Pelvic Floor Disorders

An unknown fact is that both men and women have a pelvic floor. In women, the pelvic floor is the muscles, ligaments, connective tissues and nerves that support the bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum and help these pelvic organs function. In men, the pelvic floor includes the muscles, tissues and nerves that support the bladder, rectum and other pelvic organs.

One in three women suffer from pelvic floor disorders such as incontinence, dropped pelvic organs, or urinary urgency. Less than 50% of women with pelvic floor disorders pursue medical treatment. In men, common pelvic floor disorders are incontinence, urinary urgency, and can often result in prostatitis, a bacteria in the prostate gland.

Summa's pelvic disorder physicians help hundreds of women each year overcome pelvic floor disorders.

The importance of understanding and maintaining a healthy pelvic floor can be easily overlooked. Surgery, childbirth, scarring, chronic squeezing of the pelvic muscles, sexual abuse, or pelvic fractures can result in a number of health problems if not properly treated. These types of trauma can cause excessive muscle tightness or weakness that may lead to spasms, pain, weakness and incontinence.

What are typical symptoms?

• Pelvic pain
• Loss of bladder control
• Leakage of urine
• Feeling a bulge and/or pressure of the uterus, bladder, vagina or rectum
• Frequent urination or sense of urgency to empty your bladder

What types of pelvic floor disorders can be treated?

• Urinary and fecal incontinence
• Bladder urgency and frequency
• Painful bladder syndrome
• Pelvic pain
• Pregnancy-related pain
• Postpartum care
• Bowel disorders
• Constipation
• Coccyx pain
• Pre/post prostatectomy

How are such pelvic floor issues treated?

Depending on the cause, treatment may include:

• Patient and partner education
• Internal and external manual therapy
• Biofeedback
• Soft tissue and joint mobilization
• Sacroiliac treatment and bracing
• Use of vaginal dilators
• Relaxation training
• Posture assessment
• Customized exercise program to achieve muscle balance
• Post-operative recovery exercises and education
• Bladder and bowel retraining
• Bladder, bowel, pelvic floor anatomy, normal urination pattern and hygiene education
• Pelvic floor, trunk and hip musculature strengthening exercises
• Treatment for pelvic organ prolapse
• Anal rectal balloon re-training  

Options for pelvic surgery include:

• Sling procedures
• Minimally invasive vaginal or laparoscopic procedures/reconstructions
• Coaptite injections

Minimally invasive and robotic surgery can be done with minimal impact to patients, which means:

Restoring muscle balance through therapy leads to:

• Decreased pain
• Resolved incontinence
• Improvement in overall quality of life

Specially trained physical therapists work one-on-one with patients in a comfortable and private setting.

Please don’t hesitate to call
If you would like to participate in Summa’s pelvic floor rehabilitation program, a physician referral is required. Most major insurance plans are accepted, including Medicare and worker’s compensation.

To schedule an appointment with a physician for pelvic floor disorders, please call 330.375.4094

To schedule a physical therapy appointment, please call 330.379.8666.