By PHRC Admin Team
Pelvic health is a critical aspect of overall well-being, yet it was often overlooked in the past. Today, we recognize the importance of this specialized field of medicine and the impact it has on millions of lives. Let’s take a trip back in time to explore how the field of pelvic health came to be.
The Early Days: Research and Awareness
The foundations of modern pelvic health can be traced back to the late 20th century when researchers began investigating the importance of pelvic floor muscles and their effect on various health issues. This increased awareness led to the development of specialized training and certification programs for healthcare professionals focusing on pelvic health.
One notable pioneer in this field was Dr. Arnold Kegel, who introduced the concept of pelvic floor exercises in the 1940s. His research on the effectiveness of these exercises for treating urinary incontinence laid the groundwork for future advancements in pelvic health.
The Women’s Health Movement: A Catalyst for Change
The women’s health movement of the 1960s and 1970s played a pivotal role in bringing attention to women’s unique health needs, including those related to pelvic health. This movement broke down barriers and shed light on topics that were often considered taboo, leading to the development of new treatments and therapies for female patients.
For example, during this period, biofeedback emerged as a valuable tool for helping women regain control over their pelvic floor muscles. This technique uses sensors to provide real-time feedback on muscle activity, allowing patients to better understand and control their body movements.
Addressing the Needs of an Aging Population
As life expectancy increased, so did the prevalence of age-related health issues, including those related to pelvic health. Healthcare professionals recognized the need to address these problems in older adults and began incorporating pelvic health care into geriatric medicine.
This shift led to the development of new therapies and treatments designed specifically for the unique needs of older patients, such as pelvic floor muscle training, bladder retraining, and electrical stimulation.
A Multidisciplinary Approach: The Birth of Comprehensive Pelvic Health Care
Over time, it became clear that a comprehensive approach to pelvic health was necessary. This realization led to the collaboration of various medical professionals, including urologists, gynecologists, colorectal surgeons, and physical therapists, to provide holistic care for patients with pelvic health concerns.
This multidisciplinary approach has been instrumental in improving patient outcomes and addressing complex issues related to pelvic health, such as chronic pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, and postpartum recovery.
The Future of Pelvic Health: Continuing the Journey
Today, the pelvic health field is well-established and continues to evolve as new research emerges. It plays a crucial role in addressing a range of health issues for both men and women, helping to improve the quality of life for countless individuals.
As we look to the future, it’s essential to continue prioritizing pelvic health research, education, and awareness. By doing so, we can help ensure that this vital field of medicine remains at the forefront of healthcare, providing hope and healing for those who need it most.
What is the Importance of PFPT?
Pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) is a specialty of physical therapy dedicated to the assessment and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction. It can help alleviate symptoms of urinary incontinence, constipation, pain with intercourse and more. PFPT has become increasingly important in recent years as more research has been done on the causes and treatments associated with pelvic floor dysfunction.
Understanding how to properly assess and treat each patient’s specific condition is key to successful PFPT treatment plans. This involves using techniques such as myofascial release, biofeedback and exercises tailored specifically for each patient. Additionally, modalities like electrical stimulation or ultrasound may be used to reduce pain associated with weakness or tightness in core muscles.
For many people, PFPT can have positive long-term effects on their quality of life through improved functioning of their pelvic floor muscles and reduction or elimination of painful symptoms. Those who are prenatal or postpartum can also benefit from early assessment and treatment as it can help avoid complications down the road as well as providing relief from existing conditions.
Overall, PFPT offers a great opportunity for those suffering from pelvic floor dysfunction to get relief from their symptoms while improving their overall health and quality of life. It is an important specialty that should not be overlooked when seeking treatment options for pelvic floor issues.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Are you unable to come see us in person in the Bay Area, Southern California or New England? We offer virtual physical therapy appointments too!
Virtual sessions are available with PHRC pelvic floor physical therapists via our video platform, Zoom, or via phone. For more information and to schedule, please visit our digital healthcare page.
Do you enjoy or blog and want more content from PHRC? Please head over to social media!
FAQ
What are pelvic floor muscles?
The pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that run from the coccyx to the pubic bone. They are part of the core, helping to support our entire body as well as providing support for the bowel, bladder and uterus. These muscles help us maintain bowel and bladder control and are involved in sexual pleasure and orgasm. The technical name of the pelvic floor muscles is the Levator Ani muscle group. The pudendal nerve, the levator ani nerve, and branches from the S2 – S4 nerve roots innervate the pelvic floor muscles. They are under voluntary and autonomic control, which is a unique feature only they possess compared to other muscle groups.
