If you have been diagnosed with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), you will be glad to know that Emerson Health has a team of pelvic health specialists — physical therapists who specialize in pelvic floor health — who can help.
In fact, pelvic floor dysfunction is a very treatable condition, usually through a combination of physical therapy treatment techniques. Importantly, you do not have to live with PFD. Emerson’s certified pelvic health specialists can help treat PFD-related conditions such as:
- Bladder problems: incontinence, urgency/frequency, difficulty urinating, bed wetting, and problems related to treatment for prostate or other pelvic cancer
- Bowel problems: fecal incontinence and constipation
- Pelvic pain: pain in the vagina, vulva, rectum, bladder, abdomen, tail bone (coccyx), pudendal neuralgia, endometriosis, and pain with sexual intercourse
- Pelvic organ prolapse: recovery or problems before or after pelvic surgery
- Prenatal: pelvic pain, back pain, or bladder problems
- Postpartum recovery: bladder problems, bowel problems, vaginal pain, abdominal pain, pain or problems related to cesarean section, pain or problems related to vaginal birth, diastasis rectus abdominus, prolapse prevention, core weakness and rehabilitation
Our trained team of therapists treat women, men, and children for PFD. Based on an initial evaluation, treatment may include pelvic floor muscle coordination training, bladder and bowel training, dietary modifications, external and/or internal myofascial release, biofeedback, postural awareness, safe body mechanics with daily tasks, abdominal strengthening, hip strengthening, and core muscle coordination.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
The first visit will take approximately 60 minutes in a clean, private treatment room. A certified pelvic health physical therapist will take your health history and perform an examination to determine the cause of your symptoms. Part of your examination may include an internal manual exam to most accurately assess your pelvic floor muscles and give you specific recommendations for exercise.
Frequently asked questions
- What should I wear? Wear comfortable clothing that you can move in easily.
- I am a new mom. Can I bring my baby to my appointment? Yes, you are of course welcome to bring your baby! However, you may find that you can focus better on treatment if you are able to find childcare during your appointment.
- How long will treatment take? That depends on your symptoms. Every person is different! Most patients recover after six to twelve visits.
- Do I need a prescription from my doctor to come to pelvic floor physical therapy? We request prescriptions for all our patients.
- Do I need to do an internal examination? No. If you prefer, we can treat you by doing an external examination only. However, an internal vaginal or rectal examination gives us the most accurate information about what is causing your symptoms. In order for us to fully understand what is causing your symptoms and prescribe the right exercises, we must first complete a comprehensive examination. Otherwise, the exercises we recommend might make your symptoms worse.
- Can I come to my appointment if I have my period? Yes. If you prefer to avoid certain parts of your treatment while you are menstruating, we can do so.
Pelvic Health Resources
Visit our Pelvic Health Resources page for links to helpful documents, instructional videos, and a podcast on addressing pelvic floor disfunction.
