“Fourteen percent of women deal with pelvic pain,” Stoehr said. “Fifty percent of women over 50 suffer from urinary incontinence. These are common issues. You are not alone. Most of these problems are fixable; all are manageable. It’s worth your quality of life to get things checked out. Reach out to groups online to see how many others are struggling and to ask for referrals for providers in your area.”
Physicians on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center—Centennial are helping patients with their pelvic floor health through physical therapy and education.
The pelvic floor is made up of muscles, fascia and other connective tissues that are located at the bottom of the pelvis and work together like a hammock. Pelvic floor health is essential to many bodily functions and an individual’s overall quality of life.
In addition to urinary incontinence and constipation, a few other pelvic health symptoms a woman should ask her doctor about include:
- A feeling of pressure or heaviness in the pelvic area
- Pelvic pain, often accompanied by a sense of persistent tension or spasm-like sensation in the muscles of the pelvic floor and even lower back and/or hip pain
- Physical problems associated with intimacy including reduced sensation or discomfort
- Difficulty emptying the bowel or bladder
- Pain with urination
The pelvic floor can change over time, so women who may not have experienced issues in the past might notice these symptoms later in life.
“As women age, the pelvic floor becomes more pliable and often will break down,” Dr. Stoehr, said. “The muscles are affected by weight, exercise, estrogen content and trauma.”
Pelvic floor therapy can be beneficial for patients of all ages and at a variety of different life stages. A pelvic health therapist collaborates with other health care providers, such as gynecologists, urologists or colorectal specialists, to ensure comprehensive care and management of pelvic health conditions.
Physical therapy for pelvic floor health will typically start with an examination to evaluate core and pelvic floor muscle function, strength, coordination and symptoms, such as tension or weakness.
“Based on the evaluation, a pelvic health therapist will develop an individualized treatment plan that is tailored to meet the specific needs and goals of the person,” said BSW Lorien Hathaway, PT, DPT, Program Director at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation and provider on the allied health professional staff at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano. “Treatment often includes a combination of exercise, manual therapy and education.”
A pelvic health therapist can advise patients on specific exercises to strengthen weak muscles and relax overly tense muscles. Some patients may benefit from manual therapy as well.
“Manual therapy performed by a pelvic health therapist uses hands-on techniques, such as myofascial release, tender point release and soft tissue treatments, to address muscle tenderness, tension or restrictions to the pelvic floor and surrounding tissues,” Hathaway said.
Pelvic health treatment might also include biofeedback or electrical stimulation to help a woman better understand and/or gain control over her pelvic floor muscle function.
“Biofeedback provides tactile visual or auditory feedback on muscle activity, aiding in learning proper muscle coordination, while electrical stimulation can aid in improving awareness, activation and, if needed, strength and control of pelvic floor muscles,” Hathaway said. “Other treatment options might include ultrasound, heat or cold therapy.”
Education is equally important in addressing pelvic floor dysfunction and is something the physicians on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center—Centennial prioritize with patients.
A pelvic health therapist will typically provide education on the pelvic anatomy, proper bladder and bowel habits, ergonomics, and strategies such as advice on posture. A pelvic health therapist can also help with behavioral modifications, such as bladder training or bowel retraining to improve control and reduce urgency or frequency of urinary or bowel symptoms if there are symptoms or habits that need to be corrected.
To find compassionate, quality care for pelvic health concerns, make an appointment with a physician on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center—Centennial today. To learn more about pelvic health visit www.bswhealth.com. To download the free MyBSW app, visit www.mybswhealth.com/download.
Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community, or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers or Baylor Scott & White Health.
The above story was produced by Multi-platform Journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro with Community Impact’s Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their “sponsored content” purchase through our advertising team.
