Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction
Treatment for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and other tissues that form a sling across the pelvis. Sometimes the pelvic floor can become weak or injured during pregnancy and childbirth or from being overweight, radiation treatment, surgery or other causes that can lead to PFM dysfunction. PFM dysfunction is not a normal part of aging and affects both females and males of all ages.
Those with the condition can suffer with urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, sensory and emptying abnormalities of the lower urinary tract, defecatory dysfunction, sexual dysfunction and chronic pelvic pain syndromes.
The Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Institute and Palmdale Regional Medical Center offers comprehensive pelvic health rehabilitation for people of all gender identities. Pelvic health rehabilitation providers are neuromusculoskeletal experts who aim to identify and treat patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. We believe in a multidisciplinary approach to treatment and collaborate with other providers to offer the best possible outcomes for our patients.
Conditions Treated
Our team of physical therapists work with patients who have these and other diagnoses:
- Symptoms related to prostate surgery
- Urinary and fecal Incontinence (urinary or fecal leaking)
- Urinary retention (difficulty emptying the bladder)
- Urinary frequency (urinating too often)
- Pelvic pain
- Pelvic organ prolapse (when pelvic organs shift downward)
- Pain associated with intercourse
- Pregnancy and postpartum needs
- Labor and Delivery Birth preparation (training for delivery in different positions, how to reduce pain in labor, how to reduce perineal tearing, etc.)
Benefits of Pelvic Health Rehabilitation
- Pain-free sex
- Decreased leakage
- Return to activity
- Decreased lumbopelvic pain
- Increased urinary control
- Decreased scar adhesions
- Restoration of optimal pelvic floor function
- Treatment Options
- Recommended treatments may include:
- Bladder training
- Internal pelvic floor release
- Pain science education
- Home program, dilator training
- Lumbopelvic assessment and treatment, postural education
- Desensitization
- Relaxation techniques
Meet the Specialist
Dr. Anne Ellis, PT, DPT, earned her doctoral degree in physical therapy from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. She has completed advanced clinical training and has over 10 years of experience in treating and managing pelvic floor dysfunction and prenatal/postpartum patients. She is also a certified prenatal and postpartum fitness coach and has been a certified Pilates instructor for 17 years.