Your pelvic floor muscles are important to the body in many ways. These muscles stretch from the tailbone at the bottom of the spine to the pubic bone, and they also stretch between projections of bone on the pelvis called the sitting bones. The pelvic floor acts like a round muscular trampoline that supports the bladder and other organs in the lower body. Problems with these muscles can also lead to several medical conditions, and you can find pelvic floor physical therapy for them in Apache Junction, Arizona. 

1.   Incontinence

One condition that can cause you to search for pelvic floor physical therapy is incontinence. This is an inability to stop urine from coming out of the bladder, and weak pelvic floor muscles are one reason people have this issue. The sphincters are muscles in the pelvic floor that are directly responsible for providing bladder control. When these muscles contract, they close the opening of the bladder. 

However, the sphincter muscles can become loose, which makes it harder to control your bladder. For instance, lifting heavy objects can cause loose pelvic floor muscles, and high-impact exercises like sprinting can also cause this issue. The muscles can also naturally lose strength as you age. Even chronic coughing can lead to a loosening of the sphincter muscles and lead to incontinence. 

2.   Constipation

On the opposite extreme, tight pelvic floor muscles can make it harder to open the bladder or bowel. This can lead to an issue called constipation, which is a condition where your body is having trouble removing waste from the bowel or bladder, and it can be caused by overly tight pelvic floor muscles. 

Tightness in the pelvic floor muscles is often the result of running. When you run, the core muscles in the stomach, sides, back and pelvic floor expand and contract to keep you balanced. They also help to absorb the impact of your feet hitting the ground. However, one of these core areas may be weaker than the others. For example, the abs might be weak, and this can cause greater stress on the pelvic floor and other core areas. Pelvic floor physical therapy can effectively address issues with these important core muscles. 

Continuum Wellness in Apache Junction, AZ, can help treat pelvic floor muscle issues

If you’re dealing with issues caused by pelvic floor muscle problems, Continuum Wellness in Apache Junction can help. Our team of physical therapists can do a one-on-one screening to determine what’s going on with your pelvic floor. We can then build a personalized therapy plan for you, and your plan may make use of therapy techniques such as: 

• Total motion release
• Manual therapy 
• Therapeutic exercise

Are you ready to take the next step to deal with pelvic floor muscle issues? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an appointment.