What is pelvic floor physical therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized area of physical therapy. Currently, physical therapists need advanced post-graduate education to be able to help people with pelvic floor dysfunction because pelvic floor disorders are not yet being taught in standard physical therapy curricula. The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center provides extensive training for our staff because we recognize the limitations of physical therapy education in this unique area.
What happens at pelvic floor therapy?
During an evaluation for pelvic floor dysfunction the physical therapist will take a detailed history. Following the history the physical therapist will leave the room to allow the patient to change and drape themselves. The physical therapist will return to the room and using gloved hands will perform an external and internal manual assessment of the pelvic floor and girdle muscles. The physical therapist will once again leave the room and allow the patient to dress. Following the manual examination there may also be an examination of strength, motor control, and overall biomechanics and neuromuscular control. The physical therapist will then communicate the findings to the patient and together with their patient they establish an assessment, short term and long term goals and a treatment plan. Typically people with pelvic floor dysfunction are seen one time per week for one hour for varying amounts of time based on the severity and chronicity of the disease. A home exercise program will be established and the physical therapist will help coordinate other providers on the treatment team. Typically patients are seen for 3 months to a year.
What is pudendal neuralgia and how is it treated?
Pudendal Neuralgia is a clinical diagnosis that means pain in the sensory distribution of the pudendal nerve. The pudendal nerve is a mixed nerve that exits the S2 – S4 sacral nerve roots, we have a right and left pudendal nerve and each side has three main trunks: the dorsal branch, the perineal branch, and the inferior rectal branch. The branches supply sensation to the clitoris/penis, labia/scrotum, perineum, anus, the distal ⅓ of the urethra and rectum, and the vulva and vestibule. The nerve branches also control the pelvic floor muscles. The pudendal nerve follows a tortuous path through the pelvic floor and girdle, leaving it vulnerable to compression and tension injuries at various points along its path.
Pudendal Neuralgia occurs when the nerve is unable to slide, glide and move normally and as a result, people experience pain in some or all of the above-mentioned areas. Pelvic floor physical therapy plays a crucial role in identifying the mechanical impairments that are affecting the nerve. The physical therapy treatment plan is designed to restore normal neural function. Patients with pudendal neuralgia require pelvic floor physical therapy and may also benefit from medical management that includes pharmaceuticals and procedures such as pudendal nerve blocks or botox injections.
What is interstitial cystitis and how is it treated?
Interstitial Cystitis is a clinical diagnosis characterized by irritative bladder symptoms such as urinary urgency, frequency, and hesitancy in the absence of infection. Research has shown the majority of patients who meet the clinical definition have pelvic floor dysfunction and myalgia. Therefore, the American Urologic Association recommends pelvic floor physical therapy as first-line treatment for Interstitial Cystitis. Patients will benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy and may also benefit from pharmacologic management or medical procedures such as bladder instillations.
Who is the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Team?
The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center was founded by Elizabeth Akincilar and Stephanie Prendergast in 2006, they have been treating people with pelvic floor disorders since 2001. They were trained and mentored by a medical doctor and quickly became experts in treating pelvic floor disorders. They began creating courses and sharing their knowledge around the world. They expanded to 11 locations in the United States and developed a residency style training program for their employees with ongoing weekly mentoring. The physical therapists who work at PHRC have undergone more training than the majority of pelvic floor physical therapists and as a result offer efficient and high quality care.
How many years of experience do we have?
Stephanie and Liz have 24 years of experience and help each and every team member become an expert in the field through their training and mentoring program.
Why PHRC versus anyone else?
PHRC is unique because of the specific focus on pelvic floor disorders and the leadership at our company. We are constantly lecturing, teaching, and staying ahead of the curve with our connections to medical experts and emerging experts. As a result, we are able to efficiently and effectively help our patients restore their pelvic health.
Do we treat men for pelvic floor therapy?
The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center is unique in that the Cofounders have always treated people of all genders and therefore have trained the team members and staff the same way. Many pelvic floor physical therapists focus solely on people with vulvas, this is not the case here.
Do I need pelvic floor therapy forever?
The majority of people with pelvic floor dysfunction will undergo pelvic floor physical therapy for a set amount of time based on their goals. Every 6 -8 weeks goals will be re-established based on the physical improvements and remaining physical impairments. Most patients will achieve their goals in 3 – 6 months. If there are complicating medical or untreated comorbidities some patients will be in therapy longer.