Why Do I Need Pelvic Floor Therapy?

Dysfunction of pelvic floor muscles is a widespread problem affecting about one-fifth of the world's population. Often after pregnancy and childbirth, with genetic predisposition, against the background of a sedentary lifestyle, as well as during menopause, these muscles lose tone. It is not life-threatening, but it makes it a lot more complicated. If you suffer from pelvic floor problems, you may think surgery is the only option. But it 's not. Physical therapy can also be a pelvic floor treatment option.

What is the pelvic floor? 

The pelvic floor muscles or, as they are also called, the intimate muscles are important to the body. These intimate muscles are located in the perineal area and are a muscular plate stretched between the pubic bone and the coccyx. On this peculiar muscular hammock are located pelvic organs, bladder, rectum, prostate gland in men, uterus in women. 

The main function of the pelvic floor musculature provides support and support for the internal organs. They support the pelvic organs in a normal physiological position, provide quality labor, and participate in the processes of urination and defecation. In addition, intimate muscles participate in the work of the sphincters of the urethra and rectum. These are the muscles you use to hold back urine and gas, including when you exercise, laugh or sneeze.

Pelvic floor muscle contractions can be controlled by willpower, but they usually contract unconsciously, coordinate with deep abdominal and back muscles and diaphragm, and help control abdominal pressure during exercise. Ideally, intraabdominal pressure is automatically regulated. If any of the cortical muscles, including the pelvic floor muscles, are weakened or damaged, automatic coordination is impaired. Then, in situations where intraabdominal pressure increases, there is a possibility of overloading the pelvic floor, it weakens and the pressure decreases. If this happens repeatedly, the strain on the pelvic organs increases over time, which can lead to loss of bladder or bowel control or pelvic organ prolapse.

To function as part of the cortex, pelvic floor muscles must be flexible, meaning they can not only contract and hold tension, but also relax. Constant tension can cause muscles to lose flexibility and become very stiff, and pelvic floor muscle stiffness is usually combined with weakness, which can lead to urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, pain with intercourse, and difficulty urinating.

Why would I need pelvic floor therapy?

Treatment of the pelvic floor is very important, because if the function of the pelvic floor is impaired, it will have a great impact on life.

The weakening of the pelvic floor muscles leads to the gaping vagina when the thighs are spread and when pushing. Through the gaping vagina can easily penetrate the infection, which contributes to the development of colpitis and vulvovaginitis. Gaping the slit often leads to dryness and atrophy of the vaginal mucosa. All of this negatively affects women's sexual lives.

Dryness and atrophy of the vaginal mucosa reduces its sensitivity as an erogenous zone, which makes it difficult for a woman to have an orgasm. The sexual partner also does not experience enough pleasure, because a wide vagina does not provide close contact with the genitals during intimacy. The man may have erectile problems because of this.

In addition to the deterioration of the quality of sexual relations, over time such unpleasant symptoms as urinary incontinence when coughing, laughing, pushing, physical activity, the need to go to the toilet frequently or urgently occur. Scientifically, it is called stress urinary incontinence. Further, if the condition of the pelvic floor worsens, there is prolapse of the walls of the vagina and urethra, prolapse of the uterus, prolapse of the rectum, violation of the sphincter of the anus. It is not uncommon for pelvic organ prolapse to cause the development of chronic pelvic pain.

In addition, the following phenomena will occur:

• Incontinence of gases and bowel contents.
• Difficulty emptying the bladder or bowel.
• Prolapse of internal organs. In women, it is felt as a bulge in the vagina or a feeling of discomfort or heaviness. In men, it is seen as a bulge in the rectum or a desire to empty the bladder, although there is no objective need to do so.
• Pain in the bladder, bowel or back near the pelvic floor area when doing pelvic floor muscle exercises or during intercourse.

How to get pelvic floor physical therapy?

Any treatment begins with the diagnosis of disorders: the condition and strength of the pelvic floor muscles are assessed, it is determined whether there are symptoms and whether they are related to pelvic floor dysfunction. If the connection is established, a set of individualized therapeutic measures is developed to restore muscles and ligamentous devices. The doctor also teaches the patient Kegel exercises, which can be performed independently at home to strengthen weakened muscles and relax spasmed ones. 

Biofeedback

Biofeedback therapy is performed on a special machine. Biofeedback therapy is recommended for the treatment of all types of urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, vaginal wall prolapse, chronic pelvic pain and sexual disorders.

Biofeedback is an intensive form of pelvic floor therapy that is performed weekly in a medical setting by specially trained medical staff in combination with Kegel exercises at home. During biofeedback therapy, a special sensor is inserted into the vagina or rectum and electrodes are fixed to the area of the anterior abdominal wall. These electrodes pick up electrical signals from the muscles. The patient must contract and relax the muscles at the doctor's command. Electrical signals are displayed on a computer display. Thanks to this program, the patient understands which pelvic floor muscles need to be contracted. 

Many medical studies have shown significant improvements in urinary retention in patients with neurological disorders as well as in older patients. 

Electrostimulation

Electrostimulation is the most sophisticated type of feedback therapy that aims to restore pelvic floor muscles. This physical therapy aims to stimulate the muscles that lift the anus. When the muscles are stimulated with electrical impulses, the left-sided muscles and the bladder sphincter contract, and bladder contraction is inhibited. Electrical stimulation can be used in conjunction with feedback therapy or Kegel exercises. 

Electrostimulation is an effective method of treating tension-induced urinary incontinence and mixed forms of urinary incontinence and weakened pelvic floor muscles. For women suffering from peremptory incontinence, electrostimulation helps to relax the bladder and reduce the degree of uncontrolled contraction of the detrusor (bladder muscle).

Electrostimulation is also highly effective in treating patients with neurogenic urinary disorders. The greatest effect is achieved by combining treatment with electrostimulation and feedback therapy. However, a significant effect occurs after a minimum of four weeks of treatment, and patients should continue to perform Kegel exercises at home.

Bladder training 

This method of therapy is most often used to treat active women with symptoms of urinary incontinence and bladder hypersensitivity, the so-called urgency. The essence of bladder training is that the patient must learn to tolerate false urges to urinate with an empty or poorly filled bladder and to urinate by the hour. Training also involves following certain rules on diet and fluid intake. A special relaxation technique is used, which helps to withstand and delay the false urge. The goal of the training is that the patient can tolerate a period of 2-3 hours between trips to the toilet.

In addition to the above, several methods, with the development of medicine and technology. Currently there is a new type of equipment – sonic vibration platform, which is a pelvic floor chair. Its sonic vibration platform is capable of regenerating degenerated muscles, giving total muscle control and stretching. It has a great effect on preventing and improving urinary tract infiltration, urination, urinary incontinence, and benign prostatic hyperplasia.