Pelvic Floor Conditions
Pelvic pain and dysfunction does not discriminate between sexes.
Millions of men suffer from pelvic pain and related dysfunction. While discomfort and pain are the main characteristics, men may also experience associated urinary, bowel, and sexual problems. Current research shows that tension and dysfunction in the muscles of the pelvic floor play a significant, and often primary role in the development and severity of the associated symptoms. It is important to note that chronic pain (CP)/Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is not a bacterial infection, though it is often treated as such.
Pelvic pain can often be ignored or undiagnosed, but it can be incredibly debilitating to your emotional, physical, and sexual function. Vaginal and rectal pain can interrupt daily activities such as toileting, sexual intercourse, or exercise. Conditions such as dyspareunia, coccydynia, testiculitis, vulvodynia, and vaginismus can make exercising, traveling, and even sitting at work irritating and intolerable.
At Rehab Specialists Inc, our therapists who specialize in pelvic floor conditions can work with you to determine the factors that are contributing to your pain, and help develop a treatment plan that works for your specific needs.
They can evaluate for pelvic muscle tenderness, pelvic area sensitivity, and other factors which can contribute to vaginal and rectal pain. From there, a plan of care will be established to treat each patient's unique needs.
Our therapists will use a combination of manual therapy including myofascial release and trigger point to relax the muscles, biofeedback to teach relaxation and coordination of the pelvic floor muscles, dilator therapy for home use, and proper postural stabilization to relieve pain and improve your ability to take part in all of your activities.
Recovering from pelvic pain is a multidimensional program; therefore, therapists at Rehab Specialists Inc. will incorporate mindfulness training, pilates and other forms of exercise to ensure a full recovery that promotes your best self.
Symptoms of CPPS may include:
- Chronic testicular pain
- Post vasectomy pain
- Dyspareunia (The occurrence of pain during sexual intercourse)
- Painful ejaculation
- Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Urinary and Bowel problems
- Penile, scrotal, rectal and perineal pain
Physical Therapy treatment for male and female CPPS
At RSI, we address the neuromuscular dysfunctions that are integral in causing and alleviating the pain and problems of CPPS.
“ Recently, musculoskeletal factors have been recognized as significant contributors to the mechanism of pelvic pain and associated sexual dysfunction, and in particular, pelvic floor muscle hypertonus (tension) has been implicated.” According to an article in the Journal of Sexual Medicine 2009.
At RSI our treatment approach includes an inclusive model:
- Manual therapy, including external and internal trigger point release of affected muscles and fascia.
- Lengthening and stretching short, tight, and restricted muscles through manual and therapeutic exercise methods.
- Manual techniques of joint and connective tissue mobilization that may correct structural abnormalities.
- Breathing techniques to assist in optimal function.
- Biofeedback techniques to assist in muscle re-education
- Neuromuscular re-education
- Assessment of postural and activities of daily life that may be contributing to one’s pelvic pain and dysfunction
