Physical Therapy Pelvic Floor Exam

Pelvic floor exams should be standard of care.
Physical therapy pelvic floor exam. Many pelvic floor conditions can be managed and healed without surgery. We do not use a speculum and we are not evaluating the reproductive urinary or intestinal systems. This allows the physical therapist to determine the appropriate tests and measures for the examination process. It can seem a little daunting especially if you have pelvic floor pain but pelvic floor therapists are trained to be as thorough as possible while minimizing discomfort.
Why see a pelvic floor therapist. Achieving and maintaining pelvic floor health is essential to lifelong sexual enjoyment by minimizing or preventing injury and increasing arousal and sexual intensity. You will be asked detailed questions about all pelvic floor functions. Seeing a physical therapist pt or an occupational therapist ot who is trained as a pelvic floor therapist may help you better understand your symptoms and design a personalized program to help alleviate your pelvic discomfort or pain through retraining and strengthening your muscles.
Your physical therapist wants to know your concerns about current limitations and restrictions of normal daily activities. Kristin christensen a physical therapist pt who specializes in pelvic floor disorders then brought me back to the exam room. The internal exam is where the dpt inserts her gloved non latex lubricated k y or astroglide gel index finger intravaginally or intrarectally up to the level of the pelvic floor muscles which is approximately 1 inch from the anal or vaginal opening. What exactly do pelvic floor physical therapists do.
This part of our physical exam gives us a ton of information. We spent the first 20 minutes talking about my history. Lastly your physical examination may include an internal and external examination of your pelvic floor. We evaluate the pelvic floor muscles joints ligaments and fascia for strength quality endurance and motor.
Male pelvic floor therapy refers to a number of therapeutic assessment and treatment techniques intended to decrease pain and increase your control of your pelvic floor muscles. An internal exam can be done vaginally or rectally for women and rectally for men. It helps us determine whether your pelvic floor muscles are tight or weak and if you know how to.