According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 25% of women have some type of pelvic floor condition. The most common pelvic floor conditions include urinary incontinence (leaking urine), pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse (when organs sag or bulge out of place), or sexual dysfunction. Pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) is an effective treatment that helps strengthen and relax the muscles that support the bladder, uterus, and rectum. PFPT is effective across a person’s lifespan, meaning it’s helpful no matter what stage of life you’re in— from postpartum recovery to navigating menopause and aging.
Just like any other muscle in the body, the muscles that make up the pelvic floor can get weak, stretched, or tight. PFPT involves working with a physical therapist that is trained in treating the pelvic floor. Therapists may assess muscle tone, coordination, and strength to create a personalized plan. PFPT treatment for pelvic floor conditions may include:
- Exercises such as Kegels, where you squeeze and relax pelvic floor muscles
- Manual therapy such as myofascial release which involves continuous manual pressure on the internal or external pelvic tissues
- Biofeedback, which uses sensors to give information on what your pelvic floor muscles are doing to provide guidance on coordinating your muscles
- Education on the pelvic floor and how to move through activities to improve pelvic floor function
PFPT can be beneficial in treating conditions beyond the most common ones, such as urinary incontinence. You can get relief from fecal incontinence, vaginismus (tightening of the vagina upon insertion), and vulvodynia (vulvar pain). PFPT can also improve chronic pelvic pain and aid in postpartum recovery. Your health history and symptoms will determine what types of treatment your physical therapist will provide and how many sessions you’ll need.
Studies show that PFPT is a conservative treatment that has a significant improvement on urinary incontinence and pelvic pain symptoms, and can directly improve a person’s quality of life by reducing pain and enhancing sexual function. If you’re struggling with a pelvic floor condition, consider talking to your healthcare provider to see if PFPT could be right for you.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
Sources
- Feddema, Kelly. “Benefits of Pelvic Floor P.T.” Mayo Clinic Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System, 30 May 2023, www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/pelvic-floor-physical-therapy-benefits.
- “ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 155: Urinary Incontinence in Women.” Obstetrics and Gynecology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov. 2015, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26488524/.
- Franco, Maira M, et al. “Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Effect in Sexual Function in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” The Journal of Sexual Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 July 2021, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34187758/.
- Wallace, Shannon L, et al. “Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in the Treatment of Pelvic Floor …” Stanford Urology, 2019, urology.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/urology/JJimages/publications/Pelvic-floor-physical-therapy-in-the-treatment-of-pelvic-floor-dysfunction-in-women.pdf.
