Why Would Someone Need Pelvic Floor Therapy? Common Signs and Conditions

Pelvic floor therapy isn't something most people think about until they need it. You might have heard the term in passing or noticed it offered at a physiotherapy clinic, but you probably didn't give it much thought.

Then something changes. Maybe you're leaking urine when you laugh or sneeze. Maybe you're dealing with pelvic pain that won't go away. Maybe pregnancy has left you with symptoms you weren't expecting.

Suddenly, you're wondering: "Could pelvic floor therapy help me?"

The answer is quite possibly yes. Pelvic floor dysfunction affects up to 25% of adults, yet many people suffer in silence because they're too embarrassed to talk about it or don't realize treatment is available.

Let's break down exactly why someone would need pelvic floor therapy, what conditions it treats, and the signs that it's time to seek help.

Understanding Your Pelvic Floor

Before we dive into why you might need pelvic floor therapy, let's talk about what your pelvic floor actually is.

Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues that stretch like a hammock across the bottom of your pelvis. This hammock runs from your pubic bone at the front to your tailbone at the back.

These muscles might be hidden from view, but they perform crucial functions every single day.

What Your Pelvic Floor Does

Your pelvic floor muscles have four main jobs:

1. Support your pelvic organs: They hold up your bladder, uterus (if you have one), prostate (if you have one), and rectum, keeping everything in its proper place.

2. Control bladder and bowel function: They help you control when you pee and poop by tightening and releasing at the right times.

3. Stabilize your core: They work with your abdominal and back muscles to support your spine and pelvis.

4. Support sexual function: They play an important role in arousal, sensation, and orgasm.

When these muscles become too weak, too tight, or don't coordinate properly, all of these functions can be affected. That's when you develop pelvic floor dysfunction.

Common Reasons Why Someone Would Need Pelvic Floor Therapy

Pelvic floor therapy treats a wide range of conditions. Let's look at the most common reasons people seek treatment.

Bladder Control Issues

Urinary incontinence (leaking pee) is one of the most common reasons people need pelvic floor therapy. There are different types:

Stress incontinence: You leak when you cough, sneeze, laugh, exercise, or lift something heavy. Many factors are at play when stress urinary incontinence occurs, but dysfunction in your pelvic floor muscles will contribute to inadequate support of your bladder and urethra.

Urge incontinence: You feel a sudden, intense need to pee and can't make it to the bathroom in time. This is often called an overactive bladder.

Frequency: You're peeing more than 8 times in 24 hours or waking up multiple times at night to use the bathroom.

Difficulty emptying your bladder: You feel like you can't fully empty your bladder or you have to start and stop multiple times when you pee.

If any of these sound familiar, pelvic floor therapy can help. It strengthens weak muscles, relaxes tense (hypertonic) muscles and retrains your bladder and pelvic floor to work together properly.

Urinary incontinence is VERY common but is NOT NORMAL! Some patients come in for a different concern and when we ask about urinary incontinence they say "no I don't have incontinence." Then we ask, "does that mean that if you sneeze, cough, jump or get a strong urge you are able to stay dry?" Many people will respond with "well sometimes I leak but it is only a small amount!" Even small amounts of urinary leakage isn't normal and there is a lot we can try to improve those symptoms.

Bowel Control and Digestive Issues

Your pelvic floor also controls your bowel movements. When it's not functioning properly, you might experience:

Constipation: Straining to have a bowel movement, feeling like you can't completely empty your bowels, or only pooping a few times per week.

Fecal incontinence: Accidentally leaking stool or gas, or feeling unable to control your bowel movements.

Painful bowel movements: Pain when you poop, often accompanied by hemorrhoids or anal fissures.

Pelvic floor therapy teaches you proper coordination for bowel movements and addresses muscle tension that might be contributing to these problems.

Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain is frustrating and can significantly impact your quality of life. You might need pelvic floor therapy if you're experiencing:

General pelvic pain: Ongoing pain in your lower abdomen, pelvis, or genital area that lasts for three months or longer.

Pain with sitting: Discomfort when sitting, especially on hard surfaces.

Tailbone pain: Pain in your coccyx area that makes sitting uncomfortable.

Pain with urination: Burning, stinging, or pain when you pee, even without a urinary tract infection.

Often, pelvic pain is caused by muscles that are too tight or have trigger points. Pelvic floor therapy uses manual techniques, stretching, and relaxation exercises to release this tension and reduce pain.

