Pelvic Health
Women's Pelvic Health
We offer an innovative approach to women’s physical therapy in a supportive environment—that’s designed by women for women. Millions of women suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction which can lead to urinary and/or bowel incontinence and pelvic pain. Pregnancy, childbirth, chronic constipation, chronic coughing, surgery, trauma, and aging can cause pelvic floor muscle tension, incoordination and weakness. Physical therapy may help!
At Four Pines Physical Therapy, we understand the intimacy of these issues. Our specialty-trained healthcare professionals are devoted to treating a variety of musculoskeletal conditions by providing one-on-one care and customized treatment programs in a discreet and comfortable environment. Our physical therapists offer Women’s Health services and expert therapy for pelvic health and obstetrical care. Treatment can often address the cause of issues and improve your quality of life.
Our goal is to provide you with expert care in a comfortable atmosphere with plenty of patient education, so you’re at ease right from the start.
Pelvic Pain
Chronic pelvic pain is a complex and multifactorial health problem affecting approximately 1 in 7 women. Often, those experiencing symptoms of chronic pelvic pain will also experience associated problems, such as bladder/bowel dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, and depression/anxiety that could negatively impact the quality of life and self-image. Physical therapy may help!
We understand the intimacy of these issues. Our physical therapists have advanced, specialized training in the management and treatment of symptoms and dysfunction associated with chronic pelvic pain conditions. We are devoted to providing one-to-one care with individualized treatment programs in a peaceful and supportive environment.
How Physical Therapy Helps Heal Pelvic Pain
The goal of physical therapy is to normalize pelvic floor and surrounding lumbopelvic muscle tone/activity, motor control, and coordination. Focus is on improving neuromuscular awareness to promote optimal muscle length and function. Appropriate functional strengthening to assist in pelvic girdle stability is incorporated once neuromuscular awareness/coordination and optimal muscle length are present. Education regarding proper bladder/bowel habits, postural needs, and ergonomics are also addressed to aid rehabilitative outcomes. Our Women’s Health physical therapists seek to provide the optimal treatment to address individual concerns or needs.
Bowel/Bladder Dysfunction
Bladder and bowel conditions are common health problems affecting millions of women. Often, those experiencing symptoms will limit their physical activity and social interactions, associating their symptoms with a decreased quality of life and a poor self-image. Physical therapy may help!
We understand the intimacy of these issues. Our physical therapists have advanced, specialized training in the management and treatment of symptoms and dysfunction associated with bladder and bowel conditions. We are devoted to providing one-to-one care with individualized treatment programs in a peaceful and supportive environment.
How Physical Therapy Helps Bladder Dysfunction
The goal of physical therapy is to normalize the abdominal and pelvic floor muscle tone/activity, motor control, and coordination. Pelvic floor muscle contractions (commonly known as Kegels) will be incorporated once involved musculature is in its optimal length and neuromuscular control is present. In addition, education regarding proper bladder/bowel habits, postural needs and ergonomics may positively influence rehabilitative outcomes. Our Women’s Health physical therapists seek to provide the optimal treatment to address individual concerns or needs.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) is the descent of one or more pelvic structures/organs through the vaginal and rectal openings from their normal anatomical position. Although POP is more common in older women, it can affect women of all ages. Research shows that its cause is multifactorial (i.e. the effects of aging, vaginal childbirth, decreased muscle strength, etc.). At Four Pines Physical Therapy, we understand how POP can negatively influence physical activity, self-image and ultimately the quality of life. Physical Therapy may help!
Our physical therapists have advanced, specialized training in the management and treatment of symptoms and dysfunction associated with pelvic organ prolapse. We are devoted to providing one-to-one care with individualized treatment programs in a peaceful and supportive environment.
How Physical Therapy Helps Pelvic Organ Prolapse
The goal of physical therapy is to normalize abdominal and pelvic floor muscle tone/activity, motor control, and coordination to assist in improving the support and strength of the pelvic floor musculature and aid in reducing symptoms associated with pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic floor muscle contractions (commonly known as Kegels) will be incorporated once involved musculature is in its optimal length and neuromuscular control is present. In addition, education regarding proper bladder/bowel habits, postural needs and ergonomics may positively influence rehabilitative outcomes. Our Women’s Health physical therapists seek to provide the optimal treatment to address individual concerns or needs.
