Treatment Techniques
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At NWPT we provide one-on-one, Hands-on Pelvic Health Physical Therapy:
Most physical therapy to treat pelvic floor dysfunction and pain is hands on, which includes both internal and external therapy. Because internal physical therapy may be difficult for some people, therapists are sensitive to the needs of every individual and will not begin with internal physical therapy until you are ready. At NWPT, our Pelvic Health physical therapists can help restore urinary, bowel, and sexual function. Our program is designed to offer interdisciplinary treatments and services to address the specific needs of pelvic health patients. |
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Pelvic Health physical therapists might use several techniques:
Education: Patients may need to learn more about their pelvic anatomy and how different components work alone and together. They may also need to learn how habits or hygiene affect their symptoms.
Pelvic floor muscle training: Patients are taught how to contract and relax pelvic floor muscles in relation to other muscles. They are also taught breathing and timing techniques to make the exercises more effective. Such exercises can stretch tight muscles, strengthen weak ones, and improve flexibility.
Therapeutic exercises: To restore pelvic floor functional control, muscle strength, and soft tissue mobility of surrounding involved joints. Focus is on core strengthening & diaphragmatic breathing to improve coordination during daily movement patterns.
Lifestyle modifications & Behavior Therapy: Bladder/bowel/diet diary, training to reduce urgency, frequency, leakage and pelvic pain. Education to help coordinate healthy bladder, bowel, and pelvic habits within your daily activities.
Manual therapy: This therapy uses hands-on massage or stretching to addressesweakness or restrictions of pelvic floor muscles as well as the muscles of the hip, abdominal wall, lower back and internal organs to help with posture, blood circulation, and mobility.
Trigger point release: Releasing trigger points that refer symptoms to surrounding areas due to muscle spasms of the pelvic. Internal techniques may include using a specialized instrument or a finger inside the vagina or rectum to do trigger point therapy.
Visceral mobilization: Minimizing restrictions between the organs can improve the overall function of the pelvic and abdominal organs.
Relaxation techniques: Retraining the pelvic floor muscles to relax may significantly reduce excessive tension that contributes to urinary leakage, constipation and pain during sexual intercourse.
Biofeedback training: It’s a tool used for patients to learn how to isolate pelvic floor muscles to strengthen & lengthen them, to help restore continence and support pelvic organs. Biofeedback is also used for relaxation of pelvic muscles for those clients with pelvic pain issues. Biofeedback training is also beneficial for clients who have poor coordination of pelvic muscles aiding in treatment of constipation and other voiding issues.
Electrical stimulation: A low voltage electrical current may be used to teach patients how to coordinate their muscle contractions. It can also help reduce pain and muscle spasms.
Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS): A slim needle electrode inserted near the ankle is connected to a battery-powered stimulator. Impulses from the stimulator travel through the needle electrode, along the leg and to the nerves in the pelvis that control bladder function
Ultrasound: Therapeutic ultrasound uses sound waves to produce warming that can help reduce muscle spasms, reduce inflammation and increase blood flow. Also, to treat blocked ducts and improve breast flow during breastfeeding.
Vaginal dilators: Medical graduated dilators can help women learn to relax their pelvic muscles to allow easier penetration. It can be beneficial for patients who have pain with penetration during sexual activity, tampon use and during gynecological exams. Women who have been treated for gynecological cancer may also find them helpful for vaginal rehabilitation after treatment.
Supportive belt/brace: Includes evaluation of posture and joint mechanics, in pregnancy and postpartum to determine most appropriate device.
Positioning/body mechanics: Bowel & bladder voiding postures. Also includes labor & delivery strategies, comfort positions, instruction in functional neutral in pregnancy and breastfeeding positions.
Education: Patients may need to learn more about their pelvic anatomy and how different components work alone and together. They may also need to learn how habits or hygiene affect their symptoms.
Pelvic floor muscle training: Patients are taught how to contract and relax pelvic floor muscles in relation to other muscles. They are also taught breathing and timing techniques to make the exercises more effective. Such exercises can stretch tight muscles, strengthen weak ones, and improve flexibility.
Therapeutic exercises: To restore pelvic floor functional control, muscle strength, and soft tissue mobility of surrounding involved joints. Focus is on core strengthening & diaphragmatic breathing to improve coordination during daily movement patterns.
Lifestyle modifications & Behavior Therapy: Bladder/bowel/diet diary, training to reduce urgency, frequency, leakage and pelvic pain. Education to help coordinate healthy bladder, bowel, and pelvic habits within your daily activities.
Manual therapy: This therapy uses hands-on massage or stretching to addressesweakness or restrictions of pelvic floor muscles as well as the muscles of the hip, abdominal wall, lower back and internal organs to help with posture, blood circulation, and mobility.
Trigger point release: Releasing trigger points that refer symptoms to surrounding areas due to muscle spasms of the pelvic. Internal techniques may include using a specialized instrument or a finger inside the vagina or rectum to do trigger point therapy.
Visceral mobilization: Minimizing restrictions between the organs can improve the overall function of the pelvic and abdominal organs.
Relaxation techniques: Retraining the pelvic floor muscles to relax may significantly reduce excessive tension that contributes to urinary leakage, constipation and pain during sexual intercourse.
Biofeedback training: It’s a tool used for patients to learn how to isolate pelvic floor muscles to strengthen & lengthen them, to help restore continence and support pelvic organs. Biofeedback is also used for relaxation of pelvic muscles for those clients with pelvic pain issues. Biofeedback training is also beneficial for clients who have poor coordination of pelvic muscles aiding in treatment of constipation and other voiding issues.
Electrical stimulation: A low voltage electrical current may be used to teach patients how to coordinate their muscle contractions. It can also help reduce pain and muscle spasms.
Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS): A slim needle electrode inserted near the ankle is connected to a battery-powered stimulator. Impulses from the stimulator travel through the needle electrode, along the leg and to the nerves in the pelvis that control bladder function
Ultrasound: Therapeutic ultrasound uses sound waves to produce warming that can help reduce muscle spasms, reduce inflammation and increase blood flow. Also, to treat blocked ducts and improve breast flow during breastfeeding.
Vaginal dilators: Medical graduated dilators can help women learn to relax their pelvic muscles to allow easier penetration. It can be beneficial for patients who have pain with penetration during sexual activity, tampon use and during gynecological exams. Women who have been treated for gynecological cancer may also find them helpful for vaginal rehabilitation after treatment.
Supportive belt/brace: Includes evaluation of posture and joint mechanics, in pregnancy and postpartum to determine most appropriate device.
Positioning/body mechanics: Bowel & bladder voiding postures. Also includes labor & delivery strategies, comfort positions, instruction in functional neutral in pregnancy and breastfeeding positions.
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