Dealing with discomfort or issues related to your pelvic floor can be frustrating, but the good news is you’re not alone. Many people experience pelvic floor dysfunction at some point, and it’s nothing to feel embarrassed about. Our pelvic floor physiotherapy in Edmonton offers targeted treatments designed to strengthen and rehabilitate the muscles in your pelvic region.
Whether you’re dealing with incontinence, pain, or other symptoms, our Momentum team can guide you through the steps to recovery and help you regain control of your body.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Signs, Symptoms, and When to See a Physiotherapist
What Exactly Is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that act like a supportive hammock at the base of the pelvis, holding up organs like the bladder, bowel, and (in women) the uterus. These muscles help control bladder and bowel movements, sexual function, and core stability.
Pelvic floor dysfunction happens when these muscles are either too weak or too tight, disrupting their balance. This can result in a variety of issues. Ideally, these muscles should be strong yet flexible enough to contract and relax as needed. When this balance is off, problems start to show up.
Signs and Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Pelvic floor dysfunction manifests differently for each person, but some common red flags may indicate that your pelvic floor needs some attention. Let’s break down a few of the most common symptoms:
1. Urinary Issues
- Urine leakage during activities like sneezing, coughing, or exercising. (also known as stress incontinence).
- Frequent urination or a sudden urge to go that’s difficult to control (urge incontinence).
- Difficulty starting or halting the flow of urine.
- Feeling like you haven’t fully emptied your bladder after using the restroom.
2. Bowel Problems
- Constipation, difficulty passing stool, or feeling like you need to strain.
- Fecal incontinence (leaking stool or gas unexpectedly).
- Pain or discomfort during bowel movements.
3. Pain during sexual activity
- Women: pain/numbness during intercourse
- Men: erectile dysfunction, painful ejaculation
4. Prolapse Symptoms
- For some women, pelvic floor dysfunction may also involve pelvic organ prolapse, where the bladder, uterus, or bowel descends lower than usual. This may cause a visible bulge in the vaginal area or a sensation of something “falling out.”
- Prolapse may also cause urinary or bowel issues, making it difficult to empty either fully.
5. Core Stability and Posture Issues
- Difficulty maintaining proper posture or feeling unstable during core movements like bending, lifting, or standing for long periods.
- Weakness in the core muscles affects your ability to perform daily activities or exercise.
- A general feeling of poor balance or coordination is often linked to weak pelvic health muscles.
When Should You See a Physiotherapist?
If you’re nodding along to any of the symptoms above, it might be time to consider pelvic floor physiotherapy in Edmonton. But when exactly should you take the next step? Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
1. When Symptoms Start to Affect Your Daily Life
If you’re avoiding certain activities (like exercise, sex, or social events) because of your symptoms, it’s time to seek help. Pelvic floor issues can make day-to-day life uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.
2. Postpartum Recovery
Pregnancy and childbirth can exert substantial pressure on pelvic health, which is why many women experience issues like incontinence or prolapse after giving birth. If you’ve recently had a baby and notice symptoms like leaking or discomfort, our pelvic floor physiotherapist can help you regain strength and function safely. Don’t wait for these issues to go away on their own—early intervention can prevent long-term problems.
3. If You Experience Pain
Pain is your body’s way of telling you something’s wrong. Whether it’s pain during sex, persistent lower back pain, or pelvic discomfort that you can’t shake, our physiotherapist can assess whether pelvic floor dysfunction is the root cause, allowing for the creation of a treatment plan customized to suit your needs.
4. After Surgery
Recovering from surgery in the pelvic area, such as a hysterectomy or prostate surgery, can lead to changes in pelvic floor function. If you notice urinary or bowel problems post-surgery, working with a physiotherapist can help restore function and improve your quality of life.
5. Menopause and Aging
With aging or hormonal changes during menopause, the pelvic floor may naturally weaken, leading to issues like incontinence or prolapse. Our physiotherapist can help you manage these changes and maintain pelvic health as you age.
6. Chronic Constipation or Bowel Issues
Chronic straining due to constipation or other bowel problems can weaken or damage the pelvic floor muscles over time. If bowel issues persist, pelvic floor therapy may help retrain those muscles and improve function.
7. Before or During Pregnancy
It’s not just after childbirth that your pelvic floor needs attention. If you’re pregnant or planning to be, seeing a physiotherapist can help you strengthen these muscles ahead of time, reducing your chances of experiencing issues during pregnancy or postpartum. Plus, it can help with labour and delivery prep!
What Does Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Involve?
During your first session, Our physiotherapist will perform a thorough assessment, which might involve discussing your symptoms and an internal or external examination of your pelvic floor muscles. Based on this, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan to address your specific concerns.
Treatment can include a combination of:
- Pelvic floor exercises: Commonly known as Kegels, these exercises target the muscles within your pelvic floor to help strengthen or relax them, depending on your condition. For more tailored pelvic floor strengthening, exercises like bridge lifts (hip bridges) and deep breathing with pelvic floor contraction may be introduced to improve control and flexibility.
- Biofeedback: This involves using sensors to monitor how well you can contract and relax your pelvic muscles. We provide you with real-time feedback and help you better understand how your muscles are working.
- Manual therapy: We use techniques like myofascial release, soft tissue mobilization, manipulation and trigger point therapy to minimize tension, improve circulation, and promote healing within the pelvic floor. This hands-on approach can alleviate pain and restore function.
- Pessary fitting: If you’re dealing with pelvic organ prolapse, our physiotherapist might suggest the use of a pessary—a small, supportive device inserted into the vagina to help support pelvic organs and alleviate prolapse symptoms.
- Modalities: For added therapeutic support, a range of modalities may be used, including ultrasound therapy, which uses sound waves to enhance tissue healing, and Shockwave therapy, which stimulates blood flow and muscle recovery. TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is another option to help manage pelvic pain by delivering low-level electrical impulses to block pain signals.
Lifestyle and posture advice: Sometimes, small changes in your daily habits or posture can have a big impact on your symptoms. Our physiotherapist may recommend adjustments to how you lift, exercise, or even sit to reduce strain on your pelvic floor.
The Road to Recovery
Pelvic floor dysfunction might be common, but it’s far from something you need to live with forever. With the right guidance from our pelvic floor physiotherapist at Momentum Physio, you can regain control, relieve discomfort, and get back to doing the things you love without constantly worrying about symptoms. Whether you’re dealing with incontinence, pelvic pain, or prolapse, our pelvic floor physiotherapy in Edmonton offers a safe, effective way to treat the root cause of your symptoms—not just mask them.
Schedule a session with our pelvic floor physiotherapist today and take the first step toward relief and recovery!