What is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
Watch Dr. Laney Romero explain what pelvic floor dysfunction is, the symptoms it can cause, including pelvic pain, bladder leakage, constipation, and pain during intimacy and how pelvic health physical therapy can help.
Understanding Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Symptoms, Causes, and How Physical Therapy Can Help
Pelvic floor dysfunction is a broad term used to describe abnormal function of the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles may be too tight, too weak, or have difficulty coordinating properly to support your bladder, bowel, core, and pelvic organs.
While many people assume pelvic floor dysfunction is caused by weak muscles, overactive or tight pelvic floor muscles are actually one of the most common problems I see in the clinic. When these muscles can't fully relax, they have a harder time coordinating with the rest of your body, which can contribute to pain, bladder and bowel symptoms, and difficulty with everyday movement.
Your pelvic floor and core muscles work together to stabilize your body throughout the day. Before focusing on strengthening these muscles, we first need to improve their ability to relax, coordinate, and function the way they're designed to.
Who Is at Risk for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect people of all ages and stages of life. Some of the most common risk factors include:
- Pregnancy and postpartum recovery
- Hypermobility
- Chronic stress
- Chronic straining with bowel movements
- High-impact sports and repetitive exercise
- Trauma or injury to the pelvis or abdomen
- Weakness or instability in the hips or legs
What Are the Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
Because the pelvic floor supports several different body systems, symptoms can vary from person to person. Common symptoms include:
- Urinary leakage, urgency, or frequent trips to the bathroom
- Pelvic pressure or heaviness associated with pelvic organ prolapse
- Pain during intimacy or discomfort with tampon or menstrual cup insertion
- Constipation, difficulty emptying your bowels, or bowel incontinence
- Pelvic pain, lower abdominal pain, hip pain, tailbone pain, or low back pain that hasn't improved with traditional treatment
How Can Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Help?
Pelvic health physical therapy focuses on identifying the underlying cause of your symptoms rather than simply treating them.
During your evaluation, we'll assess your pelvic floor muscles to determine how well they relax, coordinate, and function during movement. We'll also discuss the factors contributing to your symptoms so we can develop a treatment plan that's specific to your goals and lifestyle.
Treatment may include:
- Improving pelvic floor muscle coordination and relaxation
- Hands-on manual therapy techniques
- Breathing and movement retraining
- Individualized exercises to restore strength and stability
- Education, stress management strategies, and tools to help manage pain and improve long-term function
Every treatment plan is personalized because no two people experience pelvic floor dysfunction in exactly the same way.
When Should You Seek Help?
If you're experiencing bladder leakage, constipation, pelvic pain, pain during intimacy, pelvic pressure, or other symptoms that don't seem to be improving, a pelvic health physical therapy evaluation can help determine whether pelvic floor dysfunction is contributing to the problem.
The earlier these issues are addressed, the easier they often are to treat, but it's never too late to get help. Whether your symptoms started recently or you've been living with them for years, pelvic health physical therapy can help you move more comfortably and confidently.
– Dr. Laney Romero
Common Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Bladder Problems
Pelvic Pain
Bowel Dysfunction
Pain During Intimacy
Pelvic Pressure
When Should You Seek Help for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect your bladder, bowel, core, and quality of life, but it isn't something you have to simply live with. Consider scheduling a pelvic health physical therapy evaluation if you're experiencing:
- Urinary leakage, urgency, frequency, or difficulty emptying your bladder
- Constipation, straining during bowel movements, or difficulty fully emptying your bowels
- Pelvic pain, tailbone pain, hip pain, or low back pain that hasn't improved
- Pain during intimacy, tampon insertion, or pelvic exams
Many people experience significant improvement with pelvic health physical therapy, even if they've been living with symptoms for months or years.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when the pelvic floor muscles don't work the way they're supposed to. They may be too tight, too weak, or have difficulty coordinating properly. Because these muscles support your bladder, bowel, core, and pelvic organs, dysfunction can contribute to symptoms like urinary leakage, constipation, pelvic pain, pelvic pressure, and pain during intimacy.
Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect everyone differently. Common symptoms include bladder leakage, urinary urgency or frequency, constipation, straining during bowel movements, pelvic pain, tailbone pain, hip pain, low back pain, pelvic pressure, and pain during intimacy. If you're experiencing one or more of these symptoms, a pelvic health physical therapy evaluation can help determine whether your pelvic floor muscles are contributing to the problem.
Yes. Pelvic health physical therapy is one of the most effective conservative treatments for pelvic floor dysfunction. Treatment focuses on improving pelvic floor muscle coordination, reducing muscle tension, restoring strength and stability, and addressing the underlying causes of your symptoms. Every treatment plan is personalized to your needs, goals, and lifestyle.
In North Carolina, many patients can begin physical therapy through Direct Access without first seeing a physician. If your symptoms require additional medical evaluation, we'll work with your healthcare provider to make sure you receive the most appropriate care. If you're unsure where to start, we're happy to answer your questions and help guide you.
Prosper Physical Therapy Specialists
100 Regency Forest Dr, Ste 130Cary, NC
27518-8597 View Staff & Treatments