Pelvic Floor Therapy

Pelvic Floor Therapy What We Do: Pelvic Muscle Rehabilitation Pelvic Muscle Rehabilitation (or pelvic floor rehabilitation) is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment for Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction. Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction may include any group of clinical conditions that includes Urinary Incontinence, Fecal Incontinence, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, sensory and emptying abnormalities of the lower urinary tract, defecatory dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, and chronic pain syndromes, (including vulvodynia). The two most common and definable conditions that can benefit from a Pelvic Muscle Rehabilitation program are Urinary Incontinence and Fecal Incontinence. Urinary Incontinence (UI) is the loss of bladder control. Symptoms can range from mild leaking to uncontrollable wetting. While it can occur with any age group, it becomes more common with age. Women experience UI twice as often as men. Approximately one in ten over the age of 65 has experienced UI. In general, there are three classifications of Urinary Incontinence that can benefit from a Pelvic Muscle Rehabilitation program. Stress Incontinence is prompted by a physical movement or activity (such as coughing, sneezing, running or heavy lifting) that puts pressure (stress) on the bladder. Urge Incontinence occurs when you have a sudden urge to urinate. The bladder contracts when it should not, causing some urine to leak through the sphincter muscles. Urge Incontinence is also known as overactive bladder, bladder spasms, or irritable bladder. Mixed Incontinence is a combination of stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Fecal Incontinence is the inability to control bowel movements, causing stool (feces) to leak unexpectedly from the rectum. Also called bowel incontinence, Fecal Incontinence ranges from an occasional leakage of stool while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control. A Pelvic Muscle Rehabilitation program incorporates a variety of treatment techniques for Urinary or Fecal Incontinence which may include: Behavior Modification-an education on diet, fluid intake, and other lifestyle changes to enhance pelvic organ function. Bladder/Bowel Training-learning to empty the bladder or bowel by the clock, rather than by desire. Pelvic Muscle Exercises-exercises designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles Electromyography (sEMG) therapy-an instrument that utilizes an intracavity vaginal sensor to train the patient to voluntarily contract or relax the pelvic floor muscles correctly as well as document strength gains from treatment session to session. Electrical Stimulation therapy-an instrument that utilizes an intracavity vaginal sensor to passively contract the pelvic floor muscles or calm an overactive bladder by delivering a weak, painless electrical current. Electromyography (sEMG) measures the muscles response to electrical activity produced by innervation or the nerve's stimulation of the muscle. This test is used to help detect neuromuscular abnormalities during contraction and inhibition of the muscle. For pelvic muscle rehabilitation, Electromyography (sEMG) is a method of assessing and treating pelvic muscle dysfunction. Pelvic floor rehabilitation may assist muscles that have increased tension even when the patient or clinician cannot detect it. This is particularly true of pelvic floor muscles as denervation damage may lead to an impaired sensation. High levels of resting activity and muscle spasms may only be visualized using sEMG. Muscle training that utilizes sEMG may improve the effectiveness of muscle relaxation efforts while strengthening weak pelvic muscles and reducing pain. Usually, a sensor is placed in the vagina to "pick-up" pelvic muscle activity. Electrical stimulation can be used to assist in strengthening very weak pelvic floor muscles by involuntarily (passively) contracting the pelvic floor muscles through the transmission of electrical impulses to the pelvic muscles. This stimulation heightens the patient's perception and awareness of pelvic muscle activity and strengthens the muscles. Additionally, a targeted frequency of electrical stimulation can be used to calm an overactive bladder. The stimulation is delivered to the muscle using an intracavity (internal) vaginal sensor. Electrical stimulation is often the first step in a pelvic muscle rehabilitation program if the pelvic floor muscles are very weak or when there is little awareness of a pelvic floor muscle contraction. For most pelvic muscle dysfunctions, electrical stimulation does not need to be used long term. Most research shows that once the patient can perform an effective voluntary muscle contraction with moderate strength, transitioning to an unassisted pelvic floor strengthening program is sufficient for maintaining muscle strength.