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How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Reduce Pelvic Pain and Bladder Leaks

Advantage Physical Therapy Blog How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Reduce Pelvic Pain and Bladder Leaks
prenatal and pelvic floor physical therapy in Falls Church and Reston, VA

Are you experiencing bladder leaks when you laugh, cough, sneeze, or exercise? Do you have pelvic pain that makes sitting, exercising, or enjoying daily activities uncomfortable?

These symptoms are common, but they are not something you simply have to accept as a normal part of aging, pregnancy, or life after childbirth. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help identify the cause of these problems and create a personalized treatment plan to improve strength, coordination, reduce pain, and help you feel more confident in your body.

 

At Advantage Physical Therapy, our pelvic health specialists help patients in Reston, VA and Falls Church, VA overcome pelvic floor dysfunction with personalized treatment plans designed around their individual needs and goals.

 

What is the Pelvic Floor?

Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues that form a supportive “hammock” across the bottom of the pelvis. These muscles play a vital role in supporting your bladder, bowels, and reproductive organs while helping you control urination and bowel movements. They also work together with your abdominal muscles, diaphragm, hips, and low back to provide stability and support during movement.

Just like any other muscle group in your body, the pelvic floor can become weak, overly tight, strained, or poorly coordinated. When this happens, it can lead to uncomfortable symptoms that interfere with daily activities.

Pregnancy, childbirth, surgery, chronic constipation, heavy lifting, high-impact, exercise, aging, and changes in activity level can all affect how the pelvic floor functions.

 

Two Common Reasons People Seek Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Many people experience urinary leakage but assume it is simply something they have to live with. Some may even avoid activities they enjoy because they are worried about leaking.

The reality is that bladder leakage is common, but it is also often treatable. Research has shown that pelvic floor muscle training can improve symptoms of urinary incontinence and is considered a first-line conservative treatment option.

Two common types of urinary incontinence include:

1. Incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence occurs when increased pressure on the bladder overwhelms the pelvic floor muscle’s ability to provide support. This may happen during activities such as:

Urge urinary incontinence involves a sudden, strong urge to urinate that can be difficult to control. Some people notice triggers such as hearing running water, arriving home after a long day, or experiencing changes in temperature. If you are interested in learning more on how to control this, check out this previous blog. 

A pelvic floor physical therapist can evaluate how your muscles are functioning and determine whether the issue is related to strength, coordination, tension, habits, or a combination of factors.

 

2. Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain can be frustrating because the source is not always obvious. The pelvic region includes many muscles, joints, nerves, and connective tissues that work together, and problems in one area can affect another.

When pelvic floor muscles become too tight, they may create increased tension around the joints, nerves, and surrounding tissues. This can contribute to:

On the other hand, muscles that are weak or not coordinating properly may not provide enough support, which can contribute to irritating and discomfort.

 

How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Helps

Because the pelvic floor works closely with the entire body, a pelvic floor physical therapy evaluation looks at more than just one more group. Your therapist will consider your posture, breathing patterns, movement habits, hip strength, and overall function. Your therapist will identify the underlying cause of your symptoms and creating a treatment plan specific to your needs. Depending on your evaluation, treatment may include:

Targeted Exercises

Some people need to improve pelvic floor strength and coordination. Others need to learn how to relax and lengthen muscles that are working too much. Contrary to popular belief, pelvic floor therapy is not always about doing more Kegels.

Your physical therapist will determine what your body needs to help it feel better.

Biofeedback Training

Biofeedback uses specialized technology to provide information about how your pelvic floor muscles are working. This can help you better understand when muscles are activating, relaxing, and coordinating correctly.

Hands-On Manual Therapy

Gentle manual therapy techniques can help decrease muscle tension, improve mobility, and reduce pain in the pelvic region and surrounding tissues.

Breathing and Movement Strategies

The pelvic floor works closely with your diaphragm and core muscles. Learning how to coordinate breathing, posture, lifting, and movement can reduce unnecessary stress on the pelvic floor and improve function during daily activities.

Education and Lifestyle Changes

Small adjustments to daily habits can make a meaningful difference. Your therapist may discuss bladder habits, exercise modifications, bowel health, posture, and strategies to manage symptoms throughout the day.

 

When Should You See a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist?

Many people wait to seek help because they assume their symptoms are normal or feel uncomfortable discussing them. However, pelvic pain and bladder leaks are common concerns that physical therapists treat every day.

You may benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy if you are experiencing:

Getting evaluated can help you understand what is happening and create a plan to get back to the activities you enjoy.

 

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Reston and Falls Church, VA

If you have been experiencing bladder leaks, pregnancy-related changes, or difficulty returning to activities that you love, our team at Advantage Physical Therapy in Reston and Falls Church, VA is here to help. We believe every person deserves an individualized approach that addresses the root cause of their symptoms, not just a temporary solution. Call us today to schedule your appointment!

 

Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30288727/

 

Sources & Additional Reading

Author
Alana Hamilton Alana Hamilton is a physical therapist at Advantage Physical Therapy in Falls Church, Virginia. She is a proud Hokie from Virginia Tech with a major in Biology and a minor in psychology and sociology. Following graduation, she immediately got her doctorate in Physical Therapy from Radford University. She is an avid fan of Pilates, running, and hiking. On the weekends, she can be found hanging out with her family and babies as well as doing Spartan races with her old physical therapy classmates and friends. She is a big believer that during rehabilitation, "Motion is the Lotion" and that staying active is key to remaining healthy.

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