Pelvic Floor Therapy for Women: Why is It Important?

The pelvic floor is a fibro-muscular structure that plays a very important role in a woman's life: it supports the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, and rectum), guarantees urinary and fecal continence and plays an important role in sexual activity and reproduction.

Rehabilitation of the pelvic floor consists of a conservative treatment, which can be performed in all phases of a woman's life, both in the presence of symptoms and problems relating to the pelvic floor, and as prevention, especially during pregnancy and post-pregnancy.

One aspect of rehabilitation that is often overlooked, if not ignored, is that of pelvic floor rehabilitation. It is a very important structure as it takes part in activities such as urinary and fecal continence and affects the sexual sphere.

By pelvic floor we mean the tendon muscle structure that closes the pelvis caudally, forming a sort of inverted dome. Having a good muscle tone of this structure is the basis for the prevention of pelvic dysfunctions such as prolapse, constipation, urinary and/or fecal incontinence.

These symptoms can occur following events such as menopause, pregnancy or abdominal-pelvic surgery, for example prostate surgery. Urinary incontinence is just one of the problems caused by a weakened pelvic floor.

With the help of a professional, it is possible to re-educate the muscles of the abdominal cavity. The Specialized Physiotherapists use a wide range of methods. These include relaxation exercises, targeted pelvic muscle firming techniques, and proper toilet behavior.

The final goal of the treatment will be to enhance muscle tone and increase control and perception of the pelvic floor contraction during normal daily activities. Perineal physiotherapy treatment for stress urinary incontinence is recognized as an effective first-line treatment.

It is important to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles during and after pregnancy, and especially in the weeks after childbirth in order to prevent urinary incontinence.

A consultation with a physiotherapist specializing in perineal rehabilitation allows you to measure the strength and elasticity of the muscles of the pelvic floor and abdominals as well as to help you become aware of your posture and your breathing which could be affected by pregnancy.

You will be then given a personalized exercise program focused on identifying and strengthening your pelvic floor muscles. Specific posture and abdominal strengthening exercises will be taught to you in order to prevent diastasis of the rectus abdominis and back pain.

Follow-up meetings with your physiotherapist allow you to gradually adjust these exercises and perform manual techniques to relax the perineum in order to prepare it for childbirth and reduce the risk of tearing.

The number of treatments varies depending on the client. After childbirth, treatment is given to help regain the strength of the muscles in your perineum and to treat scar tissue if necessary.

Resuming pelvic floor strengthening exercises not only heals injuries caused by pregnancy and childbirth, but also helps restore your previous level of sport and daily activity.

If you want to know more about Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy in Calgary, we suggest you to consult the experts of Prohealthchiro, as there team provide one of the best services in this field.