What is Pelvic PT?

Hello Ladies!

 

A little bit about me:

 

I am a physical therapist with my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Rockhurst University.  I am board certified to treat all diagnoses from back, hip, knee, shoulder, neck pain etc.  My love for treating pelvic pain and dysfunction began in physical therapy school and has grown a ton as I continue my career. 

 

I focus on specific issues related to the men and women with pelvic dysfunction, such as urinary or fecal leakage (incontinence), pelvic organ prolapse, constipation, pain with intercourse, and pregnancy/ postpartum pain. I am the lead pelvic physical therapist at Summit Strength Physical Therapy in Lee’s Summit, MO. 

 

I specialize in treating pelvic health physical therapy.  So what is pelvic physical therapy you might ask?

 

The same way I would treat your neck with stretches, exercises or manual work, I would do that with your pelvic floor muscles. Your pelvic floor muscles are in your pelvis and run from your pubic bone back your sacrum.  They are bowl shaped and act as a hammock, supporting your bowel, bladder and uterus.  The pelvic floor muscles can become weak like other muscles in our body.  They can also develop spasms, similar to your upper trapezius muscle, where you might feel pain or discomfort “down there”. 

 

Anytime there is dysfunction in the pelvic floor muscles, issues happen.  For instance, women develop urinary incontinence, or leaking of urine with coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercise or with urgency, such as not making it to the bathroom fast enough.  I don’t know about you, but after having my son, every time I had a hard laugh or cough I was doing the weird crossing my legs in public to avoid leaking.

 

Approximately 1 in every 2 women will have urinary incontinence in their lifetime and you don’t have to have a baby to experience it.  I am seeing younger and younger girls in the clinic with urinary incontinence with their sports activities.

 

One thing I want you to remember from this is, these pelvic health issues are NOT NORMAL-they are COMMON.  Most women don’t want to admit they have incontinence because 1) they think it’s a normal part of aging and there is no help or 2)its an intimate topic and no one wants to be the first to admit they leak urine.  Luckily, more celebrities are admitting they have urinary incontinence so other women are starting to feel they can too.  Thank you Whoppie Goldberg for coining the term “LBL” or “light bladder leaking”.

 

Once urinary incontinence begins, if you don’t do anything to improve it, it will only get worse.  This means if you are leaking 3 times a month, it could increase to once a week or multiple times a day.

 

So again, what is pelvic PT?  With pelvic health physical therapy, I am able to set women up on individual programs to help them improve their pelvic floor muscles, decrease their leaking and increase their confidence by staying dry.  Pelvic Physical Therapy is extremely effective and has lots of research to back it up.  It is similar to a gynecological exam, only no speculums, stirrups or pap smears.  I am assessing your pelvic floor muscles from side to side. I am gloving up, lubricating and going in. I will check your pelvic floor muscle endurance, power, strength, resting tone, coordination etc. and improve your issues.

 

To find out more: listen to ESPN 1510 radio LIVE or online at www.theperkkc.com on Thursday, May1 OR come to Moms and Mimosas on May 10^th in Old Monroe, MO.

 

Take Care!

 

Amanda Fisher, DPT

amandafisherpt@gmail.com