Revitalizing the Root: Pelvic Floor Therapy
Have you ever wondered what your pelvic floor is? Take a moment to notice any sensations near the base of your spine, near your root chakra. Do you feel warmth, tension or pain? Do you feel anything at all?
It is common to feel disconnected from your pelvic bowl. When problems arise, whether it is peeing in inopportune moments, debilitating period cramps, groin pain, or pain with sex, we often ignore them and consider them “normal.”
What is the Pelvic Floor?
Many of these issues stem from tension in a little-known muscle group: the pelvic floor. This is a hammock of muscles between the pelvic bones. It acts as the “floor” of the pelvic organs, like the uterus and bladder, holding them in place. It is also part of the “core” muscles and provides structural support for our spinal, hip and knee alignment.
Like any other muscle in your body, the pelvic floor muscles can get tense and sore. Think of that aching spot near your shoulder or in your low back that went away after a good massage. The same tension and dysfunction can happen in your pelvic bowl.
When these muscles are too weak, we don’t have enough structural support, and this can lead to issues like low back and joint pain. The pelvic organs also don’t have enough support and can fall out of their proper place. This can lead to urinary, rectal and vaginal prolapse. On the other hand, when these muscles that are too tight, they can also cause problems. Hip pain, pain with sex, and constipation are signs of too tight muscles. Issues can also arise after physically traumatic events like childbirth and abdominal surgery, which can cause scarring and lasting muscular imbalances.
Some conditions associated with pelvic floor dysfunction include:
- Urine leakage with coughing, laughing or the urge to pee (urinary incontinence)
- Vaginal pain or pain with sex (vuvlodynia, vaginismus, vulvar vestibulitis)
- Pain with menses (endometriosis, uterine fibroids, menstrual cramps)
- Pain with urination (chronic urinary tract infections, interstitial cystitis)
- Recovery after childbirth
- Low back pain (pain in the lumbar region, sacrum or coccyx)
What is Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Pelvic floor therapy is a set of techniques designed to relieve tension in the pelvic muscles and increase regional blood flow. It involves both in-office bodywork and at-home exercises that can help relieve bodily pain and improve pelvic organ function. During a pelvic floor therapy session, a practitioner identifies areas of tension to help you to relax your pelvic muscles and improve your pelvic blood flow. Practitioners can also recommend exercises to tone or relax the pelvic floor, such as kegels or yoga poses, depending on your individual needs.
After seeing patients overcome pain and reconnect with their bodies with these techniques, pelvic floor therapy has become one of Dr. Schroeder’s favorite clinical tools. In addition to comprehensive naturopathic care and acupuncture, she is excited to offer this incredible bodywork at Aria Integrative Health. If you are struggling with urinary incontinence, painful menses, pelvic pain after childbirth, or any other issues mentioned above, it is time to seek out some TLC. Reach out for a consultation today.
