How Our Multidisciplinary Approach Helps Pelvic Health

What Do We Mean by Pelvic Health?

Your pelvic floor is a sling of muscles at the base of your core. It acts as a “hammock” for your pelvic organs, including your bladder, bowels, prostate (in men), and sexual organs (in women). When the pelvic floor is healthy, it supports those organs and helps them function properly. But when it becomes impaired–such as being weak or overly restricted–you can experience several different symptoms.

Anyone can experience issues with their pelvic floor, although the exact concerns can vary somewhat with gender. Here are some of the common complaints we help treat:

Urinary Incontinence

• Anyone can develop urinary incontinence, although it is more common in women. This can include stress incontinence (leaking when laughing or coughing), urge incontinence (having an overwhelming need to go), or a combination.

Pelvic Pain

• Pelvic pain can have a variety of causes, from nerve issues to gynecological conditions like endometriosis. We’ll help determine the cause and find the right treatment option for your needs.

Sexual Dysfunction

• For women, sexual dysfunction can include painful intercourse or difficulty with orgasm. For men, it can include erectile dysfunction or painful ejaculation. But either way, pelvic floor impairment is often the culprit.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

• This occurs when the pelvic organs slip out of place. It can affect both men and women and develops due to weakened pelvic floor muscles.

Pregnancy/Postpartum Discomfort

• The changes that occur in your body during pregnancy can lead to pelvic and lower back pain, urinary incontinence, and other musculoskeletal concerns.

What Treatment Options Do We Offer?

Treatment for pelvic health concerns varies depending on the cause. That’s why our team will spend your first session taking your health history, reviewing your symptoms, and running several screens so we can provide you with the interventions you need.

Here are some of the common treatment options we use to improve pelvic health:

Pelvic Floor Exercises

• We’ll show you tailored exercises designed to stretch and strengthen your pelvic floor muscles–and ensure you’re performing them correctly. 

Biofeedback

• Biofeedback uses technology to help you “see” what’s going on inside your body. This is especially true for the pelvic floor, an internal muscle that can be harder to control.

Pelvic Floor Massage

• Specialized massage techniques can help ease muscle tension that contributes to pelvic pain and dysfunction. Many of these techniques can also be performed externally.

Acupuncture

• Acupuncture can help decrease pelvic floor muscle tension, potentially relieving pain or bladder issues. 

Bladder Training

• If you’re dealing with urinary incontinence (especially urge incontinence), bladder training can help you go longer between bathroom breaks.

Lifestyle Modifications

• We’ll help you find lasting relief by addressing other factors that might contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction, such as regular exercise, nutrition, and more.

ProClinix – Exercises of the Month

by Katie Streeter, PTA

Heel taps is an exercise that targets the core muscles, including the obliques and rectus abdominis, and can help improve balance, coordination, and flexibility if done regularly. Strengthening the core muscles can also help prevent injury, improve posture, improve athletic performance and can even reduce the risk of heart disease. A strong core is key to functional movements in everyday life, making it an essential focus in any fitness plan. 

Upper Trapezius Stretch

Let’s Try It!:

– Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the ground 

– Inhale deeply and exhale slowly 

– Lift your legs into a tabletop position, with your knees over your hips and shins parallel to the mat 

– Inhale and gently tap your right heel to the mat 

– Exhale and engage your abdominals to lift your leg back up 

– Repeat with your left leg 

**Tips**

– Keep your spine on the floor 

– Avoid arching your lower back 

– Use your core and lower abdominals to control the movement, not your hip flexors – You can try 10-20 reps across three sets