Pelvic Floor Rehab

Melanie realized there was a need in northeast Louisiana for pelvic floor rehab in 2009. Since then, Melanie and her team have taken numerous continuing education classes focusing on this area, and including the use of biofeedback for retraining the pelvic floor muscles. This retraining is useful for strengthening the muscles in both male and female patients for decreasing urinary and fecal incontinence. In particular, men after prostatectomy and women as they age and with the effects of gravity, find themselves leaking with coughing, straining or sneezing. Urge incontinence is also a problem where the patient leaks as they make their way to the restroom, unable to hold. There are some simple but effective techniques that show immediate results. Additionally, pelvic pain is a real problem that can affect intimacy and is often fairly easily treated with manual therapy and a home program. Biofeedback is used to give the patient information regarding the resting tone of their pelvic floor muscles. This resting tone may be too high, thus producing pain, much like tight muscles of the shoulders can produce a headache. Or, the muscles can be low tone and weak, thus leakage occurs. A thorough evaluation will provide the necessary information for a customized plan of care.

At Melanie Massey Physical Therapy, we specialize in the treatment and management of Pelvic Floor Disorders such as:

• Urinary Incontinence
• Urinary Retention
• Pain with Urination
• Pain with Intimacy
• Intercystital Cystitis
• Vulvas Vestibulitis
• Pundendal Neuralgia
• Constipation
• Fecal Incontinence
• Gas Control
• Diastasis Recti 
• Prolapse
• Pregnancy / Postpartum 

-There are a group of muscles that create your pelvic floor. These muscles act as a hammock for your bladder and other pelvic organs. These muscles play a vital role in proper functioning of those structures.  If these muscles are too weak, you may notice the inability to control an urge and/or the inability to stay dry with coughing, sneezing, or bending over. A good test is to note if you have the ability to stop the flow of urine midstream. If this muscle is too tight, you may notice that when you void, you immediately feel like you have to go again or make frequent trips to the bathroom throughout the day and night.

Pelvic pain disorders can affect women (and men) in different ways. It can limit a person’s ability to be intimate with their partner, wear tight clothing, or even sit for long periods of time. Pain can also cause problems with urination and bowel movements.

There is a muscle that lies below your vagina and other pelvic organs that plays a vital role in the proper functioning of those structures. This muscle can develop trigger points or “knots” in it just like any other muscle in your body. Also, this muscle may become tight or scarred down causing nerve entrapment in which you may experience burning or sharp pains. This can also lead to low back pain, groin pain, or hip pain that traditional therapy has been unable to resolve. This pain could be originating in your pelvic floor.

Bowel disorders can be very disruptive to a person’s quality of life. If you suffer with bowel issues such as constipation, fecal incontinence, or poor gas control you probably live your life around these problems. There are muscles and other pelvic organs that play a vital role in the proper functioning of those structures. If this muscle is too tight you may notice that you have to strain with a bowel movement or have difficulty managing constipation even with the use of medications. If this muscle is too weak you may notice with bowel dysfunction are difficulty cleaning after a bowel movement, leaking in between bowel movements, and/or pain with a bowel movement.

If you have tried medications and they do not work for you or you would rather not be dependent on medication, Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation may be the answer. Our therapists have specialized knowledge to identify the exact cause of your bladder control issues and treat them effectively with a program custom designed for you. If you have questions about this treatment and how specifically it could help you, out therapists welcome your call.