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pelvic floor physical therapy

What is pelvic floor physical therapy?

When you are suffering from neck or shoulder pain, it is common to go see a physical therapist to help correct any issues with like alignment, movement, strength, and flexibility to reduce pain and improve function. Pelvic floor physical therapy is performed by physical therapists with advanced training to help correct those same issues in the pelvis, lower extremities, spine, and abdomen.

Pelvic floor muscles: What are they?

The inside of the pelvis is lined with muscles referred to as the pelvic floor muscles, these muscles are made of the same types of muscle tissue as other parts of the body, like the neck or shoulder. Similarly, the pelvis is home to ligaments, nerves, fascia, and bones, just like other parts of the body. Pelvic floor physical therapy utilizes an inegrative approach to get all of these functions working together as they should.

Pelvic floor muscles: What do they do?

The pelvic floor muscles have a variety of jobs:

  • Support the organs in the pelvis and abdomen; keeping your organs inside you is a good thing! Otherwise issues such as organ prolapse may occur.
  • Stabilize the movement of the hips and pelvis- poor movement patterns can begin as dysfunctions in the pelvic floor and can often cause low back pain and hip pain.
  • Sphincter, or closure of the openings of the urethra, vagina, and anus- keeping you continent and dry.
  • Lymphatic drainage and circulation
  • Sexual Function- pelvic floor muscles aide in sexual function including orgasm and pain free sex.

What does pelvic floor physical therapy treat?

Dysfunctions in the pelvic floor can cause or contribute problems that greatly affect quality of life. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help with the following conditions:

Incontinence and Voiding Dysfunctions:

  • Leaking urine with sneezing, coughing, and laughing
  • Leaking urine when you are fumbling with your clothes, keys or washing the dishes
  • Light-heavy bladder leakage
  • Urinary urgency and frequency
  • Delayed or painful voiding
  • Interstitial cystitis (IC) and Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS)
  • Overactive bladder
  • Nocturia- night time urination
  • Enuresis (bedwetting)
  • Fecal / Bowel Incontinence ; Accidental Bowel Leakage
  • Painful bowel movements
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Constipation

Painful Intercourse:

  • Vaginismus / Genito-Pelvic Penetration disorder
  • Vulvodynia
  • Vulvar vestibulitis
  • Vestibulodynia
  • Unprovoked and provoked vestibulodynia
  • Dyspareunia
  • Endometriosis
  • Levator Ani Syndrome

Pelvic Pain:

  • Stabbing, throbbing, or jabbing pain in the abdomen, low back, and/or pelvic area
  • Inability to tolerate gynecological exams or tampon use
  • Pain with sitting
  • Pain with cycling
  • Persistant Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD) / Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome (PSAS)
  • Painful Orgasm / Dysorgasmia
  • Anorgasmia (no orgasm) or Diminished or Less Intense Orgasms
  • Pudendal Neuralgia
  • Coccydynia (tailbone pain)
  • Painful Bladder Syndrome / Interstitial Cystitis
  • Deep hip pain / Piriformis Syndrome

What do you do in pelvic floor physical therapy?

Pelvic floor therapists help normalize dysfunction in the pelvic floor. Problems can be caused by a variety of things including spasms, muscle guarding, weakness, lymphatic drainage problems, connective tissue dysfunction, poor habits, chronic stress, and poor movement patterns.

The treatment modalities you will receive in pelvic floor physical therapy depend on your body and the issues present. Tight pelvic floor muscles, myofascial trigger points, and chronic stress and constipation, for example, could cause a flare up of pelvic pain. Your therapist would then help treat those underlying conditions to help bring your body back into balance and function.

Some of the modalities used in the clinic can include:

  • Therapeutic exercise to strengthen or lengthen the tissues in the body that may contributing to problems
  • Manual therapy to treat connective tissue dysfunction and myofascial trigger points
  • Visceral mobilization (gentle massage techniques that loosen internal adhesions and restore movement to the organs including the intestine, bladder, uterus, and ovaries)
  • Postural training and therapeutic exercise to treat dysfunctional movement
  • Internal pelvic manual therapy to treat sensitive tissues, muscle spasms, trigger points, and muscle guarding that can cause pain with activities like sex, tampon use, or bowel movements
  • Training in self treatment techniques including foam rolling, lymphatic massage, autonomic relaxation, and stress reduction
  • Neuromuscular re-education and autogenic relaxation to reduce chronic muscle over-activity, reduce pain, and improve sleep
  • Cold laser, ultrasound, and other physical agent modalities to aide in the reduction of inflammation, pain, and improve tissue healing.
  • Education regarding habits that could be contributing to the problem: diet, constipation management, stress management.

Patient Education and Empowerment

An important aspect of pelvic floor therapy is the collaboration and trust that is created between the therapist and client. The ultimate goal of pelvic floor physical therapy at Femina is educating you with the tools you need in your toolkit to help you heal yourself and to be able to deal with flare-ups and the occasional bumps in the road with confidence. As pelvic floor therapists, we are guides, support, and cheerleaders for you along the journey back to wellness and function! We only employ licensed Physical Therapists, all with a pelvic health speciality and advanced degrees and certifications to optimize your outcome. Make an appointment today and let’s get started.

