More Than Kegels: 4 Things You Didn’t Know About Pelvic Health Physical Therapy

Everyone has pelvic floor muscles that support their pelvic organs, help you control bowel and bladder functions, and aid in sexual functions. These muscles can be exercised like any other muscle in your body. When you think about pelvic floor exercises, most people think of Kegels, but you might be surprised to learn that not everyone should do them. There are many causes of pelvic floor dysfunction, thus, many reasons why one might seek pelvic health physical therapy. Some common conditions that can be treated with the help of a pelvic health physical therapist include urinary or fecal incontinence, constipation, frequent urination, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, pain with intercourse, and issues experienced both pre- and postpartum.

Below are four things you didn’t know about pelvic floor PT and how to start.

1. Knowing how to contract and relax your pelvic floor muscles can benefit pelvic health, and a pelvic health therapist can help teach you these tools for a strong and dynamic pelvic floor.
2. Not everyone needs to strengthen their pelvic floor. While some people have weak pelvic floor muscles, some have tight pelvic floor muscles and would, therefore, benefit from muscle relaxation instead of strengthening.
3. Kegels are not enough. Kegels alone are not enough to strengthen your pelvic floor to its fullest potential. Just like other muscles in your body, your pelvic floor does not work in isolation. A pelvic health physical therapist can teach you specific exercises for your condition that can help strengthen your pelvic floor more than a Kegel alone.
4. Both men and women have pelvic floors, and therefore, both can benefit from pelvic health physical therapy. Your pelvic health therapist will work with you to discuss your goals and create a personalized plan to help you achieve optimal health based on your condition.

If you are experiencing any pelvic floor symptoms, a pelvic health physical therapist can help you determine the treatment plan most beneficial for you. Our team is here to answer any questions you might have about pelvic floor symptoms. Contact your local Athletico Physical Therapy clinic to schedule a free assessment today.

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*Per federal guidelines, beneficiaries of plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, VHA and other federally funded plans are not eligible for free assessments.

The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.

References:
1. Wallace SL, Miller LD, Mishra K. Pelvic floor physical therapy in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction in women. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2019;31(6):485-493. https://doi.org/10.1097/gco.0000000000000584