Pelvic Health

Physical therapy plays a crucial role in addressing the overall health and wellness for the female body in all ages and stages of life. At Elevate Physical Therapy, we have specially trained physical therapists who bridge the gap between traditional orthopedic and pelvic health care in Johnston and Ankeny, IA to achieve the best results and get YOU back to doing what you love as soon as possible!

What will treatment look like?

We often begin with reconnecting with your core through postural assessment, corrective exercises, and teaching diaphragmatic breathing. Strengthening activities and stretches can play an important role in your therapy. These will progress to more functional activities such as lifting, squatting, jumping, or running. Our specially trained physical therapists will work with you to discuss what your specific goals are, and to design a meaningful program with you to reach your goals. Contact Elevate Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine in Johnston or Ankeny today; It’s never too late to begin your treatment to address your concerns and improve your quality of life.

What Conditions Can Physical Therapy Treat?

• Urinary Frequency or Leakage: This condition is not unique to the postpartum or older population. Young, elite athletes can also be impacted by this condition. Leaking should never be considered normal, although it is very common. Our physical therapists can help! You may be asked to fill out a bladder diary so your treatment can be tailored specifically to your needs.

• Pregnancy Associated Pains: This can include pelvic girdle pain, neck or back pain to name a few. Our physical therapists can work with you to manage your pain and allow you to continue being active throughout your pregnancy. Our physical therapists can help you find beneficial strengthening and stretching exercises to help prepare your body for labor. We also offer education on finding different positions that feel best for you to labor in.

• Postpartum Recovery: There are multiple changes that occur in a body during pregnancy. It can be difficult to know where to start for returning to activity safely. You may feel like things are just different. Our physical therapists can help you reconnect with your core and pelvic floor, help improve body awareness, retrain your posture, and return to high impact exercises without leaking or pain. We recommend seeing one of our trained therapists between 2-6 weeks postpartum to optimize your recovery and to best allow us to support you.

• Diastasis Recti: The widening and thinning of the linea alba (a band of white fibrous tissue running down the middle of the abdominal wall from the base of the sternum to the top of the pelvis) creates a separation between the rectus abdominis muscles. This is a common occurrence during pregnancy. Some studies have shown this finding in 100% of women who carry beyond 35 weeks gestation. Oftentimes it will improve on its own during the immediate postpartum period. However, about 25% of women still have this finding 1 year postpartum. The abdominal muscles are key players for our core stability and function. You may experience doming or a bulging appearance with certain activities, such as crunches. Our physical therapists can assess your separation and help you better manage your intra-abdominal pressure. Pregnancy is the most common cause for diastasis recti, but this can also be seen in women who have not been pregnant and men. We can screen for this as early as 6 weeks postpartum to get you on the right track for activity management and regaining your strength.

• Breastfeeding support: Our physical therapists can assist with neck, shoulder, and back pain commonly associated with breastfeeding positioning and early motherhood. We also provide ultrasound treatment, specialized massage techniques, and stretches to address clogged milk ducts.

• Post-surgical: This can include abdominal surgeries, such as a c-section, hysterectomy, and laparoscopic procedures. It is important to reconnect with your core to optimize function, allow for safe return to exercise, reduce pain and prevent pain in the future. We will also work to improve scar tissue mobility.

• SI Joint Pain: Your sacroiliac (SI) joint is closely related to lower back, hip, and pelvic floor function. Our physical therapists can evaluate you to determine what the cause of your pain is, and work to eliminate your pain and help you return to activities unrestricted. SI joint pain can frequently occur after a traumatic event such as a fall, or even after childbirth.

• Constipation: If you are straining, or experiencing difficulty with regular bowel movements, we can help! We can look at your diet, exercise level, soft tissue mobility, and any pelvic floor or abdominal muscle tension that may be contributing to constipation.

• Pelvic Organ Prolapse: If you are experiencing an increase in pelvic pressure, or a heaviness, come in for an assessment! You can learn how to manage your pressure system, and get back to doing whatever you love to do!

• Endometriosis: Our physical therapists are trained in helping to address your pain symptoms. This may include discussing nutrition, addressing soft tissue tension and restrictions, stretching, breathing techniques, and finding comfortable strengthening exercises. Physical therapy cannot cure endometriosis, but it can play a vital role in managing your symptoms.

• Pain with Sexual Activity: Pelvic floor muscles play an important role in achieving sexual arousal and orgasm. If the pelvic floor muscles aren’t functioning optimally, or if they are holding too much tension, this can contribute to pain. We can work to downtrain your muscles, and improve muscle coordination to get rid of your pain.

• Orthopedic Referred Pain: Your pelvic floor muscles can often refer pain to your neck, shoulder, lower back, hips, and feet. Let us work together to investigate where your pain is truly coming from, and solve the problem. Our pelvic floor therapists are also experts in treating orthopedic conditions. This makes a perfect match for our patients! We are able to fully assess how your whole body is functioning, from head to toe.

Getting Treatment for your Pelvic Pain Relief

Your pelvic floor muscles, tendons, and ligaments are extremely important as they support the core of your body. The goal of physical therapy is to provide relief from your pelvic symptoms, improve flexibility, relieve pain, and increase your overall functionality. Depending on the type of injury or condition, physical therapy may be needed for several months. Contact us at our Ankeny clinic for more information regarding how pelvic floor rehab can work for you.