Women’s Health

Women’s Health Treatment

Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy is proud to feature an Orthopedic Certified Specialist who is also certified in pelvic health. We are currently accepting patients suffering from incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain, organ prolapse, postpartum changes, and other pelvic floor and urogynecology issues. Many women have found relief from their pain and discomfort through pelvic floor therapy in an outpatient rehabilitation setting.

What is Pelvic Floor Disorder?

Pelvic floor disorders are prevalent among women of all ages. They affect at least one third of all women and half of all women age 55 and older.

Pelvic floor dysfunction affects older women and also occurs in the younger female population.

The pelvic floor is made up of muscles, ligaments and connective tissue that act like a hammock, running front to back to support the pelvic and abdominal organs. It helps to control bowel and bladder function and plays a role in sexual activity. The pelvic floor is also important in stabilizing the pelvis and core.

Pelvic floor disorders may lead to:

• Stress Urinary Incontinence
• Urge Urinary Incontinence
• Mixed Incontinence (stress and urge)
• Urinary Urgency and Frequency (without incontinence)
• Constipation
• Bowel Incontinence
• Pelvic Pain or Pressure
• Pain with Intercourse
• Coccygeal Pain (tailbone pain)
• Post Partum Dysfunction Lumbopelvic

How can Physical Therapy help Pelvic Floor Disorders?

Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy has Physical Therapists trained in Women’s Health issues who will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of symptoms and design a treatment program that is individualized for each patient.

Treatment will vary depending on the individual’s symptoms and deficits identified.

Treatment may consist of:

• Exercises to identify and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles correctly
• Abdominal and core strengthening exercises
• Biofeedback techniques to improve awareness of the pelvic floor, muscle contraction and muscle relaxation
• Soft tissue mobilization and myofascial release to address muscle imbalances and normalize muscle tone
• Joint mobilization
• Relaxation techniques
• Education regarding diet and nutrition to avoid food and drinks that may irritate the bladder
• Education on changing behaviors which may be making symptoms worse
• Education on use of therapeutic dilators, wands, and Kegel weights for pelvic floor dysfunction

Physical Therapy can:

• Give you control over your life and your bladder
• Decrease pain and increase activity tolerance
• Reduce the use of medications for incontinence and pain
• Possibly prevent the need for surgery
• Assist with the referral resources if physical therapy is unsuccessful

Do you have a pelvic floor disorder?

• Do you have to use the restroom frequently throughout the day?
• Do you experience pain or pressure in the vagina?
• Do you experience pain during intercourse?
• Do you make a mental note of where all the bathrooms are located when you enter a building?
• Do you leak when you cough, sneeze, or lift heavy items?
• Do you find it hard to make it to the restroom, sometimes leaking or having an accident on the way?
• Do you have to use pads or other protection to absorb bladder leakage?
• Do you experience leakage of the bowel?

These issues are NOT a normal part of aging and are not something you just have to live with.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, there may be something you can do about it and we can help. Contact our Northern Utah for Women’s Health treatments today.

Wasatch Peak Women’s Health Specialists