Pelvic Pain/Floor
Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction (PFMD) is the most common name used among healthcare providers to cover a wide range of diagnoses and syndromes involving the pelvic floor muscles.
Examples of these diagnoses and syndromes are vaginismus, vulvodynia, non-bacterial prostatitis, levator ani syndrome, urinary incontinence, post-partum pelvic pain and chronic constipation.
The pelvic floor muscles comprise the base of the pelvic bowl and are critical for bowel and bladder continence. They also contribute to sexual climax as well as lumbo-pelvic stability along with the other core muscles. People with PFMD may have non-ideal bowel or bladder habits, constipation, leakage, pain with intercourse or ejaculation, low back or hip pain. It is important that a medical work-up rule out any issues that may not be related to the joints and muscles. If your physical therapist (PT) has any concerns s/he will ask that you consult your medical doctor, or if you need a referral, your PT can make a recommendation.
PFMD can present in many different ways. As specialists in motor control and movement, PT’s often categorize PFMD by whether the muscles are hypertonic (over-worked), hypotonic (under-used), or poorly coordinated in their timing or in relation to synergistic muscles. Your PT will evaluate the muscles to determine what your primary type of PFMD is.
Evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) can be accomplished through manual palpation, Real Time Ultrasound imaging (sonogram picture of the muscle used as a biofeedback tool), and by surface electromyography (sEMG) which reads the electrical activity created by the muscle. Physical therapists are interested in the pelvic floor muscle resting tone, timing, magnitude and quality of contraction.
Treatment of PFMD by a qualified PT will address the joints of the spine, pelvis and hips as well as the PFM and their partner muscles. KNOSIS therapist Rebecca Gordon specializes in treating PFMD.