Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Bel Air, MD

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Shhhhhh! Pelvic Floor dysfunctions and therapies are often not talked about. Symptoms and treatment are often embarrassing.

What is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Some Anatomy about the Pelvic Floor:

Healthy Pelvic Floor 

• If you were to think of the pelvis as a salad bowl, the pelvic floor is the bottom.
• Composed of muscle and connective tissue that connects the tailbone with the pubis and regulates the sphincters of bowel and bladder control.
• Basically, the pelvic floor holds everything in its place.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction  

• There are issues when the bottom of the bowl becomes weak, stretched or damaged.
• So now our salad bowl bottom has been replaced by a piece of plastic wrap. It’s kind of holding things in place, but not as good as the bowl.

Solutions for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Treating Pelvic Floor issues is not as easy as focusing on just one thing. Our providers have had specific training for pelvic floor therapy. They combine that training with traditional chiropractic and physical therapy to have an all-inclusive solution.

Chiropractic care will focus on the nerve muscle connection, as well as making sure there are not back or disc issues that are leading to or contributing to the problem. Physical Therapy will focus on supporting muscle groups such as the core and glutes. In some patients, diet changes can also be explored. Some diet choices will increase irritation and frequency and unhealthy weight gain can put more stress on pelvic floor. We also use the newest technologies to add more specialized non-invasive treatment directly to the pelvic floor.

Causes of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Why do you have problems with the pelvic floor? It is important to note this is an issue that affects both men AND women. Some causes are specific to one or the other, and some can affect both.

Physical or Structural Causes

Any trauma to the area or muscles can have long term effects. Pregnancy is the most common, as pregnancy puts additional pressure, weight, and stress on the pelvic floor. The birthing process can cause catastrophic and permanent damage to the tissues of the pelvic floor and the abdominals. Other traumas, such as assault, cancers and surgery, can have similar effects.

• Childbirth 
• Pregnancy 
• Pelvic surgery 
• Trauma or injury 
• Repetitive/improper heavy lifting 
• Prostate cancer 

Muscle and Nerve Causes

Everything in the body works together. Other muscle groups, nerves, and even the discs in your back can affect how the pelvic floor functions.  The communication pathway between the brain to the nerves ending at the pelvic floor must all function properly.

• Weak, overactive, or tight pelvic muscles
• Nerve damage

Hormonal and Aging Factors

The pelvic floor can start to weaken as we age or due to genetics and hormone changes.

• Perimenopause
• Menopause
• Aging

Lifestyle and Behavioral Causes

Basically, stress, stress, and more stress can cause issues. There are many types: chemical stress, emotional stress, situational stress, and physical. All stressors can have adverse effects.

• Significant weight gain
• Chronic cough
• High-impact exercise
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Stress and muscle tension

You are not alone!

Who reports pelvic floor symptoms?

Women: 24% of women experience at least one symptom

• Urinary Incontinence: 16%
• Fecal incontinence: 10%
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse: 3%

It is not an age issue 

• Women aged 20–39: 10%
• Women over age 55: 50%

Men: 15% of men experience at least one symptom

• Incontinence: 11%
• Bowel Issues: 7%
• Pelvic Pain: 15%
• Sexual Dysfunction: 50%