How To Treat Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a condition where you’re unable to control the muscles of your pelvis correctly. This includes being unable to relax them or coordinate the pelvic floor muscles when having a bowel movement or urinating.

It can also cause erectile dyfunction in men. Additionally, it can cause women to feel pain during sex.

You see, your pelvic floor is not just home to your organs such as your bladder, uterus (or prostate in men) and rectum. It is also made up of muscles that help you control your bladder, bowel, and an erection in men. Not only that, your pelvic floor muscles support your organs.

When these muscles become weak, overactive or tight, pelvic floor dysfunction occurs.

This can cause pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms like:

Constipation or incomplete bowel movements
Urine leakage and even bowel leakage
Trouble having a bowel movement
Pain when you urinate
Difficulty with the stopping and starting of urination.
Urgent and frequent uncontrollable urge to use the bathroom
Waking up often to go to the bathroom.
Painful Intercourse
Erectile Dysfunction problems for men

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy courtesy of INNOVA Integrated Wellness Centre (Read the caption)

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Pelvic Floor dysfunction In Men Vs Women

Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect men and women differently. Millions of men all around the world experience pelvic floor dysfunction. It can cause:

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) – ED occurs when a man has difficulty maintaining or getting an erection. Sometimes it’s caused by muscle tension in the pelvic floor.

Urinary dysfunction – This can present as frequent urination urgency, leaking urine after peeing, or other bowel and bladder issues.

For women, pelvic floor dysfunction can cause a variety of issues such as urinary dysfunction, leaking issues or pain during sex.

Many women experience pelvic floor dysfunction as a result of pregnancy.

When you are pregnant your pelvic floor muscles become stretched to make room for the fetus. When carrying a growing fetus these muscles also become weak. The stretching and weakening of these muscles can cause urine leakage when sneezing or coughing after delivery.

It’s important to keep your pelvic floor as healthy as possible before, during, and after pregnancy. When your pelvic floor muscles are strong they decrease symptoms typically experienced with pregnancy.

How Do You Treat It?

The good news is that pelvic floor dysfunction can be treated rather easily in many cases. There is a specialized field in Physiotherapy called Pelvic floor Physiotherapy. They specialize in treatment of pelvic health dysfunction.

Pelvic Floor Physios have been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of pelvic floor conditions such as:

Constipation
Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Prostate problems
Difficult urinating
Bowel incontinence
Pain during intercourse
Prostate problems
Low back pain
Postpartum and prenatal pelvic pain
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Tailbone pain
Vaginismus, dyspareunia, vulvodynia and other pelvic floor disorders

Pelvic floor courtesy of The Cheerful Pelvis (Read the caption)

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What To Expect At Your First Appointment?

Your physiotherapist will first get a detailed history of your problem. Afterwards they will take you through a physical examination to identify the cause of your symptoms. After this they will then develop a customized treatment plan to fix the issues related to your pelvic floor dysfunction.

This can include hands on therapy, specialized pelvic floor exercises, and education on bladder and bowel tracking. Treatment may also include:

Bladder training
Stretching
Massage
Diet and lifestyle education

How Do I Find A Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist?

If you’re concerned about your pelvic floor problems then you can book an appointment with one of our Pelvic Floor Physiotherapists. Just use the find a clinic near you button on this page.

Regain control of your pelvic floor courtesy of The Mama’s Physio – Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy For Women & Kids (Read the caption)

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Book Your BACK NECK SHOULDER KNEE ELBOW HIP WRIST FOOT Pain Consult

This appointment is your opportunity to tell us what hurts and discover whether physiotherapy or chiropractic care is a good fit for you! During this session, you will talk with a physiotherapist or chiropractor on a phone call (or online) and create the right care plan specifically for your pain. There is no obligation on this session is to find out whether physiotherapy or chiropractic care can help you getting back to doing the things you love in life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does walking strengthen pelvic floor muscles?

Yes, walking can help strengthen the pelvic floor. However it’s more effective to do pelvic floor exercises for the root cause of your pelvic floor dysfunction.

How many times a day should you do pelvic floor exercise?

It depends on where you are at with your recovery. In the early stages your pelvic floor physiotherapist may ask you to complete them multiple times a day. Once you are nearly recovered they may ask you to complete them a few times a week.

How long does it take to strengthen the pelvic floor?

With a good treatment plan it can take 4-6 weeks to see noticeable improvement.

Medical Disclaimer:

The information presented in this blog post is for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, treatment or a diagnosis, consult with a medical professional such as one suggested on this website. The Clinic Accelerator Inc. and the author of this page are not liable for the associated risks of using or acting upon the information contained in this article.

How To Treat Pelvic Floor Dysfunction