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Yoga for Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain is a common debilitating condition that greatly impacts a person’s health and quality of life. Often, the origin of the pain can have one or several causes including: endometriosis, vulvodynia, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, adenomyosis, fibroids, celiac disease, fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, and chronic urinary tract infections, to name a few5. Sometimes, the exact origin of the pain is unknown, even stated as high as 61% of chronic pelvic pain cases5. To learn more about the interactions between these conditions and how they can cause chronic pain see this previous blog post here

Now that we know what can cause chronic pelvic pain, what can be done about it?

While for some cases, the treatment may be medical or surgical, what happens to those whose pain cannot be blamed on a specific diagnosis, or those who do not see improvement after medical or surgical intervention? A multidisciplinary approach is recommended here to address the multifactorial causes of pain. One arm of a multidisciplinary approach may include yoga therapy to address the psychological and physical aspects of pain. One reason yoga can be beneficial in any type of chronic pain management, is the decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity, inflammatory markers, and cortisol levels with a regular practice4

Several studies have pointed to the benefits of yoga specifically for management of pelvic pain of different causes1,2,3,4,5. In a randomized clinical trial for women with painful periods, or dysmenorrhea, there was a significant reduction in duration and intensity of pain compared to the control group for the women who performed cat, fish, and cobra pose daily during the luteal phase of their cycle3. In a recent systematic review (a summary of all the existing data on a topic) of the effects of yoga on chronic noncyclical pelvic pain, in the three studies included, all three intervention groups had statistically significant improvements in quality of life and pain scores4

Look out for our next blog post with photos and written instructions on an easy to follow, research backed, yoga practice you can begin incorporating into your wellness routine to improve your pelvic pain.

As a supplement to yoga, pelvic floor physical therapy has been shown to improve chronic pelvic pain as well4. At Femina Physical Therapy, all of our physical therapists have specialized training to address the musculoskeletal components of your pain and will work with your other healthcare providers in a collaborative manner to maximize symptom-relief and improve your quality of life. Reach out to our team to get started.






Resources

  1. Gonçalves AV, Barros NF, Bahamondes L. The Practice of Hatha Yoga for the Treatment of Pain Associated with Endometriosis. J Altern Complement Med. 2017;23(1):45-52. doi:10.1089/acm.2015.0343
  2. Gonçalves AV, Makuch MY, Setubal MS, Barros NF, Bahamondes L. A Qualitative Study on the Practice of Yoga for Women with Pain-Associated Endometriosis. J Altern Complement Med. 2016;22(12):977-982. doi:10.1089/acm.2016.0021
  3. Rakhshaee Z. Effect of three yoga poses (cobra, cat and fish poses) in women with primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized clinical trial. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2011;24(4):192-196. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2011.01.059
  4. Russell, N., Daniels, B., Smoot, B., & Allen, D. D. (2019). Effects of yoga on quality of life and pain in women with chronic pelvic pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Women's & Pelvic Health Physical Therapy, 43(3), 144-154.
  5. Saxena R, Gupta M, Shankar N, Jain S, Saxena A. Effects of yogic intervention on pain scores and quality of life in females with chronic pelvic pain. Int J Yoga. 2017;10(1):9-15. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.186155

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What Our Patients Have to Say

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Testimonial by Jamie M.

I have been going to see Heather for a while now, and I can't tell you enough how much she has improved my quality of life. Heather specializes in issues like pelvic floor, but I see her for other orthopedic issues.

I have a lot of chronic joint pain and dysfunction issues (back, hips, neck) that require that have ongoing physical therapy maintenance. The effects of my problem joints/areas overlap and interconnect with each other in complex ways, so helping me requires really having a complete understanding of the entire skeletal and muscular system. Pain does not always appear where the problem actually is, the human body is a twisty, many-layered puzzle. I have an exercise program I do at home and I am very functional, but there are just something things I need a PT to help me out with.

Read more: Testimonial by Jamie M.

Testimonial by J.B.

My husband and I were having problems with painful intercourse. My therapist recommended that I go and get a pelvic floor evaluation from a physical therapist. Having never been treated by a physical therapist, I wondered how this really was going to help me. My husband who is a physician was very supportive and agreed that a PT evaluation would be a great idea. So i made the appointment and was blown away by what I learned. I had no idea that pelvic floor muscles could get tight and have trigger points just like any other muscle in the body. I'm a massage therapist and very familiar with tight muscles, and this new thought really amazed me. Heather's program to help relax and strengthen these muscles made such a difference. I can say that I am 100% pain free during intercourse now. Yippee! Going to the PT appointments and doing the at-home exercises was definitely a discipline, but it's 100% worth it! The rewards are amazing.

-- J.B.

Testimonial by Amanda W.

Heather's unique physical therapy program literally changed my life! After years of struggling with vaginismus, a condition that made it impossible for me to have intercourse and very difficult to use tampons without pain, a gynecologist referred me to Heather. I was nervous for my first appointment, but Heather's professional and friendly demeanor put me at ease. She did a great job explaining each technique she was using to help my muscles relax. Heather uses a combination of internal and external stretches and exercises to relax the pelvic floor and build muscle strength. Her specially developed home program helped me quickly recover from an issue that seemed insurmountable before meeting Heather. She was optimistic about my progress and incredibly encouraging. Less than 6 months after my first session, I was able to have pain-free sex for the first time in my life! If you are suffering from vaginismus or any other pelvic floor issues, I highly recommend making an appointment with Heather and reading her book!

-- Amanda W., 2/15/16 via Yelp!

Testimonial by Lauren B.

Femina PT (née Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy) has been such an answer to prayer, i'm so glad I found them! I've been struggling with vaginismus my whole life, but didn't have a name for it until about 6 or 7 months ago. Even once I did have a name for it though, I didn't know where to begin in getting help. My OB/GYN had me get a set of dilators, but I couldn't even insert the smallest one by myself. Most times I tried I just ended up frustrated and in tears. I felt really alone, like I was broken and didn't have the energy to keep trying. When I got engaged a few months ago though, I realized I needed to get answers so i wasn't dreading my honeymoon.

Read more: Testimonial by Lauren B.

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 A.M.

Months after giving birth, it was difficult for me to go from a sitting or lying position up to a full standing position without feeling that I had to remain hunched over until a bit of time had passed to get fully upright. However, after taking Heather’s course, I learned exercises to get my body back to normal. She also showed me correct ways to lift and carry my son as well as put him in/take him out of the carseat and stroller. This class was really beneficial and Heather is a wonderful teacher who made me feel very comfortable.

-- A.M.

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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
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Wednesday CALL
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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

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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