Pelvic Floor

Imagine the muscles at the base of your pelvis – they're like a sling or a hammock holding up your bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. These are your pelvic floor muscles.

Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized type of physical therapy that focuses on these muscles and the surrounding tissues. Just like you might see a physical therapist for a sore shoulder or knee, you'd see a pelvic floor physical therapist for problems related to this area of your body.

Think of it this way: these muscles play a crucial role in:

• Controlling your bladder and bowels: Helping you hold it in when you need to and go when you want to.
• Sexual function: Contributing to sensation and function during intimacy.
• Supporting your core and spine: Working with other muscles to stabilize your body.
• Pregnancy and postpartum: Supporting the growing baby and helping with recovery after childbirth.

So, if someone is experiencing issues like:

• Leaking urine or stool
• Feeling like they need to go to the bathroom all the time
• Having pain in their pelvis, lower back, hips, or genitals
• Experiencing pain during sex
• Having difficulty with bowel movements
• Or if they are pregnant or postpartum and experiencing related issues

...then pelvic floor physical therapy can help!
We use a variety of techniques, including:

• Teaching you exercises to strengthen, relax, or improve coordination of these muscles.
• Manual therapy to address muscle tension, pain, and restrictions in the pelvic area, hips, and lower back.
• Biofeedback to help you become more aware of your pelvic floor muscle activity.
• Education on bladder and bowel habits, posture, and body mechanics.
• Lifestyle advice to support pelvic health.

Essentially, pelvic floor physical therapy helps people regain control, reduce pain, and improve function in their pelvic area, leading to a better quality of life. It's about addressing the root cause of the problem, not just managing symptoms

Dr. Heather Johnson, DPT, is a pelvic health physical therapist. She is committed to empowering individuals of all ages – women, men, and children – through education and gentle, effective treatment. She offers compassionate and effective care for a range of conditions, including:

• Incontinence
  • Fecal
  • Bladder
  • Day/Night
• Constipation
• Pelvic Pain
• Painful Intercourse
• Vulvodynia
• Prolapse
• Postpartum issues
• Post surgical
  • Prostatectomy
  • Hysterectomy
• And More