The Women’s Health and Pelvic Floor Therapy program at UofL Health – Frazier Rehabilitation Institute was developed to offer services for women living with urinary incontinence, urinary urgency, pelvic pain, dysfunctional voiding/defecation and pregnancy/post-partum related pain and weakness.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that pelvic floor disorders, such as urinary incontinence affect up to one-quarter of American women. Urinary incontinence, or involuntary loss of bladder control, isn’t something that just happens to older patients. In fact, the condition affects men and women alike, young and old. More than 25 million Americans have urinary incontinence, and the experience can leave them feeling ashamed, socially isolated and depressed. Recent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of physical therapy in treating the symptoms of urinary incontinence. Pelvic floor muscle training, in conjunction with bladder retraining, has been shown to reduce or resolve symptoms of urinary incontinence in women.
Our specially trained therapists are skilled in evaluating and providing patient-centered treatment in women’s health issues through different stages of life. We provide treatments that address muscle weakness and imbalance, spinal and pelvic joint dysfunction and provide guidance related to modifications of activities of daily living.
Common diagnoses treated are:
- Urinary incontinence or urinary urgency
- Dyspareunia/painful intercourse
- Interstitial cystitis/bladder, pain/painful urination
- Pelvic pain
- Vaginismus/pelvic muscle tightness
- Vulvodynia/vaginal burning
- Pelvic floor myalgia (muscle pain)/muscle spasm
- Levator ani syndrome
- Pregnancy and post-pregnancy related issues
- Post-surgical pelvic pain
Program features include:
- Assessment to determine the type of incontinence (stress, urge, or both), the extent of incontinence and assessment of the strength, motor control and endurance of pelvic floor muscles
- Assessment of musculoskeletal issues with particular emphasis on pelvic and back pain
- Comprehensive treatment plan in collaboration with your physician
- Therapeutic exercise to enhance the pelvic floor and abdominal muscle function, and incorporation of these exercises into daily activities
- Surface EMG (electromyography) to measure muscle activity and to provide patients with feedback on the muscle control as it develops
- Electrical stimulation to facilitate muscle contraction or to reduce pain
- Recommendations on lifestyle changes that will help make the bladder less irritable, including avoiding common bladder irritants, retraining the bladder, keeping a bladder diary and lifting, moving and exercising correctly
