NOVEMBER 2017 The Therapy Bulletin The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body “We Provide Personal Care For Personal Issues!” INCONTINENCE, CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN & PHYSICAL THERAPY
A physical therapist is highly skilled in evaluating and treating various musculoskeletal and neurological conditionsaffecting thebody.Thisprofession focuses onassessinganyunderlying factors,suchasstrength, neuromuscularcontrol,balance,coordination,skeletal alignment,andendurance,whichmaybecontributing to impaired functional mobility, activity participation, and quality of life. Of course, most people only seek physical therapywhen they’resuffering fromacommon injury or condition such as whiplash, tendonitis, low back pain, ligament sprains, and plantar fasciitis. Perhaps lesser known is that chronic pelvic pain and dysfunction, including incontinence,canalso respond positively to physical therapy intervention. Causes Of Incontinence And Chronic Pelvic Pain If you have pain in your pelvis, it may not always be fully clear what’s causing it. Some common causes of pelvic floor dysfunction and chronic pelvic pain include, but are not limited to:
• Pregnancy • Sacroiliac joint dysfunction • Coccydynia • Irritation of the pudendal nerve (which originates near the bottom of your spine) • Irritable bowel syndrome • Levator ani syndrome (increased tension in pelvic floor muscles) • Post-surgical complications (e.g., pain following a hysterectomy, hernia repair, cesarean section, and/ or prostatectomy) Any of these conditions may lead to inadequate supportof theorganscontainedwithyourpelviccavity, increasedpressureor inflammationofnerves,muscles, andotherconnective tissues (includingyourbladder), and impairedpelvicbonealignment.Thesesymptoms canbe frustrating,painful,andembarrassing,andmay limit your tolerance to daily participation in desired activities, including exercise.
Other symptoms frequently appear with pelvic pain, including incontinence,bloating,abdominalpressure, reluctance tostrainwhiledefecating,andpain in the low back,buttocks,andhips.Youmayalsohavedecreased tolerance to a variety of activities including sitting or standing, walking, exercise, and sexual intercourse. How A Physical Therapist Can Treat Pelvic Pain Every patient presenting with chronic pelvic pain is unique. Ifyoucome toseeaphysical therapist foryour pelvicdysfunction, you’ll be taken through a thorough physicalexaminationandpatienthistoryquestionnaire. He or she will ask you specific questions about your pain, what makes it worse and better, and whether you havea history of any related issues. Based on the resultsof theexamination,yourphysical therapistcan then develop a customized treatment plan to relieve yoursymptomsandaddress thesuspectedunderlying causes to prevent recurring dysfunction.
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