Pelvic Wall Therapy: Explore the Benefits and Find a Quality Provider Near You.
Pelvic wall therapy, also known as pelvic floor therapy has gained increased popularity in recent years. In the past 10 years there has been significant growth in research supporting its importance and benefits.
Pelvic wall physical therapy is a specific form of physical therapy that is targeted at the pelvic wall or the pelvic floor muscles.
The pelvic floor muscles are the muscles that sit in the bottom of the pelvis. Every person, regardless of age or gender has a pelvic floor and thus can receive pelvic wall therapy.
What types of conditions are treated at pelvic wall therapy?
Pelvic wall physical therapy addresses the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles are responsible for urination, bowel control, sexual function, and also support our deep core muscles. Therefore, patients struggling with hip and back pain should consider pelvic wall therapy as a means to manage their symptoms.
Patients that would benefit from pelvic wall therapy typically have the following symptoms:
Urinary symptoms such as leakage, urgency, and frequency
Bowel symptoms such as constipation, urgency, and leakage of gas or stool
Sexual symptoms such as inability to orgasm or pain with sex
Pain symptoms such as endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, or vaginismus
Orthopedic symptoms such as low back pain, hip pain, and tailbone pain
Pregnancy and postpartum related symptoms such as prolapse, diastasis recti, and core weakness
What happens at pelvic wall therapy?
Pelvic wall physical therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy. In traditional physical therapy, a physical therapist administers manual therapy including joint and soft tissue mobilizations, as well as teaches you exercises, and lifestyle modifications to help you manage your orthopedic/joint symptoms.
In pelvic wall therapy, a specialty trained physical (or occupational) therapist administers manual therapy including soft tissue mobilizations, joint mobilizations, and reviews exercises and lifestyle modifications that are targeted at the muscles that sit in and around the pelvis and pelvic wall.
Often, a big part of pelvic wall therapy includes an internal examination and possibly treatment. This is typically done through an intravaginal or intrarectal examination. Just as a physical therapist can do various hands on treatments to the muscles of your neck, or shoulder, a pelvic wall therapist can do hands on treatments to the muscles of the pelvic floor to help manage symptoms.
Internal treatment should always be supplemented by exercises and modifications of lifestyle factors.
What type of training does a pelvic wall therapist have?
In addition to being a licensed occupational or physical therapist, therapists that administer pelvic wall therapy take advanced coursework specific to the pelvic floor muscles and specific to pelvic wall therapy treatments.
Some of the main continuing education agencies that pelvic floor therapists receive training from are:
The Herman and Wallace Institute
The American Physical Therapy Association: Academy of Pelvic Health
You can also select from the list above to find a qualified provider of pelvic wall therapy near you.
In conclusion, pelvic wall therapy can benefit you greatly, especially if you are struggling with urinary, bowel, sexual concerns or pain around the pelvic bones.