**This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor.**

What Our Patients Have to Say

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Testimonial by M.M.

A personal journey and testimonial from one of my patients:

My husband and I were married for 5 years before we were able to have intercourse due to my vaginismus. There was nothing traumatic in my past but for some reason, even though I wanted sex, I mentally avoided "that area" of my body and didn't even admit to myself that there was a problem for a long time, even though I was never able to put tampons in. Once I finally opened my eyes up to the fact that I had a problem, I had a surgery that was supposed to fix the issue.

Read more: Testimonial by M.M.

Testimonial by S.B.

As someone who suffered the debilitating physical and emotional effects of vaginismus (as well as a complicated history of back injuries) for more than 15 years, I thought a "normal" life was just a fantasy. Then I found Heather.

Read more: Testimonial by S.B.

Testimonial by Ann V.

I wish i could give this place 10 stars!! 
I have been suffering from vaginismus for 5 years and never found the cure to it. I had seen an ob/gyn and he diagnosed me with vaginismus and told me i needed a surgery to cure my condition, which i refused to do. He also referred me to a PT that he works with, i had given them multiple calls and they never responded back to me, so i started searching yelp for another PT. I am SO HAPPY I found Heather's office! I was working with Laureen, and with her guidance and techniques i was able to be cured from vaginismus in only 2 1/2 short months!!! I couldn't believe how quickly their program worked for me! I am forever grateful and thankful from Heather, and Laureen! They are the absolute best at what they do!

Read more: Testimonial by Ann V.

Testimonial by M.N., age 28

A personal journey and testimonial from one of my patients:

I was diagnosed with vaginismus 4 years ago. I never heard of such medical condition until after I got married. At first my husband and I didn't know what to do, we didn't know what the issues were or how to overcome it. Being born and raised in Armenia and being Christian I wasn't that open about talking to sex with others and so it wasn't easy to seek help. But eventually I went to an Ob-Gyn and luckily she knew about the medical condition (not many doctors know). She referred me to a physical therapist and I couldn't believe it and thought it's something I can handle myself. I ordered a kit from vaginismus.com and started practicing with dilators. There was some small progress but wasn't much helpful.

Read more: Testimonial by M.N., age 28

Testimonial by R.M., Age 40

I can’t speak highly enough of the theapists at Femina Physical Therapy and how much they have helped me grow, discover, and love my body. I had had painful sex for my entire life, and didn’t know that there was anything that could be done about it. It was at the point where my husband and I were not having sex for MONTHs, because it was just too frustrating, and I hated feeling like I was the ONLY woman out there who had this problem, especially at my age. I finally brought it up to my doctor because I was turning 40 and my husband and I were barely having enough sex to conceive. And she brought up pelvic floor, PT. I didn’t even know this was a “thing”.

Read more: Testimonial by R.M., Age 40

Testimonial by R.H.

No one could tell me why I was having pain during sex--sharp pain, not just uncomfortable, pain. I was referred to Heather Jeffcoat after researching several different options. I had seen a specialist who told me physical therapy would not help and my only option was surgery. I really didn't want to go that route, so when we got a referral, I decided to try it--it can't hurt, I thought. I am so glad I did. She diagnosed the problem right away, which was a relief in itself.

To know why I was having pain eased my mind immensely. And to hear that she could fix it without surgery was another relief. She said she could fix the problem in 6 weeks. I think it was actually 4 for me. She was very methodical, and treated me as an intelligent human being capable of participating in my own recovery. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone. She did not try to prolong my session numbers, she worked hard to accommodate my schedule (and the fact that I had to bring a baby to sessions), and she was completely honest the entire time. It is so hard to find someone with these characteristics, much less a professional who is so good at what she does. She has my highest respect.

-- R.H.

Our
Locations

Beverly Hills:

9012 Burton Way
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Telephone: (310) 871-9554

The Beverly Hills office is convenient to Mid-Wilshire, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Beverlywood, Korea Town, Downtown LA, Culver City, Century City, Santa Monica and Malibu.

Hours:

Monday 12:00-5:00
Tuesday 7:00-6:00
Wednesday CALL
Thursday 2:00-6:00
Friday 7:00-6:00

Pasadena:

350 S. Lake Avenue #220
Pasadena, Ca 91101

Telephone: (818) 873-1403

Our Pasadena location is convenient to Glendale, Montrose, Burbank, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, and Eagle Rock.

Hours:

Monday 7:00-6:00
Tuesday 7:00-4:00
Wednesday CALL
Thursday 7:00-4:00
Friday CALL

Sherman Oaks:

13425 Ventura Blvd. Suite 200
Sherman Oaks, California 91423

Telephone: (818) 877-6910

The Sherman Oaks office is adjacent to Studio City and serves the Bel Air, Brentwood, West LA, Mulholland, Beverly Hills, Encino, Calabasas and San Fernando Valley area.

Hours:

Monday 7:30-6:00
Tuesday 7:00-6:00
Wednesday 7:00-6:00
Thursday 8:00-6:00
Friday 7:00-6:00