Endometriosis is a challenging and often debilitating condition where endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus, leading to severe pelvic pain and discomfort. People suffering from endometriosis often face not just physical pain but also emotional and psychological stress. While traditional treatments focus on hormonal therapies and surgery, a growing body of research suggests that physical...
With any pelvic floor dysfunction, there is so much more to look into aside from simply the pelvic floor. The term “Kegel” was first used in 1948 by a professor of gynecology Dr. Arnold Kegel to describe a pelvic floor contraction. While it has now become a household term, there is so much more to...
Constipation doesn't just mean infrequent bowel movements, it can cause stomach pain, abdominal cramping, bloating, and a persistent feeling of pressure or fullness that interferes with daily life, exercise, and sleep. The good news: constipation pain is treatable, and in many cases, highly responsive to targeted physical therapy. At Mend, our pelvic floor PTs in Boulder and Lafayette help patients address the root cause, not just temporary symptom relief.
The pelvic floor consists of muscles, ligaments, fascia and nerves located within the bony pelvis of women and men. In physical therapy we often discuss the muscles of the pelvic floor and may simply refer to these as the “pelvic floor”. These muscles serve essential functions including: Support for pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, bowel) Control...
Overactive Bladder (OAB) is a group of symptoms, not a disease, that is associated with sudden and frequent urge to urinate. Urinary urge incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine associated with a sudden, overwhelming urge to urinate. The prevalence of urge incontinence in women is thought to be between 20-30%. Although it is less...
What’s considered “normal” when it comes to bladder health and urination? The following is some basic information I use to screen people for possible bladder dysfunction and help them better identify the habits that may be contributing to their urinary symptoms. It’s important to remember there is no exact set of normal bladder habits, but...
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined as the involuntary loss of urine with activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) such as coughing or sneezing. High-impact activities such as running, rotational movements, or jumping can also increase intra-abdominal pressure. Many people associate involuntary urinary loss with increased age or history of pregnancy and delivery. A number...
Scientific research, including a Cochrane Review by Dumoulin et al. from 2018 that reviewed the information in 31 research trials, concludes there is grade A or high-quality evidence to support the use of pelvic floor muscle training to treat stress urinary incontinence or the urinary leaking that occurs with cough or a sneeze. There is...
Avoiding constipation helps keep your pelvic floor happy. The following are 7 daily steps to help treat constipation and improve general bowel function. Eat slowly. Digestion starts when saliva from your salivary glands break food while you chew and taking your time while you chew can help break down food and signal to your gut...
Understanding and prioritizing pelvic floor relaxation is fundamental to maintaining overall muscle health. The pelvic floor’s unique ability to lengthen and relax plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, including urination, bowel movements, childbirth, and sexual arousal. In this blog, we’ll explore the significance of pelvic floor relaxation and provide insights into its benefits,...