Pregnancy/Postpartum Care
Our Women’s Health physical therapists have advanced, specialized training in the management of musculoskeletal conditions during and after pregnancy that may lead to pain and dysfunction.
During the prenatal period, physical and hormonal changes occur, which can affect the musculoskeletal system. These changes include altered posture, shortened muscles, potential muscle imbalances, as well as changes in spinal mobility and bony alignment.
During the postpartum phase, fluctuating hormone levels combined with additional physical changes as a result of delivery may also result in musculoskeletal concerns, such as excessive joint mobility, potential muscle imbalances, weakness of the core stabilizers and altered spinal mobility and function.
The goal of physical therapy during the prenatal and postpartum periods is to address spinal and pelvic joint dysfunction, instruct in exercises to address muscle weakness and imbalance, as well as provide guidance and instruction related to the modification of ADLs that may be difficult during these phases of life.
Men's Pelvic Health
Pelvic pain is reported by 15% of adult men worldwide, 90% of those men will have symptoms consistent with chronic pelvic pain syndrome, while 8.2% will experience prostatitis-like symptoms. Pelvic floor physical therapy can be extremely helpful to address some of the challenges that men may have when their pelvic floors are not working properly including:
- Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence
- Erectile dysfunction
- Pelvic Pain including Chronic Prostatitis, Testicular and Penile pain syndromes
- Nocturia (frequent urination at night)
- Symptoms of retention which can often be associated with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia and/or a tight pelvic floor
- Tight Pelvic Floor
- Chronic Constipation
There are a wide variety of symptoms patients experience when dealing with chronic pelvic pain. Contact Four Pines Physical Therapy to discuss your symptoms and treatment options today.
Pediatric Pelvic Health
Some children struggle with bowel and bladder symptoms and physical therapy is a conservative way to give kids back their confidence! Physical therapy can address bladder and bowel control issues, including bedwetting, bladder retention, constipation and pelvic pain.
Our pelvic health physical therapists offer a wide range of child centered care services for the treatment of bowel and bladder issues. Our treatments are specifically designed to fit your child’s individualized needs. Our therapists understand there can be more than one root cause to your child’s symptoms and we address these symptoms from multiple avenues to give your child the best holistic care we can offer.
Our pelvic health therapists look beyond pelvic floor muscle function to look at other contributing factors to your child’s symptoms.
Our pelvic health physical therapists can provide benefits for:
- Constipation
- Frequent UTI’s (urinary tract infections)
- Incomplete bladder emptying
- Urinary urgency
- Urinary incontinence
- Bowel incontinence
- Enuresis (involuntary urination)
- Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
- Pain with urination
- Pain with bowel movements
About Bedwetting & Daytime Accidents
Most people think that childhood bedwetting or daytime accidents will go away on its own. That their child will wake up one morning and like “magic”, it never happens again… But then 6 months later you’re still living with daily bed sheet cleaning or running to school with a fresh set of clothes.
One scenario we see all the time in our physical therapy clinic is when people go to their Doctor about their child’s bedwetting and daytime soiling and are not offered anything to help and told that “your child will outgrow it”. Then a year later you return to the doctor with the same complaints since things have not changed or have gotten worse instead.
What Can You Do To Get Rid of My Child's Bedwetting & Daytime Accidents?
First off, you need to make a decision about getting help. So many people procrastinate for so long, thinking that it will ‘just go away with time’, but then 6 months down the line they’re still putting up with it, and nothing’s changed… Or it gets worse
Next, do the RIGHT exercises – sometimes children do not utilize their pelvic floor muscles appropriately. A Specialty Trained Pelvic Floor Doctor of Physical Therapy can teach your child about their bowel and bladder function and how the muscles are supposed to work to keep them continent.
Is Your Child Pooping Regularly – understanding your child’s bowel pattern is important in understanding the underlying cause of their bedwetting and daytime soiling. A Specialty Trained Pelvic Floor Doctor of Physical Therapy can review a poop chart with you and your child and provide guidelines and activities for good bowel bladder health.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is proven to help children with bedwetting and daytime accidents.
For more information about pediatric pelvic health call our offices today!