Pelvic Floor Therapy In Tarrytown

Pelvic floor physical therapy addresses pain, weakness, or dysfunction in the pelvic floor muscles and structures.

Pelvic floor physical therapy aims to restore comfort, strength, function, and return to your daily activities without limitation. We can help to identify trigger points in the muscles and tight connective tissue that could be causing pain or discomfort.

Physical therapy is an effective way to treat many types of pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic Floor physical therapy helps control and improve bladder, bowel and sexual function. The ability to both relax and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles can improve function, as well as reduce any discomfort or pain you might have felt.

We will teach you exercises to strengthen and stabilize your core during pelvic floor therapy. This includes the major muscles that stabilize the trunk (including the abdominals, back, and diaphragm). You will also need to retrain and/or strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.

Your therapist will identify which muscles are tight and show you how to stretch them to increase mobility and coordination. You will also learn relaxation techniques and postural exercises that can help improve your symptoms.

Importance of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Tarrytown

The pelvic floor in both male and female bodies is made up of multiple layers of muscle that extend from the pubic bone to your tailbone and  toward the sitting bones. The bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs are supported by the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues.

Both men and women have pelvic floor muscles that control their bladder and bowel functions. They also play a role in sexual function and pleasure. Pregnant women’s pelvic floor muscles support the fetus and must expand during vaginal birth.

The pelvic floor muscles contract and relax to control bladder and bowel functions. To prevent incontinence, the pelvic floor muscles must contract and then relax to allow for bowel movements and urination. When the muscles contract too strongly or too slowly, individuals can experience incontinence, constipation, and pain during intercourse. Trauma to the pelvic floor can cause pain and dysfunction after childbirth, surgery, certain medical procedures, accidents, or a history of physical trauma.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: What Are the Symptoms?

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction could be caused by one or more of these conditions. Talk to your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms.

• You may need to frequently use the bathroom. Sometimes you may feel like you have to force it or stop and start many times to fully empty.
• Constipation, or a straining pain during your bowel movements. Pelvic floor dysfunction may be the reason for up to half of those suffering from long-term constipation.
• Pushing hard or straining to get a bowel movement. It is possible to find yourself changing your position on the toilet or even using your hand for stool elimination.
• Incontinence (leaking stool or urine)
• Urination that is frequent or painful
• Pain in the pelvic region, genitals or rectum

There are some symptoms and conditions that can be caused by pelvic floor dysfunction that may differ between men or women.

For men, pelvic dysfunction can cause groin pain, problems ejaculating, or erectile dysfunction.

For women, pelvic dysfunction can affect reproductive health and cause pain during sexual intercourse.

Stress urinary incontinence, or leakage of urine during coughing, laughing or sneezing can affect either men or women with pelvic dysfunction. Stress Urinary Incontinence is more common in women than men, with 35% of women suffering from it during their lifetime.  This is not normal and is treatable.

What Causes Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

Pelvic floor dysfunction may be caused by one or more of these conditions.

• During long labor, strain on tissues and muscles during birth
• Vaginal birth
• Traumatic injuries to your pelvic area due to a car accident
• Surgery of the pelvic floor
• Nerve damage
• Chronic coughing
• Chronic constipation
• Weightlifting
• Excessive use of the pelvic muscles (frequent urination, bowel movements, or straining)
• Menopause and aging

What to Expect at Your First Session of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Tarrytown?

We know that pelvic floor dysfunction can have a personal impact on you and that you might be anxious or afraid about what to expect. Our physical therapists have years of experience in working with pelvic issues and are compassionate professionals. They will answer all of your questions and thoroughly explain each step.

Your physical therapist will conduct a thorough assessment at your first visit to determine the best treatment plan.

The goal of pelvic floor physical therapy is to improve mobility, and movement, and reduce pain. The therapist ask you a series of questions to learn about your history and concerns.  The will evaluate your posture, breathing patterns, strength, flexibility, and mobility of your spine, hips, and abdomen to identify contributing factors.  Once these steps are completed, your therapist might offer to perform an internal examination to directly assess the physical structures of the pelvic floor.  This internal examination is always optional but is often helpful in getting a full understanding of your condition and planning for the best treatment.

Our goal is to determine the cause of pelvic floor dysfunction. We can diagnose the problem faster if we have more details about your symptoms. Bring detailed notes on your symptoms to the session, including any pain that is worsening or relieving.

Your therapist might ask you to move around during your visit to evaluate certain functions. Wear comfortable clothes. We encourage you to ask questions and give feedback during each visit.

The following are the results of our initial assessment:

• A thorough review of your medical history
• An in-depth evaluation of your symptoms
• A thorough evaluation of tight, painful or dysfunctional areas
• Complete physical exam

We will ask you to stand, sit, and walk during the exam in order to identify any potential joint or posture issues that could be affecting your pelvic floor muscles. Also, we will assess if there are any bone or muscle issues in your lower back or hips, sacroiliac joints, buttocks or thighs that could be causing pain or dysfunction to your pelvic floor muscles.

A physical exam will be performed by your physical therapist. This may include an internal examination in some cases. Our therapists have been trained in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction. Because we understand that you might feel uncomfortable during the examination, we proceed only with your approval at each step. Our systemic evaluation can help identify muscle and strength-related problems that may be causing your discomfort.

Your physical therapist will take it slow and explain each step. Ask questions. You can pause the exam at any time.

Benefits of Pelvic Floor Therapy

Patients will often want to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the service before they choose a rehab program. Our team understands the benefits of pelvic floor physical therapy for patients. We hope that you will consider this option if you find the problems you face becoming too difficult to manage. You can expect to reap many benefits after reaching out to us and beginning your sessions of treatment.

• Lower pain levels.
• Greater strength and stability in daily activities.
• Increased sexual function and enjoyment.
• Reduced risk of chronic pain.
• Corrected bowel and urinary patterns.

You Can Help With Your Own Recovery

You can do a lot to help your recovery. These self-care tips may help you not only get your pelvic floor dysfunction under control but also improve your physical and mental health.

• Your physical therapist may recommend that you do home exercises.
• If recommended, you should perform Kegel exercises regularly.
• When you urinate or have a bowel movement, avoid pushing or straining – instead come back for another try at a later time.
• A healthy lifestyle includes good nutrition, adequate water intake, regular exercise, healthy eating habits, healthy sleep patterns, healthy sleeping schedules, healthy food choices, healthy weight, healthy stress management, healthy relaxation techniques, and positive thinking.
• Your physical therapist may recommend regular home use of certain devices, such as biofeedback device, dilator, or vaginal cones.
• Your physical therapist will teach you how to self-massage if appropriate.

Pelvic floor dysfunction can be a sensitive topic.  We set aside the time to make sure you are comfortable and are willing to work with you to manage any fear or anxiety you might have before performing assessments or treatments. Do not let shame or stigma prevent you from seeking the treatment you need to have a good life. We strive to provide a welcoming and safe environment for you to receive non-judgmental treatment.