What to expect from your first pelvic floor physical therapy session

You’ve always felt like you had control over your body. Now, you end up peeing a little when you run or even when sneezing too hard. Such issues could be an indication that you have a pelvic floor issue. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles in the area between your belly and legs. These muscles act like a hammock for structures like the reproductive organs, and they also help control the bladder. In some cases, pelvic floor muscle problems can lead to pain and difficulty controlling your urine flow. 

Physical therapists in Portage, Michigan, can help you deal with pelvic floor issues with pelvic floor physical therapy. This type of therapy is becoming more common, and one study reports that it helped 63% of its patients reduce pelvic pain significantly. It also has the ability to help you deal with urinary incontinence symptoms and other pelvic issues. 

Three things to expect from your first pelvic floor physical therapy appointment

So, you’ve made your first pelvic floor physical therapy appointment. That’s a good thing. But you might be wondering what you can expect from this first session. Generally, your interactions with the therapist during your first appointment will fall into one of three categories: 

1. Evaluation — First, your therapist will want to ask you some questions to get a good picture of your previous medical history. Try to answer all questions honestly and as completely as you can. The better the therapist knows your condition and its symptoms, the better they can help you. Additionally, you should consider bringing copies of your records from your gynecologist or primary care doctor if you have them.

2. Internal and external examination — After taking your history, a women’s health therapist may ask if you’re comfortable having an external examination of your pelvic area. In some cases, they might also ask to perform an internal examination. These examinations aren’t intended to be invasive or painful. Typically, one finger will be enough to see if the pelvic floor is acting normally during an internal exam. The therapist might also ask you to flex the pelvic floor muscles or cough. 

3. Education — After the exam portion of your session is over, your therapist will take some time to talk to you about their findings. They might also give you some information about the anatomy involved in your issue, and why the pelvic floor is important. Therapists will talk with you about what your physical activity goals are and how therapy can help you meet them. In many cases, you’ll also be given “homework.” This usually consists of therapeutic exercises for strengthening and stretching the pelvic floor that you can do at home.

Find the pelvic floor physical therapy you need at Armor Physical Therapy in Portage, MI

Not sure who to turn to for effective pelvic floor physical therapy in Portage? Armor Physical Therapy has a clinic in your area that offers this type of therapy. Our team will start by having you come in for a free screening, which is intended to pinpoint the source of your pelvic issues. We can then create a personalized treatment plan to help you reach your goals. 

Contact us today for more information about pelvic floor therapy or to schedule your free screening.