Pelvic conditions such as pain or incontinence can have a major impact on your life. Feelings of discomfort often limit physical and social activities and can have a negative impact on intimacy, relationships and overall quality of life. But, there are treatment options available to help regain control. One conservative option is physical therapy.
Mission Hospitals' Rehab and Sports Clinic has a team of physical therapists with specialized skills offering treatment for pelvic conditions that can help reduce symptoms of pain and/or incontinence with the goals of improving your function and quality of life.
The physical therapy team works closely with Mission's Pelvic Floor program, which offers the full continuum of comprehensive care for pelvic issues, with a team of physician specialists and subspecialists in gynecology, urogynecology and urology, and nurses with specialized training in pelvic floor problems.
Common Conditions
Bladder or Bowel Control
Incontinence, the involuntary loss of bladder or bowel control, is a common condition that affects both men and women. It is particularly common among women. In fact almost 50% of all women will suffer from incontinence during their lifetimes. Successful treatment of incontinence may include:
- Biofeedback to facilitate muscle function
- Behavior recommendations
- Physician prescribed medications
Pelvic pain can be chronic (persistent and lasting more than six months) or episodic. Either way, it can have a major impact - both physically and psychologically - on those who suffer and their families. Successful treatment of pelvic pain typically requires a team of multiple disciplines that may include:
- Physicians for medication and/or surgery
- Counselors for possible emotional components
- Physical therapists to conservatively treat body restrictions or muscle imbalances.
Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Physical therapy might be an option to help with some of these common pelvic conditions. If you've suffered from symptoms such as the following, you might be a candidate for physical therapy.
- Have trouble making it to the toilet on time
- Lose urine when you cough, laugh, or exercise
- Make frequent trips to the bathroom during the day or at night
- Feel pelvic pressure or discomfort
- Have difficulty initiating urination or defecation
- Have painful intercourse
Once medically cleared (patients must first have a pelvic exam to rule out any conditions causing pelvic symptoms that could necessitate further treatment) your doctor may refer you to a physical therapist with specialized training to treat either incontinence or pelvic pain. You can expect the physical therapist to:
- Evaluate your body alignment, muscle strength and function, and nerve response
- Assess the function of the muscles that control bladder and bowel
- Educate you on the anatomy specific to your condition
- Provide suggestions for behavioral changes according to the evaluation findings
- Guide correct performance of exercises to treat your specific condition
- Apply manual therapy for soft tissue restrictions if needed
- Use biofeedback or muscle stimulation to facilitate muscle strengthening or relaxation if needed
If you are concerned about your symptoms, please contact your primary care physician about what is best for you.
To schedule, cancel or reschedule an appointment for physical therapy call 828-213-2222, option 2. Please indicate that you need to set up an evaluation with one of the Pelvic Physical Therapists, and specify whether your condition is urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence, or pelvic pain. For more information, please call 828-213-0850. You can also download and print the Pelvic Floor Program referral form. (pdf)
Location
Mission Rehab & Sports Clinic is located at 534 Biltmore Avenue (across from Doctors Drive and the Memorial Campus parking deck facing Biltmore Avenue).
