I watched some videos about exercises for the muscles in the lower part of the body. The people teaching in the videos explain things well, like how to target the right muscles and how it feels if you’re doing it wrong.
People in the comments say they learned a lot from the videos, even more than they did from going to therapy in person.
I wonder what it’s like to go to a pelvic floor therapy session in person. I imagine it’s like a regular gym, but instead of lifting weights, everyone is doing exercises lying down on mats with their own instructors. So, what is it actually like?
What do you do there? Do you do stretches or workouts? Do they do something inside your body?
Pelvic floor therapy is a specialized and private treatment focusing on the pelvic floor muscles. It typically involves:
Assessment and Examination: Initial sessions include discussing your symptoms and possibly an internal examination to assess muscle strength and tone.
Treatment Plan: Depending on your needs, this may include:
Pelvic floor exercises to strengthen or relax your muscles.
Biofeedback for better muscle control awareness.
Manual Therapy to relieve muscle tightness.
Education on pelvic floor health and lifestyle adjustments.
Follow-Up: Sessions to adjust your treatment as you progress.
Unlike general gym workouts, this therapy is individualized, focusing on exercises and techniques specific to the pelvic floor, not on traditional weightlifting or cardio.
I work as a pelvic floor therapist. To find an in-network pelvic floor therapist in your area, it’s best to contact your insurance provider directly or check their website. In most cases, the therapists in network are affiliated with local hospitals. However, it’s worth noting that some insurance lists may include clinics that don’t specialize in pelvic floor therapy, leading to frustration when calling for appointments. Despite this, you should find some pelvic floor therapy options on the list, which can help manage costs.
Pelvic floor therapy sessions are private and tailored to individual needs, focusing on the muscles that support bladder and bowel functions. In a session, a therapist might:
Exercises: Teach exercises like Kegels to strengthen pelvic muscles.
Biofeedback: Use sensors to help you see and improve muscle control.
Manual Therapy: Massage or stretch the pelvic area to ease tension.
Education: Give advice on habits that affect pelvic health, such as how to lift correctly.
Internal Techniques: Sometimes, a therapist might check the muscles internally using a gloved finger to diagnose and treat issues.
The sessions are conducted in a private room, aiming to relieve symptoms like pain or incontinence and improve daily life.
Therapy sessions involve internal exams and hands-on techniques by therapists. Exercises target muscles through stretches and contractions. Therapists access internal muscles to relieve pain and tension.