You’ve all been there - standing in a circle of your mom friends and someone makes a joke about peeing their pants? It’s easy to make light of things that feel a little embarrassing, but things like leaking pee are actually signs of pelvic floor dysfunction.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “common but not normal”. A lot of pelvic floor dysfunction falls into this category, especially among the postpartum population. But the good news is that urinary incontinence is not something you have to live with forever. Along with many other pelvic floor symptoms. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help you regain control of your bladder and enjoy your life without the fear of accidents. So, what is pelvic floor physical therapy, and how does it work?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on the muscles, ligaments, connective tissue, and nerves of the pelvic floor as well as how that pelvic floor interconnects with the rest of the body.
So what is the pelvic floor? The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support the organs in the pelvis, including the bladder, uterus, and rectum. They play a role in continence (keeping your pants dry and clean), sexual functioning, core strength, and overall stability. When these muscles are weak or tight, they can cause a range of problems, including urinary incontinence.
At Moms in Motion PT, we create a personalized treatment plan for you. The treatments may include exercises to strengthen muscles, stretches to release tension, and manual therapy (hands on techniques) to reduce pain, improve mobility, and help regulate the nervous system.
Manual therapy is a technique that involves using the hands to affect the muscles, joints, and soft tissues of the body. In the context of pelvic floor physical therapy, hands-on therapy can be used to release tension, improve circulation, influence nervous system function, and enhance muscle function in the pelvic floor.
At our practice, we specialize in pelvic floor physical therapy for moms who want to get back to doing all the things they love - like going to the gym!
Our holistic approach to pelvic floor physical therapy includes a combination of exercises and hands-on therapy. We believe that each person is unique and may require different types of treatment to achieve optimal results. Our therapists will work with you to determine the best course of action to meet your individual needs. We also pride ourselves in that we look for the root cause of the issue and we don’t just chase symptoms around. You are much more than a pelvic floor and way more than a pelvis. The rest of your body affects how your pelvic floor functions, and things like nutrition, sleep, stress, and physical activity are the pillars of pelvic floor health. So we make sure to address all of these areas when we work with our patients.
During hands-on therapy, your therapist will use gentle, targeted pressure to identify and address areas of tightness or weakness in your pelvic floor muscles. This can include internal and external massage, trigger point release, and myofascial release. While hands-on therapy may sound intimidating, it's actually a very effective and comfortable treatment that can help you achieve faster results. Our therapists are highly trained and experienced in providing hands-on therapy in a safe and respectful manner, and we always prioritize your comfort and consent. We often get asked if an internal exam will feel like a cervical check during pregnancy and our answer is a resounding “NO”. Our approach is gentle and we strive to never create pain.
We also perform quite a bit of manual therapy to other parts of the body that can affect pelvic floor function. Some areas we tend to focus on are the abdomen, low back, ribcage, and glutes.
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a safe and effective treatment for urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor symptoms, regardless of its cause. Whether you had a vaginal delivery, a C-section, or never gave birth, your pelvic floor muscles may need some attention to function properly.
If you are experiencing urinary incontinence or other pelvic floor issues, don't suffer in silence. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help you overcome your challenges and reclaim your quality of life. In addition to urinary incontinence, here is a list of other things pelvic floor PT can help with:
Fecal incontinence (leaking poop or gas)
Pubic symphysis pain - during pregnancy or after
Constipation
Anal fissures
Aches and pains during pregnancy (no, pregnancy doesn’t have to be super painful!)
Vaginal heaviness or pressure
Pain with sex (no, this is not normal, even postpartum!)
Diastasis Recti (abdominal separation)
Umbilical hernias
Low back pain, hip pain, SI joint pain, pelvic pain
Sciatica
Tailbone pain
Hemorrhoids
This list is not exhaustive, but these are the most common things we treat at Moms in Motion PT. And again, these things might be really common, but they are not "normal" and you certainly don't have to live with these symptoms!
At Moms in Motion PT, we take many of the barriers away that can occur with some pelvic floor PT appointments. We come directly to your home so you can feel comfortable and at ease. We are also really upfront that you are in the driver’s seat and we will never perform a treatment that you feel uncomfortable with!
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a healthier, happier you.
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