Pelvic Health Physical Therapy The Way It Should Be…

One-Hour  :  1-on-1 Care  :  Wholly Focused on You!

What is Pelvic Health Physical Therapy?

Many people struggle in silence as they deal with the debilitating pain, stress, anxiety, and sometimes embarrassing issues that accompany pelvic pain. This includes sexual dysfunction, incontinence, bowel health, impacts of pregnancy (pre & postpartum), and various other pelvic floor issues. If this is you, know that there is hope. We can help you restore function and optimize how you feel and live in your body. 

The pelvic floor is not an isolated part of the human body. Research has consistently proven that it is an essential part of the health and wellness of the entire body. In addition to the obvious side effects of pelvic floor dysfunction, it can also cause or contribute to lower back pain, hip, knee, and lower extremity pain, breathing disorders, gastro-intestinal disorders, etc.

At IPA Physio we utilize Functional Manual Therapy® to assess and treat the whole body, not just the pelvis. You can rest assured that we will view whatever brings you to us through the holistic lens of your entire integrated movement system, not just an isolated part.

The pelvis (and the pelvic floor) is the connecting piece between the trunk and legs, and is an essential part of strength and movement. In order to perform activities such as pushing, pulling, lifting, walking, sitting, and standing, without pain and with sufficient strength, the pelvic floor needs to function efficiently with the rest of the body.

What We Treat

At IPA Physio, we spend one hour, one-on-one with each patient, which allows us to fully understand our patients’ problems and who they are as individuals.Our primary goal is to assist clients in reinstating optimal function of their bodies.

Urinary & Bowel Problems

Urinary Incontinence / Urgency / frequency
Difficulty urinating / urinary retention
Overactive Bladder
Constipation

Pain & Sexual Dysfunction

Sacroiliac / low back / hip pain
Pain with sex
Painful bladder / Interstitial Cystitis
Infertility
Athletic Pubalgia

Penile & Prostate Dysfunction

Pre and Post Prostatectomy Rehab
Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome / Chronic Prostatitis
Erectile Dysfunction
Peyronie’s Disease

Uterine / Ovarian Dysfunction / Women’s Health

Endometriosis
Painful menstrual cycles (dysmenorrhea)
Pregnancy and Postpartum Rehab
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Peri-Menopause / Menopause / Post-Menopause

What to Expect at Your First Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Visit

Initial Evaluation

Oftentimes people are anxious and don’t know what to expect from the initial evaluation for pelvic floor physical therapy. We make this process easy and relaxed. The initial evaluation appointment is all about you and getting to know who you are as a person. We take the time to hear your story.

Education is Key

It is important to understand your pelvic floor anatomy and how it all relates to your symptoms. We take time to discuss what these muscles are, why they’re important, and to explore the anatomy of the pelvis including muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues.

Thorough Assessment

An in-depth assessment of your pelvis and your whole body is performed to assess for all potential drivers of your pain and/or dysfunction. If you’re ready, an internal pelvic assessment is typically performed to map out your pelvic floor muscles and assess the resting tone of the muscles as well as your ability to contract and relax. If you would prefer to wait, no worries, we can postpone the internal assessment to a later treatment date and still get a lot accomplished.

Treatment

Our one-hour sessions will consist of various manual therapy techniques to address dysfunction at the mechanical level including soft tissues, joints, and viscera. Neuromuscular re-education is performed to establish efficient engagement and sequencing of muscular firing. Patient specific exercises are provided to address motor control.

Other diagnoses that can be affected by Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

The pelvic floor is essential for the:

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • How can pelvic health physical therapy help all genders and non-binary individuals?
    Pelvic Health Physical Therapy is for everyone, as all people have pelvic floor muscles. Whether you have biological male or female genitalia, we can help. A common misconception is that this type of therapy is for individuals with female genitalia only, and that is not the case. For example, an individual with male genitalia may seek pelvic health PT for diagnoses such as erectile dysfunction, prostatitis, pelvic pain, constipation, low back pain, hip pain, etc.

  • What if I have multiple body parts I want to be seen for unrelated to my pelvic symptoms?
    Here at IPA Physio, we treat everything and can address multiple body parts at once during a session. We incorporate the whole body, and look into what functional movements are troublesome for you. We use a holistic approach to discover the way that your body is designed to function, and you may find that the pelvic symptoms that you are experiencing are related to and affecting other parts of the body.
  • I leak urine since my pregnancy. My friends have told me they do too. Should I see a pelvic health physical therapist for this?
    Leakage after pregnancy is very common, but it is not normal. Sometimes, leakage resolves as hormone levels balance out. If leakage continues to happen or if there was any tearing that occurred during delivery, pelvic health physical therapy can help. Focusing on postural corrections, body mechanics with holding and carrying your baby, as well as soft tissue mobilization to work through scar tissue can all be addressed during treatment sessions.
  • If I do kegels regularly, should I still see a pelvic health physical therapist?
    Most definitely! While strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles is important, the ability to fully relax these muscles is equally important. The ability to efficiently control the way the pelvic floor muscles contract and relax while performing demanding tasks is necessary to maintain continence, stabilize the pelvis, support the abdominal organs, and engage in sexual intercourse.
  • Could my low back or hip pain be caused by a pelvic floor dysfunction?
    Yes, pelvic floor or pelvic girdle dysfunction can refer pain to the low back and hip region as these areas are interconnected. For example, if the pelvic floor muscles are unable to relax or are in spasm, oftentimes the glutes or low back muscles are also difficult to relax causing pain.

Discover Your Potential

Call IPA Physio OC now to schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation, or fill out the contact form and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

Phone: (949)232-1955