The other day I was speaking with a friend who has chronic constipation. When she asked me for advice I suggested pelvic floor therapy. She said that she was already doing it, and so I asked, “where do you go?” and she replied, “I do it at home. I found out about it on the internet and now I do kegels.” While this is a fantastic start to getting in touch with some of the pelvic floor muscles, what I was referring to is a medical treatment from a physical therapist.
Pelvic floor therapy is a treatment provided by a licensed physical therapist trained to treat pelvic floor dysfunction. This therapy may include stretching and or strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles as well as those of the hip, low back, thighs, and more. Typically this is a hands-on, or manual therapy. It may involve working vaginally or rectally.
I have a severe scar from an episiotomy that has caused me pain over the years. My boys were born in the late 1990s and over the past decades, I had still been suffering from discomfort due to the episiotomy. Strangely, a midwife gave me this during an otherwise natural, totally un-medicated childbirth. I still don’t understand why, and would have preferred not to have it. It took a long time to heal and caused me severe post-partum pain for months. I never spoke about it with anyone, thinking it was normal that it hurt to sit down for a year after my son was born. It especially hurt when I was sitting and nursing.
Because pelvic floor injuries also occur in men, thankfully pelvic floor therapy is also available for men. I cannot speak from personal experience, obviously, but the practice I go to in Boulder says that 35% of their patients are male.
Pelvic floor dysfunction is often a component of the following medical issues:
I go to a practice here in Boulder called Pelvic Therapy Specialists. They take most forms of insurance which I think is amazing. The experience is lovely from the moment you call them on the phone. Pelvic floor therapy takes place in such a vulnerable part of the body that I would only recommend going to a place where all of the employees are incredibly pleasant, personable, and thoughtful.
Several years ago, I went a pelvic floor therapy practice where the receptionist was not a happy person. I felt crushed every time I called and set up an appointment over the phone. I also brought a friend with me to each appointment just to have someone to keep me company and to act as a buffer in dealing with the animosity that emanated from behind the front desk. This was not a good long term arrangement and required way too much effort on my part.
Although we have little power in this odd health care system, I do my best to avoid practices with negative gate keepers. When I do encounter an efficient, pleasant person who answers the phone at one of my physician’s offices, I am sure to let the doctor know how grateful I am for that person. When we’re sick or in pain there’s no need for nasty bureaucrats to pile it on and further distress us.
If you have any of the issues listed above it may be worth consulting with a physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor treatment.
Comments
48 responses to “What is Pelvic Floor Therapy”
I have prolapse and am fearful of having to address this surgically someday. Has anyone had this surgery done? The whole thing scares me with all of the issues with mesh recall. I have heard of leakage after surgery also. Thank you for any input.
Ruth, thanks for sharing your story here and I hope some other readers will chime in about this!
Thank you for bringing this to us!
You have a wealth of experiences and resources and are wonderful to share with us all.
John F Barnes, PT of MyofascialRelease.com has developed training programs for therapists using the gentle, sustained techniques of his MyoFascial Release Programs.
I am a patient of one of his therapists and can attest to the success of these techniques.
Pelvic Floor therapy is for all ages, male and female.
Thanks Melanie!
What does an episiotomy have to do with the pelvic floor? That area is not a muscle. (I’ve had lots of pelvic floor PT, but my episiotomy scar never had anything to do with it.) Curious! Thank you!
Elizabeth, thanks for your question! There are numerous studies documenting the effect of episiotomy in terms of creating chronic pelivc floor dysfunction, but having an episiotomy does not necessarily mean you will have this problem. Any episiotomy is an incision of the perineum which has the pelvic floor as its superior border. LMK if you have any other questions! :-)
Have Something to Add?
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *