Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in New York City [NYC] Tri-State Area

Who can benefit from pelvic physical therapy?

We’ve treated many women who’ve faced seemingly trivial symptoms in their pelvic area — symptoms which they thought were normal and didn’t know could be fixed.

For many of these women, we helped them fix their symptoms using pelvic floor physical therapy.

Pelvic floor physical therapy may be able to help with these symptoms:

• Leaking when you cough or sneeze (urinary incontinence)

• Urge to run to the bathroom (urinary urgency)

• Multiple trips to the bathroom at night (nocturia)

• Trouble controlling gas

• Chronic pelvic/vaginal pain

• Constipation

• Difficulty with bowel movements

• Difficulty with urination

• Discomfort in the lower back, groin, abdomen, hips, and legs

• Painful intercourse (sometimes after giving birth)

Some women may treat these symptoms as “just a part of life”, so they ignore them and live with the pain.

But it’s important to know that any of the symptoms above could signify an untreated pelvic floor problem.

For anyone currently experiencing any of the symptoms described above, physical therapy might be just be what they need.

What does pelvic physical therapy treat?

In addition to the pelvic issues we mentioned previously, pelvic floor physical therapy may also be able to treat the following conditions:

• Pelvic organ prolapse

• Vaginismus

• Endometriosis

• Vulvodynia

For anyone curious whether pelvic floor physical therapy can help their condition, contact us for an assessment.

How Pelvic Floor PT works

The pelvic muscles are just like any other muscle — if they don’t get worked out, they get weaker and weaker over time.

To prevent that, we have to stimulate the muscles — by working them out. And that is the exact idea behind pelvic floor physical therapy.

Like gym instructors, we work with our patients side-by-side to pinpoint problem areas and find suitable treatments that have the best chance of successfully relieving the pain.

What to expect from Pelvic Floor PT

Every woman is different, which is why we don’t have any cookie-cutter treatment plans.

To get the best results from physical therapy, the doctor has to know exactly what’s going on with the patient’s pelvic area.

After diagnosis, the doctor can create a plan that’s custom-made for the patient and their needs.

First appointment

It all starts with a consultation. The patient will talk to their doctor about what’s happening with their body, from how they’re feeling to what their physical activity goals are.

After that, there is both an internal and external exam where the doctor assesses the state of the pelvic area to see how it responds to certain things like coughing, peeing, or holding gas.

This assessment will help the doctor paint a clear picture of what’s happening with the pelvic area and what can be done to treat it.

Our specialists are trained not only in these clinical procedures, but also in dealing with the emotional discomfort that the patient may feel when talking about this intimate part of their body. The goal here is to help you.

Once the doctor understands the patient’s current situation, they can give them advice that suits the patient and their needs, considering their current diet, habits, medical history, and more.

The doctor will go in detail about what they found during the evaluation to make sure that the patient is fully aware and educated on what’s going on.

This holistic approach ensures that the patient is getting the best treatment for their needs.

During treatment

Future appointments will involve a detailed, solid plan that’s tailor-made for the patient and their body. Depending on the patient’s body’s response, the plan may change from time to time.

Over time, through a collaborative effort between the patient and their doctor, we should be able to create a solid plan that the body reacts well to.

Treatment options

Physical therapists may use a number of pelvic floor physical therapy treatment options to get results, including:

• Pelvic floor stretches and exercises

• Stimulation and dilators

• Manual physical therapy (vaginal manipulation)

Pelvic floor stretches and exercises

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles. Like any group of muscles, if we don’t use it, it will eventually weaken which can lead to pain and other issues.

To prevent and treat this, we can stimulate the pelvic floor using various stretches and exercises, all designed to target specific areas of the pelvic floor for maximum results.

The end goal here is to strengthen the pelvic muscles for effective, long-term results. The best thing about this treatment option is that it is completely non-invasive.

Electrical stimulation & dilators

Another treatment option is using devices to relax pelvic floor muscles and improve muscle contractions.

One of these devices includes a probe (the size of a small tampon) that uses low-voltage currents to electrically stimulate the pelvic muscles.

The probe does this by emitting a very low-voltage, safe electrical current to excite the nerves and muscles. Uncomfortable as it may sound, many patients actually describe the feeling as quite bearable.

Another solution is to use a dilator, which is a tube-shaped device. As part of a home-exercise program, patients insert it at home several times a week.

The dilator stretches out the pelvic floor to reduce the strain and spasm in the pelvic muscles, which can relax muscles, promote pain relief, and prevent excessive cramping and tightening.

Manual physical therapy (vaginal manipulation)

Your physical therapist may also recommend internal vaginal soft tissue manipulation (or pelvic massage). This is a hands-on massage treatment that is used to manipulate and stretch affected areas.

This treatment is necessary in some cases since some pelvic muscles cannot be reached any other way. Several small studies and clinical trials have tested this treatment and found it to be effective for relieving pelvic pain.

We do offer this treatment option at FemFirstHealth. We’re aware that this sort of treatment can sound intimidating, uncomfortable, and invasive. But, like most clinics, we’re trained in helping patients overcome the emotional burden that naturally comes with such a treatment.

We work carefully to pinpoint problem areas and find the most effective treatment for our patients. We’re always aware of patients’ comfort and privacy levels, and we go to great lengths to make sure our patients are as comfortable as possible.

Treat your pelvic pain while it’s still treatable

Pelvic pain isn’t something to ignore until it goes away. Our doctors know very well how troublesome untreated pelvic problems can be.

If left untreated, pelvic pain has the potential to become worse which can negatively effect the patient’s quality of life.

For those currently experiencing any of the symptoms we mentioned above, please talk to a pelvic floor specialist immediately.

If you’re from New York, our pelvic floor physiotherapists in Midtown Manhattan and Upper West Side, NY can help with a number of conditions.

To get started, just send us a message online or call us at 646-678-3034.

In addition to our in-office appointments, we also offer virtual/online pelvic floor physical therapy, which you can learn more about here.

FemFirstHealth is a Women’s Health Physical Therapy practice based in the New York City Tri-state Area.

You can visit any of our offices located in the tri-state area with offices in Upper West Side, Midtown Manhattan, and Brooklyn.

Get started on the road to recovery by booking an appointment or give us a call at (646) 678-3034 today.

Pelvic floor physical therapy FAQs

Frequently asked questions about pelvic floor physical therapy.

Does pelvic floor therapy work?

Yes, it does. Pelvic floor physical therapy, though not as high-tech as most other treatments, is evidence-based. Hundreds of research papers from peer-reviewed medical journals have backed the effectiveness of pelvic floor physical therapy.

Is there pelvic floor physical therapy for men?

Yes. Men can also suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction. A great way to treat it is through physical therapy, which many clinics offer.

Can pelvic floor physical therapy treat urinary incontinence?

Yes, pelvic floor physical therapy can treat incontinence. It’s actually one of the main reasons why people get pelvic floor physical therapy. Incontinence is the lack of voluntary control over urination/defecation, and it’s caused by a weakened pelvic floor. Physical therapy helps strengthen a patient’s pelvic floor, which can help a patient regain their control over it.

Can pelvic floor physical therapy treat endometriosis?

Though there is currently no cure for endometriosis, pelvic floor physical therapy does a good job of helping patients manage their symptoms and relieve their pain. But as for complete treatment, endometriosis requires more than just physical therapy.