Pelvic Health

Overview

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissue that acts as a sling at the bottom of the pelvic girdle and plays a vital role in supporting the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. These muscles are essential for a variety of physiological functions including urination, defecation, sexual function, and pregnancy/childbirth. Pelvic Health Physical Therapy is a specialized approach that involves assessment and treatment of symptoms related to the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues in the pelvic area, often including the low back, abdomen/core, and hips. Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect people of all ages and genders. Some common diagnoses that we treat include bladder and/or bowel incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, and conditions affecting pregnancy and postpartum recovery. Coordination of care between your physician and physical therapist can help reduce your pain and improve your function.

The Clinic

At WashU Medicine Physical Therapy, our specialized physical therapists will help you understand the root cause of your pelvic floor dysfunction. By performing a systematic movement and pelvic floor exam, our therapists can provide comprehensive care to treat the movement impairments contributing to your pelvic, urinary, bowel, or pelvic girdle symptoms.

Pelvic floor disorders can be caused by a wide range of issues, including:

• Pregnancy/postpartum
• Pelvic/abdominal surgeries
• Urinary or bowel dysfunction
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Chronic pain conditions
• Low back and/or hip pain
• Sport-related injuries

Pelvic floor physical therapy can give you better control over these symptoms and get you back to doing the things you enjoy.

Your Visit

When you are experiencing pelvic pain, difficulty with sex, or bladder and bowel dysfunction, it can be embarrassing or even frustrating to discuss your symptoms and can prevent you from living the life you want. By providing one-on-one care in a safe and private environment, our WashU Medicine Physical Therapists will work to develop the right plan of care to meet your individual needs.

Our specialty-trained clinicians will complete a thorough movement assessment evaluation that is tailored to your specific concerns. This evaluation may include assessing your low back, hips, abdomen, and pelvic floor muscles. Please wear loose-fitting clothing that allows you to move freely.

A pelvic exam is often offered to better understand your symptoms and can assess weakness, tightness, or coordination difficulties of your pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic exams may be internal and/or external assessments and are optional based on your preference. Our examination involves assessing the muscles, ligaments, and nerves of your pelvic region, spine, and hips. Your therapist will also review your body alignment and movement. Based on your unique needs, you will receive an individualized therapeutic exercises program and activity counseling.

Pelvic Health Physical Therapy can help you:

• Feel confident throughout your pregnancy and postpartum journey
• Return to exercise or daily activities without leakage
• Manage your bladder and bowel urgency
• Decrease or eliminate the use of pads
• Reduce or eliminate pain with intercourse
• Improve core and pelvic floor strength to address pelvic heaviness, pressure, or swelling
• Decrease pelvic pain (including vaginal, penile, testicle, rectal) with positioning and movement

Service Locations