Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Needham, MA
Message from Dr. Sheli, PhyziX PT's Pelvic Floor Therapist
Pelvic floor dysfunction is incredibly common, but it is often overlooked. Although some women achieve a full recovery following pregnancy, many suffer in silence with incontinence, pain, and an inability to get back to doing what they love. The dysfunction often goes unnoticed before pregnancy, when it becomes impossible to ignore. You might brush it off and think that this is just a normal occurrence that women go through, but just because something is common does not make it normal.
At Phyzix, we address the previously unaddressed. We look at the whole body to identify the root cause of pelvic floor dysfunction. We ensure that force is being properly distributed from your feet to your pelvis to your rib cage, so that your body can function without experiencing incontinence or pain. We go a step further and integrate pelvic floor rehab with functional exercise, so that you can get back to what you want to do, whether it be going on a run, lifting weights in the gym, or enjoying time outdoors.
Common Women's Health Struggles We Treat
Pelvic floor dysfunction can show up in many ways. These are the most common women's health conditions we treat:
Stress urinary incontinence
Leakage of urine with activities such as coughing, sneezing, running, laughing, and jumping.
Urge urinary incontinence
Increased urinary urgency and frequency which can lead to leakage of urine.
Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia)
Pain during penetrative intercourse that can happen with the onset of penetration (entry pain) or throughout.
Constipation
Decreased frequency of bowel movements, difficulty passing stool, and/or a feeling of incomplete evacuation.
Diastasis recti
A separation of the rectus abdominis muscle due to a stretching of the linea alba is a common occurrence during pregnancy, but can also happen due to other conditions such as obesity or chronic coughing.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
A descent of pelvic organs into the vaginal wall due to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and mismanagement of pressure.
Pubic symphysis dysfunction (Lightning Crotch)
Pain in the pubic bone, which is typically exacerbated by positions where the legs are spread apart, or with functional transitions such as getting in and out of bed or standing up from a chair.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJ)
Low back or SI pain which commonly arises with sitting, standing, laying down, a change in position, or staying in one position for too long.
Why Traditional Approaches Fall Short
Nobody asks
You may go to a traditional provider for treatment of your pain, but chances are they are not asking about your pelvic floor. They are not digging into whether or not you have incontinence, pain, or other pelvic health concerns. This is a key part of the puzzle in finding the root cause of your symptoms and addressing your pain.
Stretching isn't the answer
It may feel good in the moment, but it is likely making you worse.
Abdominal versus deep core muscles
The traditional approach may be focusing on superficial abdominal muscles instead of targeting deep core stabilizers, which can worsen pelvic floor conditions.
Kegels are not the magic fix
You did what you thought was right and tried to strengthen your pelvic floor, but your symptoms only got worse. Sound familiar? Muscles need an optimal length tension relationship to function properly. Strengthening muscles that have increased tension and nowhere to go is not going to get you closer to your goals.
Time doesn't fix all
Although some pelvic floor concerns may improve with time, many require specific, targeted intervention to improve.
Hormone shifts dictate care
Elevated levels of relaxin and progesterone during and after pregnancy create ligament and tendon laxity and subsequent joint instability. We must take this into consideration when creating a plan of care, in order to ensure progress instead of regression. It can take up to two years to hormonally recover following pregnancy.
Who We Help
- If you are experiencing urinary incontinence, painful intercourse, or constipation, and are tired of struggling in silence.
- If you want to feel like yourself again following pregnancy.
- If you want to feel like yourself again in perimenopause and menopause.
- If you want to exercise and be active without fear of pelvic floor symptoms.
The PhyziX Approach To Pelvic Floor
Our approach addresses the whole body, not just the symptoms. Here's how we help you feel like yourself again:
Identifying the root cause of your symptoms.
We assess for pelvic floor tension, pelvic floor strength, and assess how the rest of your body works together to produce movement. Assessment may or may not include an internal or external pelvic floor exam, depending on patient presentation, patient comfort, and therapist discretion.
Restoring mobility and strength where you need it most.
We do this with targeted manual therapy and exercise. Manual therapy may include internal pelvic floor releases, external pelvic floor releases, and other manual therapy techniques, depending on where your body needs it most. Exercises are tailored to improve your weak links, whether that is your pelvic floor, your hips, your knees, or anything else that is not doing its fair share.
Integrating pelvic floor control into daily activities, exercise, and sports so that you can get back to doing the things that you love.
We look at how the whole body functions together to make sure that you can perform high-level activities without experiencing pelvic floor concerns.
Common Pelvic Floor Issues We Treat
- Stress urinary incontinence
- Urge urinary incontinence
- Painful intercourse (Dyspareunia)
- Constipation
- Diastasis recti
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Pubic symphysis dysfunction (Lightning Crotch)
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJ)
Take Control of Your Pelvic Floor
You don't have to live with pelvic floor dysfunction or suffer in silence. At PhyziX, we help you get back to doing what you love — without pain, without leakage, and without fear.
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