Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Specialist

What is pelvic floor dysfunction?

Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when you’re unable to relax or control your pelvic floor muscles. This may affect your ability to control your bowel or bladder.

During a bowel movement or urination, your pelvic floor muscles relax to help you go. However, with pelvic floor dysfunction, your muscles tighten, which may make it harder for you to evacuate your bowels or maintain control over the contents of your bowel or bladder.

You may be at risk of developing pelvic floor dysfunction after an injury to the area or if the condition runs in your family. Pregnancy also is another common risk factor for pelvic floor dysfunction.

What are the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction?

Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction vary in type and severity. Common symptoms include:

• Frequent need to use the bathroom
• Feeling like you need to force urination or a bowel movement
• Constipation or straining during a bowel movement
• Pain when urinating
• Urinary or bowel incontinence
• Low back pain
• Pelvic pain

In men, pelvic floor dysfunction may contribute to the development of erectile dysfunction. In women, pelvic floor dysfunction may cause pelvic organ prolapse, which is when the pelvic organs fall into or out of the vagina.

What happens during a pelvic floor dysfunction consultation?

Pipeline Physical Therapy has a team of licensed doctors of physical therapy with specialized training in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction. Pipeline Physical Therapy treats many pelvic conditions, including:

• Urinary and fecal incontinence
• Pelvic pain, vulvodynia, and endometriosis
• Sexual health and dyspareunia
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Pregnancy and postpartum care
• Interstitial cystitis
• Post-op hysterectomy
• Post prostatectomy
• Urinary retention

During your initial consultation, your physical therapist conducts a comprehensive assessment, gathering information about your symptoms, medical history, surgical history, bowel and bladder habits, and sexual function. 

Your physical therapist then performs an external and internal digital pelvic floor muscle examination to assess muscle tone, strength, and coordination, as well as look for areas of pain or tenderness.  

How can physical therapy help pelvic floor dysfunction?

After your examination, your dedicated physical therapist develops an individualized treatment plan that focuses on restoring normal pelvic floor muscle function. 

Your plan may include exercises for the pelvic floor and other core muscles, as well as biofeedback to help you retrain and regain control over your muscles. 

Pelvic floor dysfunction is common, but with the right care, you can regain control over your pelvic muscles and organs. There are very few specialists in North San Diego that provide care for incontinence and pelvic pain, but Pipeline Physical Therapy specializes in it. 

For a patient-centered approach to pelvic floor dysfunction, call Pipeline Physical Therapy, or book an appointment online today.