. For many people, they carry their stress as muscle tension in the pelvic floor which can lead to pain and pelvic floor dysfunction. Decreasing the stress response, lowering the blood pressure and decreasing the heart rate can all lead to reduced muscle tension. 

Flexibility

The body exists as a delicate ecosystem and as important as breathing is to pelvic floor health, so is proper stretching. An overly tight pelvic floor can be affected by the surrounding muscles and stretching in yoga can help elongate those muscles. Muscles in the low back, hips, legs, and abdomen are all intimately connected with the pelvic floor muscles. Reducing tension in these areas while also working on reducing tension directly in the pelvic floor can lead to improvements with issues like urine and bowel leakage and pelvic pain.

Strengthening

Yoga can help build strength that complements the work done in physical therapy. Remember the pelvic floor has many functions including playing a key role as one part of our core. It helps stabilize us during trunk movements and static positions that require balance. Practicing yoga regularly increases your core strength since you are required to hold your body in poses that challenge your balance and move your body through dynamic movements that require significant control from your core. The poses help to create more stability within the pelvic floor which allows them to stay relaxed and strong during daily activities.

Meditation and Relaxation

Yoga has been a known stress reducer for many centuries and used as spiritual development practice to train the body and mind to self observe and become aware of your own nature. Having pelvic floor issues can make it hard to relax when you are in pain, and often we tend to tighten our muscles or clench when we are uncomfortable. Meditation and relaxation are essential in order to assist in pelvic floor physical therapy by reducing a person’s sensitivity to pain. Together, these methods help relieve tension and decrease stress signals throughout your body, giving you a chance to focus on healing.

Blossom Yoga Class

Although difficult to discuss and sometimes painful, pelvic floor dysfunction is a highly treatable condition with pelvic floor physical therapy and the proper yoga techniques. Led by Donna Wise, Certified Yoga Instructor, Provenance offers a focused, gentle yoga practice every Wednesday from 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM. With a spotlight on relaxation, stability, and pelvic floor awareness, these mindful yoga classes help all participants with balance, posture, and strength to aid their pelvic health practice. From beginner to advanced – all levels are welcome!

Those suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can experience debilitating pain as well as physical and emotional stress. In this article, we’ll cover what IBD is, specific symptoms and how physical therapy (PT) can help.

What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?

Mayo Clinic describes IBD as “an umbrella term used to describe disorders that involve chronic inflammation of your digestive tract.” This includes Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease of the large intestine in which the innermost lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops tiny open sores or ulcers.

The symptoms of UC can range from manageable to severe and may include:

  • Diarrhea/bloody stool
  • Fever/Fatigue
  • Abdominal/rectal pain
  • Reduced appetite/weight loss
  • Urgency to defecate
  • Inability to defecate despite urgency

What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s Disease is a chronic illness that causes inflammation in any part of the digestive tract but commonly affects the small intestine.

Unlike UC, Crohn’s affects the entire lining of the affected portion of the digestive tract leading to symptoms such as:

  • Abdominal pain and cramping
  • Severe diarrhea/bloody stool
  • Mouth sores
  • Fever/Fatigue
  • Reduced appetite/weight loss
  • Pain or sores around the anus

Emotional Implications of IBD

There are also emotional implications to consider when living with IBD. Chronic diseases like UC or Crohn’s can severely impact your mood or outlook on life and lead to bouts of depression, anxiety, etc.

Incontinence Issues Associated with IBD

While none of the symptoms associated with IBD are easy to live with, two symptoms that cause a lot of stress are fecal and urinary incontinence.

Fecal Incontinence (FI) is the inability to control bowel movements, causing stool to leak unexpectedly from the rectum. This may be a small amount that occurs when passing gas or complete emptying of the bowels. People who are affected by FI often suffer alone because they feel it is an embarrassing topic to discuss. However, this is a common complaint for those with IBD. In fact, some reports suggest more than half of people who have IBD experience FI to varying degrees.

Urinary Incontinence (UI) is the loss of bladder control leading to urinary leakage. UI symptoms can range from mild (a few drops) to severe (complete emptying of the bladder) greatly impacting daily function. This is reported to be present in about ⅓ of people with IBD.

