pelvic health treatment steve kravitz physical therapy

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

What is pelvic floor physical therapy?

Our Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is a gentle and effective approach for a wide range of pelvic floor muscle and orthopedic conditions. We offer specialty rehabilitation services specifically for pelvic floor dysfunction for women’s and men’s health issues. Our comprehensive evidence based approach will help identify the root causes driving your symptoms and pelvic floor pain. An extensive medical history and physical exam reveals whether poor posture, faulty biomechanics, tight muscles, trigger points, weakness, scar tissue / adhesions, connective tissue / fascial restrictions, and/or nerve disorders. We will examine your abdomen, pelvis, hips, and spine, in association with your pelvic floor. When appropriate, we will do an internal pelvic floor evaluation assessing for muscle tension, fascial restrictions, and weakness.

Our strategic approach to helping patients feel optimum health and to move freely is to look at the person’s whole body as a system that works and functions together. Healing is not a one-size-fits all approach. We believe in creating a customized healing plan unique to your pain capacity, medical history, daily pain patterns, and so much more.

What are the most common conditions patients benefit from through pelvic floor physical therapy?

The most common conditions patients benefit from are: Pelvic Pain, Pelvic Floor Incoordination, Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction, Pregnancy / Postpartum related issues, Menopausal symptoms, Post Surgical Issues, Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic Pain and Orthopedic Conditions

Female Pelvic Pain

Vulvodynia/Vestibulodynia, Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome, Pudendal Neuralgia, Endometriosis, clitoral pain, tailbone pain/coccygodynia, abdominal pain, sacral pain, anal/rectal pain, dyspareunia/pain with intercourse

Male Pelvic Pain

Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome/male pelvic pain, Nonbacterial chronic prostatitis, Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome, Pudendal Neuralgia, tailbone pain/coccygodynia, sacral pain, abdominal and groin pain, testicular pain, perineal pain, penile pain, and anal/rectal pain, post-ejaculatory pain, erectile dysfunction

Orthopedic Conditions

  • Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
  • Piriformis Syndrome
  • Osteoporosis
  • Low Back Pain
  • Hip Pain
  • Knee and Lower Leg Pain

Bladder Dysfunction

  • Stress Urinary Incontinence, Urge Urinary Incontinence
  • Post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence
  • Urinary urgency/frequency, dysuria, retention, hesitancy, nocturia
  • Associated pelvic pain diagnoses:  Interstitial Cystitis, Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome/male pelvic pain, and Prostatitis
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Bowel Dysfunction

  • Constipation
  • Difficulty evacuating
  • Dyschezia/painful bowel movements
  • Anal pain, anal burning
  • Hemorrhoids / fissures
  • Fecal Incontinence
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pregnancy

Postpartum

  • Comprehensive evaluation for Diastasis Recti, pelvic floor dysfunction, core muscles for strength/endurance
  • Postpartum rehabilitation plan: painful scars, Diastasis Recti, bladder and bowel dysfunction, pelvic pain, low back and pelvic girdle pain, dyspareunia/pain with intercourse postpartum

Menopause and Perimenopause

  • Irregular Periods
  • Vaginal Dryness
  • Hot Flashes / Night Sweats / Chills
  • Sleep Problems
  • Mood Changes
  • Weight gain and slowed metabolism

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

  • Urethracele
  • Cystocele
  • Rectocele
  • Enterocele
  • Uterine prolapse

Post Surgical Rehabilitation

  • Pelvic reconstruction
  • Cystocele
  • Rectocele
  • Uterine prolapse
  • Urethrocele
  • Prostatectomy
    • Erectile dysfunction, incontinence, bowel dysfunction, pelvic pain
  • Pudendal Nerve Decompression
  • Gender affirmation procedures
  • Laparotomy/laparoscopy
    • Endometriosis
      • Excision
      • Ablative
    • Hysterectomy
  • Cesarean section
  • Vestibulectomy
  • Hernia Repair

What are pelvic floor physical therapy techniques?

Due to the nature of pelvic floor physical therapy treatments, the mainstay of our treatments are manual therapy based and may include the following:

  • Manual therapy including myofascial release, trigger point release, joint mobilization, muscle energy techniques and connective tissue mobilization
  • Scar tissue adhesion release
  • Strain or counter strain
  • Nerve flossing and neural tension releases
  • Neuromuscular Re-Education techniques
  • Core stabilization training
  • Functional exercise and prescriptive therapeutic exercise
  • Physioball and foam roller exercise
  • Postural re-education
  • Patient and family education
  • Instruction in a home exercise program
  • Pelvic floor biofeedback
  • Visceral ManipulationFurthermore, patient education is an integral part of the course of treatment. Providing patients with vital information to help manage their condition improves patient practitioner communication and allows patients to regain control of their health.

How do pelvic health practitioners provide pain relief?

Did you know that your low back pain, hip pain, lower quadrant pain, bladder urgency / frequency, vulvar pain or coccyx pain may actually not be coming from these sources? It may be rooted in pelvic floor muscular dysfunction. The brain only perceives where the pain is felt and not the actual source of the pain.

So, part of your healing journey will include trying to find the true source of your underlying causes of pelvic pain, sexual pain, and even orthopedic pain through highly skilled manual therapy based interventions.

Get started today!

If you’re dealing pelvic pain or pelvic health issues, call our Nashville, TN physical therapy practice at (615) 840-3281 today or click here to request an appointment.