Pelvic floor physical therapy has been around for quite a while, and up until recently, it has unfortunately been a taboo topic. For many, it is understandable why you wouldn't want to discuss it; it is not quite the dinner conversation you want to have with relatives you're catching up with that you may be leaking or having a heavy feeling "down there." Many women, especially after giving birth, experience these symptoms, and it is not something to be ashamed of. They are often told this is just a normal part of life and "you just have to deal with it." It may not even be from delivering a baby. Often times people experience these symptoms if they do a lot of high impact activity, it may be a result of the natural aging process, or it may be from previous abdominal or back surgeries. I'm here to tell you that it is "normally abnormal."

Often times people ask me if their symptoms are "normal." I like to say to them, "well any symptoms aren't 'normal.'" Right? You shouldn't have to deal with pain. Or leakage. Or constipation. Or numbness, tingling, heaviness, etc. However, have I heard of these complaints from other people before? Yes! Absolutely! This is where I like to say that it is "normally abnormal." Yes, it is "normal" in the fact that other people experience these symptoms - you are not alone! However, should we have to "just live with these symptoms?" Absolutely not! As I said before, if the body is functioning optimally, there should be no reason for having any symptoms.

I'm sure many have heard of physical therapy. Often what comes to mind may be doing some exercises after a sports injury. You may picture resistance bands or cuff weights used to strengthen some muscles. Maybe you have had a loved one who was in a car accident or has had a stroke. Physical therapy can help those types of injuries as well. Pelvic floor physical therapy is no different. Physical therapists often work with muscles, bones, ligaments, and other soft tissues, but they also work with the brain in ways that you may not understand. Physical therapy helps with "muscle memory." Meaning, it helps to establish the mind-body connection. The more often you perform a certain motion, the stronger it makes the connection in the brain to remember how to perform the motion. However, you also have to be aware of what you're doing.

Herein lies the issue with the pelvic floor. Not many people know about it! The pelvic floor is often ignored because you can't see the muscles! The pelvic floor is made up of muscles at the base of the pelvis in between the legs. In fact, the bony boundary of it encompasses all bony landmarks from the pelvis: the pubic bone in front, tailbone in the back, and sits bones on the sides. There are several layers of muscles and ligaments between all of these bones that help to support the organs in your body, assist in the passage of beautiful babies, and the passage of other not so beautiful things - metabolic wastes. Maybe you have heard the saying "use it or lose it." Well, if you're not aware of the pelvic floor and you don't know how to strengthen and appropriately "use it," you're going to lose the strength in those muscles causing issues such as incontinence (leakage of urine or feces) or prolapse. Sometimes muscles may even become too tight which can cause pain with sex, urinary or fecal difficulties, and pelvic pain.

Fortunately, the body is SO adaptable! Pelvic floor physical therapy helps you to recognize those muscles again. It helps to lengthen and strengthen - as you need both for a good strong muscle contraction. These muscles are just like the rest in the body. They will get stronger the more you work them. They will stretch out the more you relax them. Pelvic floor physical therapy is just like going to the gym. Your body adapts to the loads that you consistently place on it. A pelvic floor physical therapist is able to assess which muscles might be tight, see if you have any scar tissue that is adding to the issue, help guide you with exercises and stretches to help with your symptoms, and provide you resources to help with your recovery. They may also do some manual techniques to assist with your healing.

All in all, there is hope, you can be helped, and it is never too late to start. I've helped people who are 50 years beyond birthing their children and have noticed a significant difference. I've helped people who are even 2 years postpartum who have noticed a significant difference. I've helped people 8 weeks postpartum and even some women who are pregnant! Pelvic floor issues may also affect men. I've helped several men who have had surgery in the abdominal and pelvic area. My point being, there are so many people out there who can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy, and you don't have to suffer in silence!