How Can Physical Therapy Help IBD?

Guided PT with a qualified professional can have great benefits for those living with IBD. Broad IBD symptoms addressed through PT include:

  • Fecal/Urinary Incontinence
  • Fecal/Urinary Urgency
  • Overactive Bladder
  • Sarcopenia
  • Fatigue
  • Pain

The following are PT modalities that can help improve daily life and reduce symptoms in people affected by IBD:

Proper Toileting Posture

Understanding and utilizing proper toileting postures can greatly improve fecal incontinence and discomfort. Your PT can teach you techniques to more fully empty bowels potentially leading to fewer incidents of leakage.

Urge Suppression Techniques

These techniques can help control the sudden urge to urinate, decreasing the sense of emergency around using the toilet.

Bladder Diaries and Voiding Intervals

Bladder retraining is a technique in which you urinate at timed intervals to train your bladder into a new voiding pattern. Keeping a bladder diary is an important part of executing this technique.

Reduce Pelvic Pain with PT

Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) is a complication of IBD that often goes unaddressed and misdiagnosed. PT can help to reduce or manage the symptoms associated with CPP.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy can help rehabilitate the pelvic floor muscles. Your physical therapist should do an extensive assessment and then treat what they find both externally and internally.

A Yoga Program

A yoga asana practice is a great approach to managing pelvic pain and strengthening the pelvic floor. Provenance Rehab offers yoga classes geared toward relaxation, stability, and pelvic floor awareness.

Living with IBD can be challenging and complicated. Although physical therapy does not treat the disease, it is a safe and effective treatment for some of the bothersome symptoms. Physical therapy, with a qualified professional like those at Provenance Rehabilitation, can support the well-being of those living with UC or Crohn’s Disease.

If you are in the Greater Atlanta area and you have questions about how PT can help your IBD, contact Provenance Rehab today.

Getting older comes with many bodily changes. Your hormones begin to fluctuate, your muscles begin to change, and the pathways in your brain no longer regenerate at the same speed they once did. 

Your pelvic floor will also respond to these changes in your body as you age. However, if you choose to seek out pelvic floor rehabilitation, you may not have to endure the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help limit or in some cases completely resolve symptoms ensuring you can get back to the everyday activities you love. 

What Happens to the Pelvic Floor as We Age?

Shifts in hormones may lead to weaker or stiffer muscles in the pelvic floor. Connective tissues become more rigid and provide less support. Cumulative bad habits – like holding our urine too long or straining with bowel movements – start to catch up with us in time. All of these can contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction. 

Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Issues

If you think you are experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, keep an eye out for the following symptoms: 

  • Lower Back Pain: Think of the pelvic floor muscles as part of a team that helps support the spine and pelvis. When one team member isn’t pulling its weight, this can increase strain to the other muscle groups. This can lead to an increase in low back pain. 
  • Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI): SUI is described as an inability to control one’s bladder when laughing, sneezing, coughing, exercising, or otherwise engaging one’s body. 
  • Bowel and Urinary Urgency: A sudden urge to urinate or defecate without an earlier indication is considered urgency. People who experience this often cannot delay going to the restroom when the urge to urinate or defecate strikes, and they may even have leakage on the way to the restroom. 
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Prolapse occurs when a shift in position of one or more of the organs within the pelvis occurs. Some people experience urinary dysfunction, feel a sensation of pressure in the pelvic region, or experience a bulging sensation at the opening of the vagina. Early intervention is best and may prevent progression of this uncomfortable condition. 
  • Painful Sex: Have you noticed changes in your sexual experiences as you are aging? Do you notice diminished libido, or are you having pain with intercourse? Painful sex can be a sign of pelvic floor dysfunction and is reason enough for you to have a chat with your pelvic floor PT about options to help. 

Treatments for Pelvic Floor Issues

As mentioned, you aren’t resigned to experiencing these symptoms as you age. Pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) can help! 

PFPT is a unique specialty within the field of physical therapy that requires specialized training. Your PT will guide you through treatment and help you identify where your symptoms originate. Is your issue weakness or could it be coming from muscle/connective tissue tension, scar tissue, or simply poor habits? 

