Physical therapists undergo advanced post-graduate education in pelvic floor anatomy and physiology to help meet the pelvic health needs of patients. Considering the field of physical therapy as a whole, pelvic floor physical therapy is a more recent, but quickly emerging field and we are excited to be part of it. While we have advanced training in pelvic health we are first and foremost physical therapists that take the entire body and mind into consideration.
We can help people recover from symptoms that stem from impairments in the musculoskeletal, nervous, reproductive, urologic, and gastrointestinal systems. Pelvic health symptoms generally fall into a few categories: bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction and pelvic pain. The symptoms may develop for many different reasons, including injury, trauma, surgery, medication-induced, pregnancy, and menopause, to just name a few. We recommend checking out the rest of our website for more specific information on the symptoms listed below.
Physical therapists undergo advanced post-graduate education in pelvic floor anatomy and physiology to help meet the pelvic health needs of patients. Considering the field of physical therapy as a whole, pelvic floor physical therapy is a more recent, but quickly emerging field and we are excited to be part of it. While we have advanced training in pelvic health we are first and foremost physical therapists that take the entire body and mind into consideration.
We can help people recover from symptoms that stem from impairments in the musculoskeletal, nervous, reproductive, urologic, and gastrointestinal systems. Pelvic health symptoms generally fall into a few categories: bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction and pelvic pain. The symptoms may develop for many different reasons, including injury, trauma, surgery, medication-induced, pregnancy, and menopause, to just name a few. We recommend checking out the rest of our website for more specific information on the symptoms listed below.
Symptoms
Bladder Symptoms
- Urinary urgency, frequency, hesitancy and pain in the absence of infection
- Weak urinary stream
- Leaking urine (incontinence)
- Urethra and bladder pain
- Pain before, during or after urination
- Nocturia (nighttime urination)
- Pediatric bed wetting (nocturnal enuresis)
Male Sexual Symptoms
- Erectile dysfunction: poor quality, inability to achieve erection, inability to maintain erection, premature ejaculation
- Decreased force or inability to ejaculate
- Climacturia (incontinence with orgasm)
- Post ejaculaory pain: tip and/or shaft of penis, perineum, scrotum
- Discoloration in penis/scrotum/perineum
Male Pelvic Pain Symptoms
- Burning, itching, aching, or other types of pain in the penis, scrotum, testicles, perineal and/or anal area
- Pain with sitting, certain types of exercises, and certain types of clothing
- Post ejaculatory pain in the penis, scrotum and/or perineum
- Gastrointestinal distress, bloating, and/or constipation
- Symptoms can be provoked, such as in response to ejaculation or exercise, or unprovoked and spontaneous
- Symptoms may be intermittent or constant
Bowel Symptoms
- Straining to evacuate stool
- Adult and pediatric constipation
- Need for excessive toilet paper
- Fecal and/or gas leakage and incontinence
- Hemorrhoids and fissures
- Pain before, during or after bowel movements
- Anal/rectal pain, burning or itching
Female Sexual Symptoms
- Inability or decreased ability to lubricate
- Pain upon vaginal penetration, with deep penetration only, and/or continuous pain with penetration
- Clitoral pain, hypersensitivity to touch
- Pain and/or burning after sexual contact
- Inability to orgasm, diminished orgasm
- Urinary incontinence during sexual activity
- Climacturia (incontinence with orgasm)
Female Pelvic Pain Symptoms
- Burning, itching, aching or other types of pain in the vulva, vagina, perineal, and/or anal area
- Pain with intercourse, hypersensitivity when wearing pants and/or underwear, and pain with sitting
- Exercise may provoke or exacerbate symptoms
- Abdominal bloating, gastrointestinal distress, and constipation
- Symptoms can be provoked, meaning with penetrative intercourse or tampon insertion, or unprovoked and spontaneous
- Symptoms can be intermittent or constant
Transgender Pelvic Health Symptoms
- Pain from surgical scars
- Pain with vaginal penetration
- Inability to achieve vaginal penetration
- Difficulty or inability to achieve orgasm
- Urinary dysfunction including urgency, frequency, hesitancy, incontinence and spraying
- Pelvic and low back pain
Treatment:
How We Can Help You
If you suffer from any of these symptoms, getting a pelvic health physical therapy evaluation is the right step towards recovery. During the evaluation, the physical therapist reviews your history and symptoms with you, what you have been diagnosed with in the past, the treatments you have undergone and how effective or not effective these treatments have been. Importantly, we understand what you have been going through and that most people are frustrated by the time they get to see us. During the physical examination the physical therapist examines muscles, tissues, joints, nerves, and movement patterns. Once the examination is complete your therapist reviews your findings with you. The physical therapist creates an assessment which explains how you developed your symptoms and creates short and long-term goals for your treatment plan. Typically, the frequency of physical therapy treatment is one to two times per week for roughly 12 weeks. You are given a home exercise program to compliment your in-person sessions, and your physical therapist 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!
