Anyone who is experiencing pain, stiffness, weakness, swelling, incontinence
or decreased endurance which interferes with the ability to sit, sleep, engage in
intimacy, work, perform housework or gardening, provide childcare or engage in recreational
activities should seek our help.
Conditions Treated
- Pre and Post Partum
- Chronic Pelvic Pain
- Incontinence
- Prolapse of pelvic organs
- Pelvic floor tension and pain
- Painful scars
- Vulvodynia
- Vaginal Pain
- Dysmenorrhea
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Endometriosis
- Sexual pain
- Following a hysterectomy or abdominal surgery
- Sacroiliac or coccygeal pain
- Following breast surgery
- Osteoporosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Athletic or exercise related injuries
- And many more
Evaluation and Assessment
An initial evaluation will be conducted to understand the individual's problems,
concerns, and goals regarding his/her condition. The examination will be conducted
in a private treatment room. A family member of friend may accompany the patient
to each session. The examination may include evaluation of postural alignment, sensation,
muscle strength, pain intensity and source, range of motion, flexibility, reflex
activity, sensitivity to touch, tone of muscles, presence of scar tissue and movement
patterns with various activities. Baseline surface electromyography may be performed
to help determine muscle activity. Voiding diaries may be used to determine factors
contributing to incontinence.
Treatment
We listen to our patients and design individual treatment programs to address
their needs. Physical therapy treatment options will be explained at your first
visit. You will make the final choice.
Treatment sessions may include:
- Education in normal anatomy and physiology of the urogenital and musculoskeletal
systems.
- Heat, cold, ultrasound, and other modalities will be used as needed for
pain control, improving muscle relaxation, and increasing the extensibility
of soft tissue and scars.
- Manual therapy and massage may be used to increase tissue flexibility, scar
mobility, and muscle relaxation.
- Therapeutic exercises increase flexibility, strength, postural support and
endurance. Pelvic floor, abdominal, back and hip muscles are usually addressed
for pelvic floor rehabilitation.
- Electric stimulation may be used for pain control or to increase muscle
excitation to give weak muscles and extra boost.
- Biofeedback provides visual or audible indication of muscle contractions.
Many people have difficulty knowing if they are contracting the correct muscles.
Biofeed back lets them know which muscles they are using and is useful in monitoring
effectiveness and progress of the treatment.
- Postural correction improves muscle function and pain. Daily activities,
prolonged positions, and surgical scars can cause some tissues and muscles to
become tight and others to become painful and weak. Postural changes can affect
the strength of several muscles including the abdominal, back, hip and pelvic
floor muscles.
- Body mechanics education is an integral part of maintaining good posture
and proper muscle recruitment during functional activities.
- Home program instruction in the use of modalities, exercises, supports and
self management will be provided to support he therapy program.
- Fluid and dietary intake will be monitored when indicated with education
on alterations which could improve the individual's condition.
Pregnancy and Post-Partum Physical Therapy
There are many physiological changes which occur in a woman's body when
she becomes pregnant. In some women, these changes may contribute to medical conditions
which cause pain, weakness or sensory changes that interfere with daily activities.
Physical therapy is frequently performed to address these problems.
Conditions Associated With Pregnancy
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Back and neck pain
- Sacroiliac pain
- Coccydynia
- Pubic symphysis pain
- Rib/diaphragm discomfort
- Tendonitis
- Incontinence
- Edema
- Varicosities
- Ligament strain
- Foot and ankle pain
Conditions Associated with Post Partum
- Pain from scarring
- Abdominal weakness/pain
- Post surgical weakness/scaring/pain
- Pelvic Pain
- Incontinence
- Diastasis recti
- Sacroiliac pain
- Coccydynia
- Dyspareunia
- Organ prolapse
- Pubic symphsis pain
- Hip pain
- Spasm of pelvic floor muscles
- Thoracic and rib pain
- Headaches
- Low back pain
Urinary Incontinence
True or False?
- I urinate 7-8 times per day.
- I urinate at intervals between 2-5 hours.
- I do not wake up more than once during the night to urinate. (This applies
to women under 65 years of age).
- I do not wake up more than twice during the night to urinate. (This applies
to women under 65 years of age or pregnant women).
- I never leak urine when I sneeze, cough, laugh, exercise.
- When I need to urinate, I can get to the bathroom without rushing.
- I am not wearing panty liners or "just in case" I leak urine.
If you answered false to any of these questions, please talk to your physician.
Ask if physical therapy could help in your situation.
Urinary incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of urine
severe enough to have adverse social or hygienic consequences. It is not a disease
in itself, but rather a symptom associated with a number of medical conditions.
An estimated 10 million Americans are affected with this problem. Incontinence
is not only a problem of od age. Pelvic weakness often occurs after childbirth,
with back or pelvic pain, during menopause and after pelvic surgery. Some sources
state that 80% of incontinence that is related to pelvic floor weakness can be cured
or improved with physical therapy.
Most Common Types of Urinary Incontinence
Stress Incontinence is most often caused by pelvic floor weakness.
Leakage occurs with coughing, laughing, sneezing and exercising.
Urge incontinence is due to an irritable bladder. Leakage happens
with a sense of sudden urge to urinate.
Mixed incontinence is due to a combination of weak muscles and
bladder irritability.
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