Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy After Childbirth
- Posted on: Apr 6 2023
You have probably heard of physical therapy for an injured knee or a sore back. But did you know that there is physical therapy (PT) designed for your pelvic floor? Pelvic floor physical therapists are specialists who help you re-train the muscles in your pelvic floor to work the way they should.
Throughout pregnancy and childbirth, your pelvic floor experiences so many changes; it’s stretched as it supports your growing uterus and baby, and the muscles of your pelvic floor can be damaged or torn during the process of delivering the baby.
Should I see a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist?
If you have been experiencing any symptoms after delivery such as:
- Frequent or urgent urination
- Leaking urine or stool (this is also called incontinence)
- Lower back or pelvic pain
- Pain with sexual intercourse
you may benefit from working with a pelvic floor physical therapist.
Rather than treating these symptoms on your own, a physical therapist will be able to identify the specific causes of your symptoms; this is important because the symptoms you’re experiencing could be caused by different things. For example, if you’re experiencing pelvic pain, it could be from stretched out pelvic floor muscles or it could be from muscles that are too tight and won’t relax. And these problems are treated very differently, so it’s necessary to be evaluated by a professional.
You can let your healthcare provider know as early as your first postpartum appointment if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, and they can refer you to a pelvic floor physical therapist. And even if you aren’t experiencing specific symptoms after childbirth, you can still talk to your healthcare provider about seeing a pelvic floor PT.
What Can a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist Do to Help?
Your pelvic floor physical therapist will perform an exam to help identify the problems with your pelvic floor. They then may have you do exercises to help re-coordinate your pelvic floor muscles, have you do strength training exercises or relaxation exercises. Pelvic floor physical therapists often use a technique called biofeedback, which uses sensors to monitor how your pelvic floor muscles are behaving, and this can guide your movements to improve muscle coordination.
Oftentimes, your physical therapist will give you exercises to complete at home in order to continue improving the pelvic floor.
Postpartum physical therapy will typically last for 3-4 months, but this is dependent on your own personal recovery and will vary person to person.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, contact us here today!
References
- “Pelvic Floor Dysfunction”, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic. 26 May 2020.
- “When to Start Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy After Birth” Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness, PA.
Posted in: Women's Health