What is Pelvic Health Physical Therapy? 

Written by Lauren Omler PT, DPT, Bronson Rehabilitation Services

Many people, both men and women, experience pelvic floor health issues. Pelvic health physical therapy is a nonsurgical approach to treating issues occurring within the pelvis and surrounding areas. The goal is to gradually help patients return to normal activities after illness, injury, surgery or longstanding issues. Treatment includes specialized exercises designed to help relieve pain, discomfort, symptoms and disruptions to quality of life. Patients learn manual therapy and lifestyle factor changes too.

What is the pelvic floor? 

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and tissues that form a sling or hammock across the bottom of the pelvis. They are designed to help four primary roles:

• Support pelvic organs, including the bladder, uterus, prostate and rectum
• Stabilize the pelvis and spine
• Help in sexual activity
• Support bowel and bladder control 

What conditions does a pelvic health physical therapist treat? 

A pelvic health physical therapist can address:

• Bladder or bowel incontinence
• Urinary or fecal urgency or frequency
• Constipation
• Mild irritable bowel syndrome
• Overactive bladder
• Pain after abdominal surgery or trauma
• Pain during pregnancy
• Pain after childbirth
• Prostate surgery
• Painful intercourse
• Pelvic pressure or pain
• Prolapse
• Diastasis recti

Pelvic floor problems are often caused by the muscles being too weak. This leads to bladder or bowel leaks. In women, it can also cause prolapse where the top of the vagina can shift from its normal location and move your organs. You may also get pelvic floor tension. This can cause pelvic pain, constipation, pain with sexual activity and other problems. 

What should I expect at my visit?

Pelvic health physical therapy starts with a 45-minute visit where we assess your history, goals, current condition and anything you’ve tried in the past. We focus on mobility and stability of the spine, hips and lower body. Often, we will do an internal vaginal or rectal exam to assess pelvic floor function. All of this is done in a private and comfortable setting by providers who have advanced and specialized training. Exams will only be done if both the provider and the patient are comfortable with it.

Is therapy at home enough?

Many people believe that they can do Kegel exercises at home to fix their pelvic floor problems. These exercises may be one part of a treatment plan or they may not be used at all. When a person does Kegels incorrectly or tightens a muscle that is too tense, things may actually get worse. A pelvic floor physical therapist can assess and guide you on how to do a Kegel right and give other treatments to help.

Next Steps

My biggest advice is this: if you have problems in your pelvic region, talk to your primary care provider. Just because pelvic floor issues are common, does not mean they are normal. Often people are embarrassed to talk about it or they feel that what they are experiencing is just “part of life” or “part of aging.” However, this does not have to be the case. If you had pain in your knee, you would talk to your doctor and try to fix it. The pelvic floor should be treated with the same care and attention.

Pelvic floor dysfunction can greatly impact your quality of life. Bronson Rehabilitation Services is here to help you regain your ability to function normally. For more information, visit bronsonhealth.com/rehab or call (269) 575-7010.

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