Treatment:
How We Can Help You
If you suffer from any of these symptoms, getting a pelvic health physical therapy evaluation is the right step towards recovery. During the evaluation, the physical therapist reviews your history and symptoms with you, what you have been diagnosed with in the past, the treatments you have undergone and how effective or not effective these treatments have been. Importantly, we understand what you have been going through and that most people are frustrated by the time they get to see us. During the physical examination the physical therapist examines muscles, tissues, joints, nerves, and movement patterns. Once the examination is complete your therapist reviews your findings with you. The physical therapist creates an assessment which explains how you developed your symptoms and creates short and long-term goals for your treatment plan. Typically, the frequency of physical therapy treatment is one to two times per week for roughly 12 weeks. You are given a home exercise program to compliment your in-person sessions, and your physical therapist 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!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Columbus Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Columbus Pelvic Floor Therapy is an innovative approach within the realm of physical therapy, specializing in the rehabilitation of pelvic floor muscles following injury or dysfunction. Inspired by the exploratory spirit of Christopher Columbus, our therapy aims to navigate the intricate terrain of pelvic health, discovering and addressing issues that may have been uncharted or overlooked.
What to anticipate on your Columbus Pelvic Floor Therapy journey?
Embarking on your therapeutic adventure, your first stop is the evaluation appointment. Similar to Columbus meticulously planning his voyages, we commence our process with a thorough interview, delving into the patient’s history. This exploration enables us to grasp the origin of their pelvic floor concerns, the impact on their life, and their perception of dysfunction. Our interview serves as the compass guiding us through the complex map of pelvic health.
The subsequent examination mirrors Columbus’s methodical observations during his voyages. We visually inspect posture, alignment, and movement patterns, akin to surveying the landscapes encountered by Columbus. A manual evaluation ensues, navigating through the abdominal regions, inner thighs, bony pelvis, and buttocks—exploring the uncharted territories of myofascial trigger points, muscle tightness, joint dysfunction, and more.
Just as Columbus charted unknown waters, our internal pelvic floor muscle exam is a journey into unexplored depths. We assess muscle tone, trigger points, strength, and motor control, scrutinizing for diastasis recti, pelvic organ prolapse, and other subtleties. Our journey extends to screening the peripheral nerves, ensuring the integrity of vaginal and anal tissues, much like Columbus scrutinized the condition of his vessels.
As we navigate this therapeutic odyssey, short-term and long-term goals become our guiding stars. The duration of our treatment plan, spanning from weeks to months, echoes the meticulous planning required for successful expeditions. Incremental goals act as waypoints, leading to the realization of overarching objectives.
Finally, as the patient redresses, we, like Columbus returning from his voyages, review the discoveries made during the session. Clear communication is our compass, ensuring our patients comprehend the findings, our strategies for addressing concerns, and our collaboration with their other healthcare providers. Columbus Pelvic Floor Therapy: where exploration meets rehabilitation, guiding you through uncharted waters to pelvic health discovery.
What do they do in pelvic floor physical therapy?
In Columbus, pelvic floor physical therapy encompasses a range of techniques tailored to address issues within the pelvic girdle and pelvic floor muscles. Manual therapy methods, including connective tissue manipulation, external trigger point release, internal trigger point release, neural mobilizations, joint mobilizations, and neuromuscular re-education, are commonly utilized. Beyond muscles, we also consider daily postures, movements, breathing patterns, and behaviors in our approach. For example, if someone in Columbus is dealing with constipation, we delve into the reasons behind their difficulty, provide insights into addressing impairments, and offer guidance for at-home practices. The treatment approach may vary, with some individuals requiring more focus on neuromuscular control, while others may benefit more from manual therapy. Typically, manual therapy plays a crucial role in addressing pelvic pain, whereas coordination and strengthening exercises may be emphasized in post-operative rehabilitation or for those with low-tone pelvic floor disorders. However, hybrid situations exist and are handled accordingly.
How are treatments personalized in Columbus pelvic floor therapy sessions?
Each session in Columbus is customized based on individual needs. Following an initial assessment and your responses to specific questions, we prioritize areas we believe are key contributors to your limitations. This personalized approach means that one session may involve more manual therapy, while the next may focus on re-training habits, postures, and movements. It’s common for each treatment session to include some form of internal manual therapy or manual biofeedback, as these conditions often result in pelvic floor dysfunction. This hands-on approach allows us to gain a comprehensive understanding of how your pelvic floor muscles are functioning.
