Pelvic Floor Physical and Occupational Therapy for Bladder Dysfunction in Ventura County

The muscles that make up your pelvic floor are imperative to many daily functions, including proper urinary function. With proper bladder function, the pelvic floor muscles will support continence, aid in bladder function, and give you control over urination. Unfortunately, pelvic floor dysfunction can quickly remove your sense of security with bladder control and function.

When the muscles in your pelvic floor become dysfunctional, it can leave you with frequent urination, hesitancy, discomfort, and incontinence. Bladder dysfunction is a common issue, but it shouldn’t be normalized. If you are experiencing symptoms of bladder dysfunction, contact Pelvic Health Rehabilitation Center in Ventura county to schedule an evaluation.

Normal Bladder Function

Normal urination frequency is six to eight times in 24 hours
Leaking urine is never normal
Bladder urge should not feel like a five-alarm fire
Normal voiding time is roughly 20 seconds
Starting the urinary stream should be easy and quick
Bladder urgency should go away after voiding
Increasing our fluid intake should increase the amount we urinate, not the frequency
Normal bladder capacity is 300 – 600ml
People under 60 years old may wake once per night to urinate, over 60 years old twice per night
Pain before, during, or after urinating is never normal

Symptoms

Stress incontinence (leaking urine when coughing, laughing, sneezing, and/or during exercise)
Urge incontinence ( leaking on the way or before you get to the bathroom)
Mixed Incontinence (both stress and urge incontinence)
Pain or burning in the bladder and/or urethra before, during or after urinating
Urinary urgency without a full bladder
Urinary frequency without a full bladder
Urinary hesitancy, slow or deviated urine stream
Urinary urgency during sexual activity
Urinary urgency/frequency after sexual activity or exercise
Urethra or bladder pain
Climacturia (leaking urine with orgasm)

Symptoms

Stress incontinence (leaking urine when coughing, laughing, sneezing, and/or during exercise)
Urge incontinence ( leaking on the way or before you get to the bathroom)
Mixed Incontinence (both stress and urge incontinence)
Pain or burning in the bladder and/or urethra before, during or after urinating
Urinary urgency without a full bladder
Urinary frequency without a full bladder
Urinary hesitancy, slow or deviated urine stream
Urinary urgency during sexual activity
Urinary urgency/frequency after sexual activity or exercise
Urethra or bladder pain
Climacturia (leaking urine with orgasm)

Cause of bladder dysfunction

Repetitive urinary tract and yeast infections
Hormonal suppressive medications such as oral contraceptives, GnRH agonists (i.e. Lupron), acne medications
Childbirth, breastfeeding, and menopause
Surgical trauma
Orthopedic injuries or traumas
Biomechanical or structural dysfunction (hip dysfunction, sacro-iliac joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome, scoliosis, leg length discrepancy)
Pelvic floor dysfunction
Pelvic organ prolapse
Constipation and gastrointestinal distress/bloating

Cause of bladder dysfunction

Repetitive urinary tract and yeast infections
Hormonal suppressive medications such as oral contraceptives, GnRH agonists (i.e. Lupron), acne medications
Childbirth, breastfeeding, and menopause
Surgical trauma
Orthopedic injuries or traumas
Biomechanical or structural dysfunction (hip dysfunction, sacro-iliac joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome, scoliosis, leg length discrepancy)
Pelvic floor dysfunction
Pelvic organ prolapse
Constipation and gastrointestinal distress/bloating

Diagnostic Challenges

Pelvic floor dysfunction can mimic the feelings of sexually transmitted infections and prostate and/or urinary tract and bladder infections which can lead to diagnostic confusion. It is common for people to feel certain they have an infection and then feel perplexed when the tests return normal. Bladder leaking is so common in women that it has become normalized, thereby making women less likely to seek help. Women are often told, “it’s because you just had a baby” or “it’s normal at your age”. Many men undergoing prostatectomy are unaware that up to 80% of men have post-surgical urinary incontinence. Regardless of your situation and underlying causes, an evaluation with a Ventura County pelvic floor physical and occupational therapists is beneficial.

Diagnostic Challenges

Pelvic floor dysfunction can mimic the feelings of sexually transmitted infections and prostate and/or urinary tract and bladder infections which can lead to diagnostic confusion. It is common for people to feel certain they have an infection and then feel perplexed when the tests return normal. Bladder leaking is so common in women that it has become normalized, thereby making women less likely to seek help. Women are often told, “it’s because you just had a baby” or “it’s normal at your age”. Many men undergoing prostatectomy are unaware that up to 80% of men have post-surgical urinary incontinence. Regardless of your situation and underlying causes, an evaluation with a Ventura County pelvic floor physical and occupational therapists is beneficial.

Treatment:

How We Can Help You

Those who suffer from bladder dysfunction should schedule an evaluation with our pelvic health experts to find the connection between your symptoms and pelvic floor dysfunction. Symptoms of bladder dysfunction can be caused by excessively tight or weakened pelvic muscles; muscles could also malfunction or become uncoordinated, preventing proper function. Historical practices that have been recommended for years, such as kegel exercises, can damage your pelvic floor if the muscles are excessively tight, which is why we recommend working with a pelvic health specialist to diagnose, treat, and prevent further issues. In some cases, you must lengthen the pelvic floor muscles before they can strengthen. During your pelvic health evaluation, the physical and occupational therapists will review past treatments, symptoms, and the effect of prior methods to find our starting point.

Our pelvic floor physical and occupational therapistss understand the difficulty most individuals go through before finding our clinic and the frustration that accompanies prolonged discomfort.

Treatment:

How We Can Help You

Those who suffer from bladder dysfunction should schedule an evaluation with our pelvic health experts to find the connection between your symptoms and pelvic floor dysfunction. Symptoms of bladder dysfunction can be caused by excessively tight or weakened pelvic muscles; muscles could also malfunction or become uncoordinated, preventing proper function. Historical practices that have been recommended for years, such as kegel exercises, can damage your pelvic floor if the muscles are excessively tight, which is why we recommend working with a pelvic health specialist to diagnose, treat, and prevent further issues. In some cases, you must lengthen the pelvic floor muscles before they can strengthen. During your pelvic health evaluation, the physical and occupational therapists will review past treatments, symptoms, and the effect of prior methods to find our starting point.

Our pelvic floor physical and occupational therapistss understand the difficulty most individuals go through before finding our clinic and the frustration that accompanies prolonged discomfort.

In your initial examination at PHRC in Ventura County, our physical and occupational therapistss will examine essential components including your muscles, nerves, tissues, movement patterns, and joints. After the exam has concluded, your specialist will review their findings with you and discuss the best options moving forward. An assessment is completed to explain how your symptoms developed, outlining short and long-term goals for your treatment plan. Typically, the frequency of physical and occupational therapy treatment is one to two times per week for roughly 12 weeks. You are given a home exercise program to complement your in-person sessions, and your physical and occupational therapists will help to coordinate your recovery with the other members of your treatment team. We are here to help you recover and live your best life!

CONTACT US

In your initial examination at PHRC in Ventura County, our physical and occupational therapistss will examine essential components including your muscles, nerves, tissues, movement patterns, and joints. After the exam has concluded, your specialist will review their findings with you and discuss the best options moving forward. An assessment is completed to explain how your symptoms developed, outlining short and long-term goals for your treatment plan. Typically, the frequency of physical and occupational therapy treatment is one to two times per week for roughly 12 weeks. You are given a home exercise program to complement your in-person sessions, and your physical and occupational therapists will help to coordinate your recovery with the other members of your treatment team. We are here to help you recover and live your best life!

CONTACT US