Sexual Dysfunction and Pain

Your pelvic floor plays a crucial role in sexual function. Many people need pelvic floor therapy for:

Painful intercourse (dyspareunia): Pain during or after sex, which can be caused by tight pelvic floor muscles or scar tissue.

Vaginismus: Involuntary tightening of the vaginal muscles that makes penetration difficult or impossible.

Difficulty with arousal or orgasm: Trouble becoming aroused or reaching orgasm due to weak or tense pelvic floor muscles.

Erectile dysfunction: For men, pelvic floor dysfunction can contribute to difficulty getting or maintaining an erection.

Pain with vaginal exams or tampon use: Discomfort during pelvic exams or when using tampons or menstrual cups.

These issues are often treatable with pelvic floor therapy. Your therapist can help you learn to relax tight muscles, strengthen weak ones, and restore comfortable sexual function.

At Shift, during our initial assessment we ask a ton of questions that all relate to pelvic floor function. It is always surprising to us when we get to the questions about intimacy. Many people think that painful sex is something they just have to live with and are unaware that pelvic floor physiotherapy could help!

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse happens when your pelvic floor muscles become too weak to properly support your organs. One or more organs - your bladder, uterus, or rectum - can drop down into or even out of your vagina.

Signs of prolapse include:

A feeling of heaviness or pressure in your pelvis

Feeling like something is bulging or falling out of your vagina

Seeing or feeling a bulge at your vaginal opening

Symptoms that worsen as the day goes on or with standing

Pelvic floor therapy can help manage prolapse symptoms and, in some cases, may help you avoid surgery. Your therapist can also fit you for a pessary. A pessary is a removable medical grade silicone device that helps support your pelvic organs and can reduce or resolve symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse.

Pregnancy and Postpartum Issues

Pregnancy and childbirth put enormous stress on your pelvic floor. Many people benefit from pelvic floor therapy during pregnancy and after giving birth.

During pregnancy, you might need therapy for:

• Pelvic pain or pressure

• Lower back pain, pubic symphysis pain, hip pain

• Urinary incontinence

• Preparing your pelvic floor for labor and delivery

After giving birth, therapy can help with:

• Diastasis recti (abdominal muscle separation)

• C-section scar healing and mobility

• Perineal tearing recovery

• Persistent incontinence

• Pelvic pain or pressure

• Pelvic organ prolapse

• Painful intercourse / return to intimacy

• Returning safely to exercise

You don't have to wait until problems develop. Working with a pelvic floor therapist starting in your second trimester can help prevent issues before they start.

Other Conditions That Benefit from Pelvic Floor Therapy

Pelvic floor therapy can also help manage symptoms related to:

• Endometriosis

• Interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome

• Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS

• Pre and post surgery recovery, including cancer treatment, hysterectomy, prolapse surgery, or gender affirming procedures

• Chronic conditions that cause ongoing pain or inflammation

• Persistent low back or hip pain

  
  

People experiencing chronic low back or hip pain have often already tried general physiotherapy, chiropractic care, or massage therapy for years with only mild or temporary changes in their symptoms. When they are guided toward pelvic floor physiotherapy by a knowledgeable provider, we often find that the pelvic floor may be contributing to their pain. In some cases, just a few sessions of pelvic floor physiotherapy can lead to noticeable improvements in back or hip pain.

Who Can Benefit from Pelvic Floor Therapy?

Here's an important truth: pelvic floor therapy isn't just for women. Anyone with a pelvis can develop pelvic floor dysfunction.

Women are the most common recipients of pelvic floor therapy, especially those who have been pregnant or given birth. But women who have never been pregnant can also develop pelvic floor issues.

Men can benefit from pelvic floor therapy for issues like urinary incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain, and erectile dysfunction. It's especially helpful for men recovering from prostate surgery.

Children can have pelvic floor therapy to treat issues like bedwetting, constipation, and urinary frequency.

Anyone recovering from pelvic surgery can use pelvic floor therapy both before and after their procedure to potentially improve outcomes and speed recovery.

