Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy that focuses on rehabilitation of the pelvic floor muscles and surrounding tissue. The pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles located at the bottom of the pelvis, which support the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, and rectum) and help control bowel and bladder functioning, aides in sexual functioning and are your deepest layer of core muscles.

If you need to pee without pushing, poop without straining, have pain free sex, exercise without leaking, cough without leaking…then pelvic floor therapy may be for you.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) occurs when physical movement or activity such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, or exercising puts pressure on the bladder, leading to involuntary urine leakage. This may be from a weak pelvic floor or a tight pelvic floor. Both can lead to leakage and both require a different type of treatment.

Urge Urinary Incontinence can be from a tight pelvic floor or a weak pelvic floor or even neurological conditions. Each requires a different type of treatment. UUI is characterized by:

• Sudden, strong urges to urinate that are difficult to control.

• Leakage of urine before reaching the toilet, even if the bladder is not full.

• Frequent urination, often more than eight times a day or more than once at night.

• Waking up multiple times during the night to urinate (Nocturia).