Pelvic Floor Therapy

What is pelvic floor therapy?

Pelvic floor therapy is a treatment that helps strengthen the muscles within your pelvis. These muscles have five main functions:

Urination (peeing) and bowel movements (pooping)
Sex and childbirth
Support of your internal organs (like your bladder, uterus, rectum and intestines)
Upright posture when walking
Movement of fluids like blood through your lower body

Therapy can help you relax tight muscles and strengthen weak ones. It can ease pain and make it easier to pee or have a bowel movement, as well as give you better control over any urine or stool leaks.

How do I know if I need pelvic floor therapy?

Pelvic floor therapy can help you if you answer yes to any of these questions:

Have your bathroom habits changed?
Do you leak urine or stool?
Do you have to push hard when you urinate or have a bowel movement?
Does it hurt when you urinate or have a bowel movement?
Did you have a large tear during childbirth (third degree or more, meaning a deep tear involving muscles around the anus)?
If you had a cut or tear during childbirth, does your scar or the area around it hurt?
Do you have pain during sex or problems having an orgasm?
Do you have problems using a tampon?
Do you have pain anywhere from your ribs to your knees?
Do you have back or hip pain plus leaking urine or stool?
Do you have a tear in your stomach muscles (called diastasis recti, which means that your stomach muscles have separated, leaving a gap), which often happens during or after pregnancy?

What symptoms does pelvic floor therapy treat?

At the UNC Health Chatham’s rehabilitation clinics in Siler City and Pittsboro, we treat men and women looking for relief from the following symptoms:

Pain

With exercises and treatment, you can improve your pelvic health and help relieve:

Pain in the lower stomach (belly pain or abdominal pain)
Pain in the pelvis that doesn’t go away (chronic pelvic pain)
Pain during sex (dyspareunia)
Pain in the lower back or butt that can spread down the legs (sacral pain)
Nerve pain in the pelvic area (pudendal neuralgia)
Pain during sex caused by involuntary tightening of the vaginal muscles (vaginismus)
Pain in the vaginal opening (vulvar vestibulitis)
Pain in the vulva (outer part of a woman’s genitals) (vulvodynia)

Bathroom problems

With pelvic floor dysfunction, problems with urinating and having a bowel movement can be common. Therapy can help with the following problems you might be having:

Trouble having a bowel movement (constipation)
Trouble holding in stool (fecal incontinence)
Trouble holding in urine (urinary incontinence), including:
- Leaking urine while coughing, laughing or sneezing (stress urinary incontinence)
- Frequently getting the sudden urge to urinate (urge urinary incontinence)
- Problems holding in urine with both pressure and sudden urges (mixed urinary incontinence)
Sensitive bowels (irritable bowel syndrome)

Muscle and organ problems

Spasms or tightening in the pelvic muscles near your anus and vagina (levator ani syndrome, or LAS)
Sagging of your pelvic organs (like your bladder, uterus and rectum) (pelvic organ prolapse)
- Uterus sagging (uterine prolapse)
- Front vaginal wall sagging (bladder prolapse or cystocele)
- Back vaginal wall sagging (posterior vaginal wall prolapse)
Problems with your pelvic floor muscles (pelvic floor dysfunction)

Pelvic floor therapy near you

UNC Health Chatham pelvic floor therapy for stress incontinence and other issues is currently available in two convenient locations.

Who can benefit from pelvic floor therapy?

If you are dealing with pelvic pain, you can benefit from pelvic floor therapy, regardless of your gender.

Pelvic floor therapy is particularly beneficial to people who are preparing to have or who have had:

Prostate surgery
Urogenital procedures (like bladder sling, sacral colpopexy, pelvic floor reconstruction)
Abdominal surgery
Colon surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation

Pelvic floor therapy can also be helpful if you have had:

Chronic pelvic pain
A gap between the stomach muscles (diastasis recti or DRA)
Low back pain during pregnancy (obstetric low back pain, OB LBP)
Low back pain after giving birth (postpartum low back pain)
Pain where the spine meets the hips (sacroiliac joint dysfunction)
Problems after surgery or childbirth returning to your previous level of active lifestyle

Get pelvic floor help near you.

Call one of our two locations to ask if you need a referral.
Siler City: 919-799-4510
Pittsboro: 984-215-3260

Does pelvic floor therapy work?

Yes. Pelvic floor therapy helps many people feel better. It can help relieve pain and help you control when you have to urinate or have a bowel movement. Your therapist will show you simple exercises you can do at home and ways to help your muscles work better. Many people notice good changes after a few visits, especially if they practice their exercises.

What to expect at your first visit

You are always in control during your therapy session. Your therapist will explain each step and ask for your consent, making sure you feel comfortable. You can ask for a chaperone at any time. During your first visit to pelvic floor therapy, your physical therapist will likely:

Discuss your medical history
Talk about what may be adding to your pain, including any relevant surgeries or injuries
Ask if you’ve had physical therapy in the past and talk about what worked or not
Do a physical exam, including your back, hips and abdomen
Create a personalized treatment plan

What should I wear to therapy?

Plan to wear comfortable, loose clothing and shoes that can be easily taken off. Your therapist will let you know if specific clothing is needed. When exams are necessary, your provider may ask you to change into an exam gown.

Frequently asked questions

Who can get pelvic floor therapy?

Adults of any gender with pelvic pain or bathroom problems can benefit from pelvic floor therapy.

Do I need a referral?

Call us to ask if your insurance requires a doctor’s referral. Many patients can self-refer; others need a doctor’s order.

How long is a visit?

Most first visits last 45 to 60 minutes.

Is pelvic floor therapy covered by insurance?

Often yes, but insurance plans differ. Check your insurance to see what your cost would be.

Will I have an internal exam?

Sometimes. Your therapist will explain your options and get your consent first.

Are there exercises to do at home?

Yes. Your therapist will teach you at-home pelvic floor therapy exercises to help improve your pelvic health.