What is the cost of pelvic floor therapy in Columbus?
In Columbus, the cost of our services is $285 per hour for initial consultations and $255 per hour for follow-up sessions.
How does an initial consult for pelvic floor therapy in Columbus work?
During the initial consultation for pelvic floor therapy in Columbus, the first step is a comprehensive interview with the patient. We delve into their complete medical history, gaining insights into how they arrived at our Columbus office. This interview is crucial for understanding the impact of pelvic floor dysfunction on the patient’s life. It provides the background data needed to pinpoint the essential areas of the body for evaluation, recognizing that a full examination may not be feasible on the first day. The examination includes a visual assessment of posture, alignment, and movement patterns, followed by a manual evaluation of external structures, including the abdomen, inner thighs, bony pelvis (such as sit bones, pubic bones, hip bones), and buttocks. Palpation focuses on identifying myofascial trigger points, tight muscles, connective tissue restrictions, joint dysfunction, and side-to-side imbalances. The internal pelvic floor muscle exam assesses muscle tone, trigger points, strength, and motor control, covering aspects like diastasis recti, pelvic organ prolapse, skin lesions, and dermatologic changes. The evaluation also screens for irritability in the peripheral nerves of the pelvis, as well as the integrity of vaginal and anal tissues. Throughout this process, short-term and long-term goals are established for the patient. The duration of the physical therapy treatment plan varies, spanning from a few weeks to several months or longer, depending on the severity of the situation. We utilize short incremental goals to justify our treatments, with the achievement of these short-term goals collectively leading to the realization of the patient’s long-term goals. At the conclusion of the appointment and after the patient has redressed, we review the findings, ensuring that our patients in Columbus understand their diagnosis, our planned interventions, and how we collaborate with their other healthcare providers.
How to determine if you require pelvic floor therapy?
Pelvic floor therapy is designed to cater to a diverse range of individuals. If you’ve encountered any of the following issues, Columbus pelvic floor therapy might be the solution for you:
- 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, Anal/rectal pain, Post-ejaculatory pain)
- 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)
- Bowel dysfunction (Constipation, Hemorrhoids/fissures, Difficulty evacuating, Dyschezia/painful bowel movements, Fecal Incontinence, Anal pain, anal burning, Pelvic Organ Prolapse)
- 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, Pelvic Organ Prolapse)
- Currently pregnant or postpartum
- Going through post-surgical rehab (Pelvic reconstruction, Pudendal Nerve Decompression, Gender affirmation procedures, Laparotomy/laparoscopy, Prostatectomy, Cesarean section, Vestibulectomy, Hernia Repair)
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
What is involved in pelvic floor therapy?
Pelvic floor therapy encompasses a holistic approach to addressing a spectrum of symptoms and conditions associated with the pelvic region. Each session, lasting approximately an hour, reflects the thoroughness of the initial evaluation. During this phase, common questions from patients are carefully addressed to ensure clarity and understanding after their inaugural experience in Columbus. Subsequent sessions commence with a discussion about the symptoms experienced in the past week, integrating new exercises or habits, and evaluating any changes noted since the initial evaluation.
Thorough questioning about symptoms is a standard practice, tailoring the treatment to the unique needs of each individual. For instance, if someone reports pain during urination, the therapist will delve into the nature, intensity, duration, and effectiveness of prior treatments or exercises. These responses shape the focus of each session, ensuring a personalized approach that resonates with the individual’s journey in Columbus.
Treatment methods encompass an array of manual therapy techniques such as connective tissue manipulation, external and internal trigger point release, neural mobilizations, joint mobilizations, and neuromuscular re-education. While the emphasis is on the pelvic girdle and pelvic floor muscles, the therapy extends its reach to daily postures, movements, breathing patterns, and behaviors. A vivid example is addressing constipation, where understanding the difficulties and providing guidance on home-based interventions becomes crucial. The equilibrium between neuromuscular control and manual therapy is tailored to the distinctive condition of each individual in Columbus.
Sessions are dynamically tailored to individual responses, adapting based on initial progress. Shedding light on the most significant factors limiting progress, one session may prioritize more manual therapy, while the next may concentrate on habit, posture, and movement retraining. Internal manual therapy or biofeedback is often integrated as these conditions frequently involve some form of pelvic floor dysfunction, highlighting the personalized nature of therapy in Columbus.
In concluding a session, the patient’s home activities are reviewed, elucidating the focus areas and introducing new exercises or modifications to their program. As emphasized earlier, the patient’s commitment to at-home activities is integral to the recovery journey, underscoring the importance of their efforts both in the clinic and at home in Columbus.