Pelvic floor rehabilitation is designed to treat both men and women for the following conditions:
- Urinary frequency, urgency, and nighttime waking to void
- Urinary incontinence
- Fecal incontinence (loss of control of bowels) with or without fecal frequency or urgency
- Constipation
- Irritable bowel symptoms
- Interstitial cystitis
- Pelvic pain or spasm
- Pain with intercourse or gynecologic exam
- Painful urination
- Chronic testicle or prostate pain (chronic prostatitis)
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles at the base of the pelvis. These muscles and the nerves near them are responsible for control of bowel function and bladder function. The muscular floor acts as a hammock for the bladder, vagina (in women), prostate (in men) and bowel. Abnormal functioning of theses muscles and nerves may lead to the above conditions. Pelvic floor rehabilitation and biofeedback restore the normal function of these muscles and nerves, thereby improving or resolving a patient’s symptoms.
Comprehensive Urology Institute has trained nurses that provide pelvic floor rehabilitation therapy. Stimulation of the muscles with small, painless impulses help to lengthen and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, and build the patient’s awareness of the pelvic floor. Real time imagery of the therapy can be used as well to help the patient understand and master control of the pelvic floor. Patients can continue working their pelvic floor muscles at home using a number of exercises.
Patients begin therapy with once per week sessions for four weeks. Each session takes 30-60 minutes and patients are assessed at each visit. After the four-week period, the physician determines whether to continue therapy as the patient continues to improve, to discontinue therapy if the patient’s symptoms have resolved, or to move to the next line of therapy. Therapy may take up to 12 weeks. We have had great success with our pelvic floor rehabilitation and biofeedback services and treat men and woman of all ages.