Pelvic floor disorders can cause pain and embarrassment in both men and women. Experts at Sentara provide pelvic floor therapy programs to strengthen the pelvic floor and improve function.
Pelvic Floor Therapy: Why Choose Sentara?
The symptoms of a pelvic floor disorder can disrupt your life. We help with pelvic floor strengthening to give you back control. Program highlights include:
- Expert care: Our certified physical therapists perform comprehensive evaluations and develop treatment plans to improve pelvic floor control, bowel incontinence and pelvic pain. Meet our experts.
- Tailored exercises: We use strategies like behavioral modification and biofeedback to retrain the bladder and strengthen muscles.
- Comprehensive education: Our specialists help you understand pelvic floor conditions and develop management strategies that improve quality of life.
Pelvic Floor Therapy Treatments
The pelvic floor includes the muscles, tissues and nerves that support the pelvis. Pelvic floor anatomy is different in men and women.
In women, the pelvic floor supports the bladder, rectum, uterus and vagina. A man's pelvic floor supports his bladder and rectum, and also affects his sexual function.
Sometimes, muscles and tissues of the pelvic floor become weak over time or after injury. When this occurs, we offer:
Evaluation
We start with an examination and talk with you to understand your symptoms. We then develop a treatment program tailored to your needs.
Pelvic floor exercises
We use specific exercises to improve your awareness of your pelvic floor muscles. These exercises include Kegel exercises (tensing the muscles used to stop urination) to strengthen pelvic floor muscles.
Our physical therapy specialists also design programs to strengthen the muscles in your back and abdomen (core). Building strength in these muscles helps support the pelvic floor.
Relaxation techniques
Sometimes, tension in the pelvic floor muscles contributes to symptoms such as incontinence (inability to control urine). Relaxing the pelvic floor muscles can help ease these symptoms.
We teach you to relax with:
- Diaphragmatic (deep belly) breathing
- Yoga poses that stretch the pelvic and hip muscles
Patient education
We talk with you to understand how your lifestyle might impact your symptoms. Our specialists make recommendations for dietary changes that can help, such as:
- Avoiding caffeine
- Drinking more water
- Eliminating acidic foods
Conditions We Treat With Pelvic Floor Therapy
Damage or weakness in pelvic floor muscles and tissues may develop over time or may result from injury or illness. Common causes of pelvic floor disorders include:
- Aging
- Being overweight
- Cancer treatment (such as radiation)
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Surgery
Regardless of their cause, symptoms of pelvic floor disorder can be challenging as you go about daily activities. These symptoms include:
- Constipation
- Leaking urine while laughing, sneezing, coughing or exercising
- Needing to urinate frequently
- Painful urination or changes in urine flow
- Pelvic organ prolapse (in women, the bladder or uterus drops down into the vagina)
- Pelvic pain
- Vaginal aches and heaviness
In men, pelvic floor disorder can cause sexual dysfunction (an inability to achieve and maintain an erection). Our physical therapists may refer you to a doctor to examine your nerves and prostate (a small gland that helps produce semen).
Benefits of Pelvic Floor Therapy
Pelvic floor physical therapy helps strengthen the muscles and tissues of the pelvic floor. This strengthening helps to:
- Control bowel and bladder function
- Improve sexual function
- Reduce pain
Request an Appointment
Learn more about pelvic floor therapy at Sentara Therapy Centers. Visit our locations.