Pelvic health and rehabilitation has been gaining a lot of awareness recently, especially for women who are post-partum. The pelvic floor is an important muscle group that serves to support your entire core, in both men and women, and are used without awareness daily. What is not top of mind for most people, is how we use these muscles and how they could be related to pain or discomfort predominately in the back.
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Can Be Very Beneficial to Men, Too
Men that experience chronic pelvic pain, tight hips or discomfort after surgeries, like hernia repairs, could benefit from pelvic floor rehabilitation and may experience relief from pain or discomfort. Patients that come to Spooner Physical Therapy for pelvic floor rehabilitation are looking for answers to figure out what is causing their pain and generally they have been living with a dysfunction for many years after a surgery. In their search, they may have seen many doctors before being referred to a physical therapist that specializes in pelvic floor rehabilitation. Common complaints of discomfort amongst men include inflammation, penile pain, discomfort when urinating and low back pain.
It is important to remember with pelvic floor rehabilitation that much of the pain related to the pelvic floor is referred pain. This means you may feel pain when you’re sitting down, have challenges with sexual function or even have chronic hip pain. Majority of people are not aware that it could be coming from your pelvic floor muscles. A pelvic floor certified therapist can help you pinpoint the source of the pain and create a treatment plan that will result in a positive outcome.
What Will I Experience With Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation?
At your initial examination, a Spooner physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor rehabilitation will review your health history with you. Next they will need to get a better understanding of when you feel pain and an idea of your day to day lifestyle. An anatomy exam will go into more depth of how your hips, back and overall fascia structure in order to understand how it plays into your concerns. This also includes examining your posture when you’re standing and sitting, as well as what your range of motion is like.
From there, the therapist will perform a manual exam where they will cover you with a sheet and manually work the muscles in your body. An internal exam is not necessarily required, but it will help provide an understanding of your pelvic floor muscles and provide education on what is found. The therapist will be looking to understand your pain levels and areas of tightness, which is especially helpful in creating a baseline report of where you are at the beginning of your treatment plan and compare to as you progress.
Next, you’ll discuss your therapy goals and your therapist will create a personalized plan of care that will include home exercises. Everyone responds to treatment differently. Your treatment may take a few weeks, or it could take several months. It depends on the severity of your pain and your goals.
Take Charge of Your Health
You are your advocate for your health, and this means you can choose a therapy route that you feel comfortable with. If you’re experiencing unusual pain—while sitting, urinating, post-surgery and so on—and a doctor has not been able to help you, we invite you to come to Spooner Physical Therapy for a complimentary consultation at any time.
Learn more about Pelvic Health at Spooner Physical Therapy. Ready to schedule an appointment? Schedule an appointment or complimentary movement screen with a Spooner physical therapist at one of our locations throughout the valley.