Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Des Moines & Iowa City
Take Control of Your Pelvic Health. Treat Pain & Dysfunction at Breathe. Physical Therapy & Wellness
Are you having trouble making it to the restroom in time? Are you having trouble eliminating your bowels? Is sex painful? Are you having pelvic pain that makes it hard to sit for long periods, exercise, or even just focus? What about pain that feels like it is coming from your ovaries or your uterus?
If you are experiencing pain that feels private or embarrassing, you may be having issues with your pelvic floor or surrounding muscles. Pelvic health issues are common among women (and men!), but they can be confusing and stressful to deal with.
At Breathe. Physical Therapy and Wellness, we understand the emotions it can cause because we’ve been there too! And we want you to know your pain doesn’t have to be normal. Ready to see the difference? Give us a call today.
What Causes Pelvic Floor Pain & Dysfunction?
You probably don’t think much about your pelvic floor, but it’s very important!
The pelvic floor is the name for the group of muscles and connective tissue at the bottom of your pelvis. These muscles work with the rest of the abdomen to hold the body in an upright position and support organs like the bladder, bowels, and uterus. Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when these muscles have trouble contracting or relaxing enough.
Other causes of pelvic pain include tight hip and abdominal muscles. People often think their uterus or ovaries are the cause of their lower abdominal pain, but often trigger points in the hip flexors or lower ab muscles are the culprit.
Who Experiences Pelvic Floor Pain & Dysfunction?
Pelvic pain and dysfunction is common in women, especially while pregnant or after giving birth. But there are many more causes than having a baby.
Pelvic floor issues can affect anyone. That includes children, teenagers, college students, men at all stages of life, women experiencing menopause, and more. Yep… pretty much everyone! And guess what? We can treat them all!
What Are the Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
One of the most commonly discussed effects of pelvic floor dysfunction is loss of bladder control, but it’s far from the only one. Pelvic floor issues can cause a wide range of symptoms.
If you are experiencing pelvic pain, or any of the problems below, our team can help:
- Bladder control
- Leaks
- Strong or frequent urges
- Genital, rectal, or groin pain
- Excessively painful periods
- Unexplained abdominal pain, nausea, or bloating
- Uncomfortable or impossible intercourse
- Vaginismus
- Vulvodynia
- Constipation and difficult bowel movements
- Encopresis (stool leakage in children)
- Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
- Bowel leakage or urgency
How Does Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Work?
You might think of pelvic floor physical therapy as someone just telling you to do more kegels. However, your road to healing might be the opposite.
Kegels, or pelvic floor strengthening exercises, can help if your pelvic muscles are weak. But did you know that some pelvic floor issues are actually caused by muscles that are too tense? In these cases, doing kegels might have the opposite effect — yes, that’s right, they might make it worse!
Our team will help get to the source of your issues and partner with you to create a treatment plan that may include the following:
Therapeutic Exercises
These could include relaxation exercises or kegel exercises. We’ll work with you to determine the root cause of your pelvic floor pain or dysfunction and create the right treatment plan for you that often includes learning to coordinate your pelvic floor muscles with your breath or other movements.
Dry Needling
Dry needling is proven to be effective in relieving stubborn muscle tension throughout the body. We may recommend it as a step to take to treat your pelvic floor or the surrounding hip or stomach muscles.
Lifestyle Changes
Diet, exercise, and more can play a role in pelvic floor issues. We’ll help you put the pieces together and figure out how to make strategic lifestyle changes that will ease your symptoms and provide holistic relief.
Breath Training
Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction is nearly always related to impaired breathing patterns. We’ll guide you in establishing a personalized breathing pattern that will help you tune into your pelvic floor and help relieve pain and tension.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for Pregnancy & Postpartum Symptoms
Having a baby can have a major effect on your pelvic floor. Whether you’re having pelvic floor issues during pregnancy or after, we’ll walk with you on your journey. We’ll help prepare your pelvic floor for birth and work with you in the weeks after to help you regain control, coordination, and strength so that you can live an empowered, stress-free life postpartum.
Our services for expecting and new moms don’t just stop at the pelvic floor. Learn more about the other ways physical therapy can help with pregnancy and postpartum symptoms.
Breathe. Physical Therapy & Wellness’ Unique Approach to Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
All of our appointments take place in a private, soothing atmosphere. In fact, it might feel more like visiting the spa than the doctor’s office! Whether you’re visiting our North Liberty or West Des Moines location, our team will get to know you and your background before we do any assessments or discuss any treatment.
You’ll find that our offices don’t have stirrups, and we don’t use speculums. We’re here to empower you to make the health decisions that will help you live a full and vibrant life — whatever stage of the journey you’re at.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pelvic Floor Pain & Dysfunction
What Is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic floor therapy focuses on the muscles and connective tissue at the bottom of the pelvis. It treats pain, weakness, tension, and more that cause a variety of issues in the pelvic organs. Common pelvic floor therapy techniques include:
- Relaxation & breathing exercises
- Kegel exercises
- Diet and lifestyle changes
- Dry needling
What Should I Expect at My First Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Appointment?
You might be nervous before your first appointment — and that’s totally normal! But at Breathe., we want to help put you at ease. We know that having someone checking “down there” can bring up lots of feelings. Our team is trauma-informed and will put you in the driver’s seat throughout your appointment.
We will begin your appointment by getting to know you and discussing your issues and your holistic health. While we may ask to conduct a physical examination, we also give you the option to defer it until a future appointment. And it’s far more superficial and gentle than you would experience at a doctor’s office. For more information, read our guide to preparing for your women’s health pelvic floor appointment.
How Soon Should I Start Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Following Delivery?
Whenever you are comfortable! We can start physical therapy as early as two weeks after the birth of your baby. If it’s been months — or even years — since you’ve had your baby, we can still help! Many women come for pelvic floor issues much later, and the best time to come is now.