Pelvic Floor Therapy
Improve the strength and function of your pelvic floor muscles with specialized pelvic floor physical therapy for women and men at VHC Health in Arlington and the DC Metro area.
What's the Pelvic Floor?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support the bladder and rectum, help control urine and stool, and help maintain sexual function. When these muscles are weakened or damaged, it can cause bowel problems, urine leakage, chronic pain or pressure, and sexual side effects.
Pelvic floor problems are often treatable. Physical therapy can help strengthen these muscles and improve symptoms. The sooner you get help, the better your results typically are.
Conditions Therapy Can Treat
Your doctor may recommend pelvic floor physical therapy if you experience:
- Abdominal muscle separation or bulging (diastasis recti)
- Constipation
- Genital pain
- Incontinence
- Pelvic floor muscle tightness or spasms (levator ani syndrome and anismus)
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Pelvic pain and alignment problems (pubic symphysis
- Pregnancy-related muscle and joint pain
- Recovery from procedures such as bladder suspension surgery, episiotomy, hysterectomy, pelvic organ prolapse repair or prostatectomy
- Sacroiliac joint pain, where your spine connects to your pelvis
- Vaginal or vulvar pain
Your First Appointment
During your first visit, a pelvic floor physical therapist will:
- Ask about your symptoms
- Examine you externally, and possibly internally
- Provide education about urinary or bowel dysfunction and pain
- Discuss your care plan and the role of pelvic floor rehabilitation
All treatments are done in a private treatment room.
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Services
Your care plan may include:
- Biofeedback – Uses special sensors and a computer to give you cues about muscle activity to help you learn how to correctly contract and relax pelvic floor muscles
- Dry needling – Uses fine, flexible, sterile needles to release muscles to decrease pain and improve range of motion and function
- Home exercises – Strengthen pelvic floor muscles
- Real-time ultrasound therapy – Shows how your pelvic floor muscles move, contract and relax
For optimal recovery, follow your therapist's care plan recommendations.
