What Causes Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common but hidden condition: many people who have it don’t know it. Most people haven’t heard of pelvic floor dysfunction, and the symptoms can be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions. The only way to get proper treatment is to get a medical exam and diagnosis.
At One Accord Physical Therapy, our highly skilled and experienced team of physical therapists and massage therapists provide high quality therapeutic services for a number of conditions. We have medical offices in Casa Grande, Phoenix, Gilbert, and Mesa, Arizona, to serve you and help you live your healthiest life. We have provided effective treatments to many people with pelvic floor dysfunction.
How common is pelvic floor dysfunction?
Pelvic floor dysfunction primarily affects women, but some men suffer as well. It affects about 1 in 4 women, but most of those women aren’t aware that they have the condition. The symptoms can be quite disruptive, but there are treatment options that can restore your pelvic floor function and allow you to have a normal life.
What is the pelvic floor?
Your pelvic floor is made up of a group of ligaments and muscles that are located in your pelvis. These bands of tissue support your uterus or prostate, rectum, and bladder, organs that are essential for controlling urination, bowel movements, and sexual intercourse. In pelvic floor dysfunction, you are unable to fully control these muscles, causing a number of issues that can be painful, debilitating, or embarrassing.
What are the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction?
Pelvic floor dysfunction encompasses a number of conditions that are interrelated. Some of the common symptoms include:
- Severe lower back pain
- Constipation
- Pelvic or rectal pain
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Pelvic muscle spasms
- Urinary retention
- Leakage of stool or urine
Many people either overlook these issues or think that they are due to other causes, and may not be at all aware that they have pelvic floor dysfunction.
What causes pelvic floor dysfunction?
There is ongoing research into the causes of pelvic floor dysfunction. It is typically caused by events that cause the pelvic muscles to become weak, or due to tears in connective tissue in the pelvis, including:
- Obesity
- Nerve damage
- Pelvic surgery
- Childbirth
- Pelvic injury
These events can damage your pelvic floor muscles, causing you to contract and not be able to relax them. If not treated, pelvic floor dysfunction can eventually cause infection or damage to your colon.
Treatments for pelvic floor dysfunction
There are a number of effective treatment options for pelvic floor dysfunction. Although surgery is sometimes required, we recommend trying less invasive treatments first.
Some of the treatment options for pelvic floor dysfunction are: biofeedback, medications such as muscle relaxants, yoga, special stretches, and even warm baths. We work with you to find the most effective, least invasive treatment option that is the lowest risk.
Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common condition, but many people who have it aren’t diagnosed, and so are unaware they have the condition. There are many effective treatment options available that can address the pain, discomfort, and distressing symptoms of this condition.
To set up an appointment, call the office location that is most convenient for you!