Depending on what your PT decides is appropriate, your treatment could include a variety of manual (hands-on) skills, exercises, or one of the following: 

  • Bladder Retraining – Retraining habits can sometimes limit and prevent leakage. This process may involve going to the bathroom at set times and/or using urge suppression techniques to reduce urgency. 
  • Biofeedback – Done in a variety of ways, biofeedback techniques can be manual, visual, or even with a special device. When a device is used, sensors are used for detecting muscle activity, and the data collected is then displayed on a screen. This can be especially helpful for people who have difficulty perceiving whether the muscles of their pelvic floor are relaxed or contracted. 
  • Muscle Stimulation – This method also uses a device with special sensors, but it doesn’t depend on a person being able to engage the muscles. Instead, the device gently stimulates the muscles, causing a contraction. This is generally only appropriate for very weak muscles. 

If you’re ready to move forward, you can talk to your general practitioner or OB/GYN for a physical therapist recommendation. You also can make an appointment on your own, as a referral isn’t necessary to initiate pelvic PT (or any type of PT) in the state of GA. 

If you think you’re experiencing symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, don’t wait until the symptoms worsen. Instead, seek out the assistance of a medical professional so that you can improve your quality of life. 

Contact Provenance Rehabilitation today for an initial assessment and consultation. 

More often than not, you hear about women needing to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles to live a happier life. Men, however, face many of the same symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction that women do. Even so, can men benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy?

What is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor, in men and in women, looks similar to a hammock. It stretches from the tailbone to the hips in both genders and supports the bladder, bowels, and reproductive organs. There are no major differences in the function or general shape of the pelvic floor, regardless of a person’s gender.

Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Weakness in Men

That said, men – like women – can frequently forget to exercise their pelvic floor muscles. Other times, men don’t know that they need to exercise their pelvic floor muscles until something begins to go wrong. If you think that your pelvic floor muscles may be weaker than they should be, keep an eye out for some of the following symptoms:

  • Incontinence – If you find that you can’t control your bladder or have even minor leakage, you may be experiencing incontinence. Urinary leaks occur commonly after immediately after emptying the bladder, changing positions, with a strong urge to go or when laughing, sneezing, exercising, coughing, or otherwise engaging your body.
  • Overactive Bladder – Do you frequently have to make trips to the bathroom, even when you haven’t had a lot to drink? Do you find you are waking up multiple times at night to use the restroom? An overactive bladder can be a sign of a weak set of pelvic floor muscles.
  • Bowel Incontinence – For some people, the first sign that bowel incontinence could be an issue is having difficulty holding back gas. Laughing, sneezing, exercising, coughing, or other forms of movement may also cause you to pass gas or have a bit of stool leakage. If this is the case, you’re experiencing early indications of bowel incontinence and will want to schedule an appointment with a medical professional right away.
  • Impaired Sexual Function – The consistent inability to engage in sexual intercourse or perform optimally may be a sign of weak pelvic floor muscles as these muscles play a significant function in arousal and ejaculation.
  • Pain – Although not always due to pelvic floor weakness, in some cases, pain in the pelvic region can be an indication that pelvic floor strengthening is appropriate.

Make sure to consult with a pelvic health expert before initiating strengthening to avoid making symptoms worse. It’s worth noting that prostate surgery can result in the weakening of the pelvic floor and the start of many of the aforementioned symptoms.

How Can Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Help Men?

If you’ve noticed that you experience several of the symptoms of weak pelvic floor muscles, then going to physical therapy may help you regain the strength you need to live a normal life. A physical therapist will be able to prescribe a workout regime for your pelvic muscles that is suited for your unique situation.

For example, while Kegel exercises may work for some men, they may prove too painful to perform for others. A physical therapist will be able to work with you to determine what, specifically, is contributing to your pelvic floor weakness and how to treat that lack of support.

There’s nothing wrong with seeking out professional help in your time of need. If you feel as though your pelvic floor muscles would benefit from pelvic floor muscle training, talk with your general practitioner or schedule an appointment with your local physical therapist ASAP.

For an initial consultation and recommendations, contact Provenance Rehabilitation today.