Signs You Should Consider Pelvic Floor Therapy

Still not sure if you need pelvic floor therapy? Here are clear signs it's time to seek help:

• You leak urine when you exercise, laugh, cough, or sneeze

• You frequently feel a strong, sudden urge to pee

• You're peeing more than 8 times in 24 hours

• You have difficulty starting or stopping your urine stream

• You're constipated or straining to have bowel movements

• You have pain in your pelvis, genitals, or rectum

• Sex is painful or uncomfortable

• You feel pressure or heaviness in your pelvis

• You're pregnant or recently gave birth

• You're preparing for or recovering from pelvic surgery

If you recognize yourself in any of these descriptions, don't wait. The sooner you address pelvic floor dysfunction, the easier it is to treat.

What to Expect from Pelvic Floor Therapy

If you've never been to pelvic floor therapy before, you might be nervous about what happens during treatment. Let's walk through it.

Your First Appointment

Your initial visit will start with a detailed conversation. Your pelvic floor physiotherapist will ask about your symptoms, medical history, pregnancies, surgeries, and what you hope to achieve with therapy.

Next comes the assessment. This may include an external examination where your therapist checks your posture, core strength, and how you move. They might also perform an internal examination to assess your pelvic floor muscles directly.

You're always in control. Your therapist will explain everything before they do it, and you can say no to any part of the exam if you're uncomfortable.

Based on the assessment, your therapist will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and goals.

We get it...life is busy and we often don't prioritize self care. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is even easier to put off because there is usually some fear surrounding the pelvic exam. Just remember, we don't even have to do an internal exam. We can gain tons of information from the subjective history taking and an external examination.

Treatment Techniques

Your treatment plan might include:

• Pelvic floor exercises (which may or may not include Kegels, depending on your condition)

• Manual therapy to release tight muscles

• Breathing and relaxation techniques

• Core strengthening exercises

• Education about bladder and bowel habits

• Lifestyle modifications

• Dry needling or acupuncture

Most people attend therapy sessions once a week for the first few treatments and then twice a month after that. The total treatment timeframe is usually around 8-12 weeks, although this varies based on your individual needs.

Your Role in Recovery

Success with pelvic floor therapy requires your active participation. You'll have exercises to do at home between sessions. Following through with these exercises is crucial for seeing results.

Think of your pelvic floor therapist as your guide and coach. They'll teach you what to do, but you have to put in the work to see lasting change.

Breaking the Silence Around Pelvic Floor Issues

One of the biggest barriers to getting pelvic floor therapy is embarrassment. Many people suffer for months or even years because they're too uncomfortable to talk about their symptoms.

Here's what you need to know: these issues are incredibly common. You're not alone and there's nothing to be embarrassed about. If more people talked about these topics you would realize how common they are! Your pelvic floor is just another group of muscles that sometimes needs help, just like your shoulder or knee.

Leaking urine, painful sex, constipation, and pelvic pain are not things you just have to live with. They're not normal parts of aging or motherhood. They're treatable conditions that deserve proper care.

Your pelvic floor is vital to your daily function and quality of life. You wouldn't hesitate to see a physiotherapist for a shoulder injury. Your pelvic floor deserves the same attention and care.

Why You Should Seek Help Sooner Rather Than Later

Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn't get better on its own. In fact, it often gets worse over time if left untreated.

The good news? The earlier you address these issues, the easier they are to treat. Waiting until symptoms become severe means you'll need more intensive treatment and a longer recovery period.

You also don't need a doctor's referral to see a pelvic floor physiotherapist in Alberta. You can book directly and start getting help right away.

Don't let embarrassment, fear, or the assumption that "this is just how things are now" keep you from getting the care you deserve.

Get Expert Pelvic Floor Therapy in Edmonton

At Shift Physiotherapy and Wellness, we offer pelvic floor physiotherapy in a supportive and respectful environment. Our compassionate, highly trained pelvic floor therapists understand how personal and sensitive these concerns can be and are committed to providing care that feels safe, professional, and judgment free.

We take a holistic and collaborative approach to pelvic floor health. In some cases, your pelvic floor physiotherapist may refer you to other members of our team when additional support could be helpful. We work together to address not only your symptoms, but also the underlying factors contributing to pelvic floor dysfunction. This may include coordinated care with our nutrition, massage therapy, and naturopathic medicine team when appropriate.

Whether you are dealing with incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, pregnancy related concerns, or other pelvic floor issues, our team is here to help you return to the activities you enjoy with greater comfort and confidence.

Ready to take the first step? Book your pelvic floor therapy consultation today. Visit shiftptwellness.com or call us at 587-442-3111.

You don't have to suffer in silence. Let us help you shift toward better pelvic health and wellness.