Bowel incontinence is the inability to control bowel movements, causing stool (feces) to leak unexpectedly from the rectum. It ranges from an occasional leakage of stool while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control.
How physical therapy can help
Visceral manipulation (hands on therapy for your organs), specialized core exercise training and exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, known as pelvic floor rehabilitation, can help people who are living with bowel incontinence.
Mild to moderate cases of common types of incontinence can be greatly improved or even cured by manual, behavioral or exercise therapy. We can also teach you habits and techniques to control your incontinence. Even periodic incontinence is not something you have to live with ? we can help! Request an in-home physical therapy appointment with Redefining Health Physical Therapy today and get started on reclaiming your life.
Diastasis recti is a condition where the large abdominal muscles separate. Common symptoms of this condition include:
- Noticeable bulge in the middle of the stomach
- Lower back pain
- Rib pain
- Constipation
- Urinary leakage
- Development of a hernia
How physical therapy can help
Fortunately, physical therapy treatments can help repair and relieve your diastasis recti symptoms so you can get back to comfortably doing what matters most ? preparing and caring for your new bundle of joy.
It is common for treatment plans for prenatal and perinatal care to typically involve stage specific therapeutic exercises, stretches, and manual therapy. These are all done in order to relieve pain, strengthen your core muscles, improve posture, and prepare or recover from birthing.
Endometriosis is a disease that occurs during menstruation. It develops when the endometrium tissue (a similar tissue to the lining of the uterus) migrates outside of the womb, where it is not supposed to be. This results in inflammation, pain, and abnormal menstrual cycles.
How physical therapy can help
Some common techniques used during visceral manipulation, core and pelvic floor rehabilitation include:
- Postural exercises. These exercises are aimed at improving posture and strengthening the pelvic floor muscles that affect posture.
- Myofascial exercises. These exercises will target the pelvic floor muscles and connecting fascia. This treatment may include light exercise, in addition to stretches and massage, in order to target painful trigger points and provide relief.
- Diaphragmatic breathing. Deep breathing exercises allow your diaphragm to expand and contract, which helps in relaxing muscles in the pelvic area. When the muscles are relaxed, they will drop and lengthen, providing pain relief and allowing for regained function.
- Relaxation techniques. Relaxation is a large part of physical therapy. It allows your muscles to ease tension, making it easier for them to be stretched and massaged. Our Portland physical therapist may suggest some certain techniques, such as guided imagery or biofeedback, in order to help you relax.
- Organ mobility techniques. Endometriosis often causes adhesions and lack of mobility fo the affected organs. The ability of each organ to move about in the designated range it is meant to move within the body is critical for pain free living. If that space becomes restricted or any part of the connective tissue becomes compromised that organ will not be able to move like it is supposed to.
- Organ motility techniques. Motility is the inherent cellular flow with in each organ itself. When the mobility of an organ becomes compromised or there is a disease process going on in the body and the organ has to work harder, the motility (inherent cellular flow) becomes sluggish. Every organ has a specific pattern of cellular motion with in it kind of like the tide of an ocean. Organs are fluid and very viscous in nature and so must be treated accordingly. If the motility of an organ is not optimal than the organ itself will not be able to function at optimal level and do the work it is built to do for your body.
- Specialized core exercise training. Your core is designed to function as one harmonious unit creating a healthy, mobile and nourishing environment for your abdominal and pelvic organs as well as a stable base of operation for your entire body to function. Primary core muscles include your diaphragm, pelvic floor, rectus abdominis, obliques, transverse abdominis, and multifidi. With endometriosis mobility and nourishment are critical.
If you are suffering from endometriosis, don?t wait any longer to contact Redefining Health Physical Therapy. Schedule an in-home physical therapy appointment with us today to get started on your path toward relief.
Fibroids are benign tumors that develop specifically in the uterus. They are made up of smooth muscle cells and connective tissues. If you have fibroids, you are not alone ? in fact, approximately 70-80% of women will develop fibroids at some point in life.
Cysts are pockets, also known as sacs, that made up of membranous tissue. They can contain fluid, air, or other substances and can grow on almost any part of the body.
How can physical therapy help
Physical therapy can help with the symptoms of fibroids and cysts by providing specialized treatment for your organ systems called visceral manipulation as well as targeted exercises and stretches to help with pain and discomfort. Additional modalities, such as massage, other manual therapies or ice and heat therapies may also provide relief. Your treatment plan will be dependent upon the type of fibroid or cyst you have, the area it is located, and any accompanying symptoms you may have.
Nausea can be caused by a large variety of reasons and can be quite uncomfortable.
Acid reflux is a digestive disease in which stomach acid or bile irritates the food pipe lining.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a digestive disorder that affects the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the ring of muscle between the esophagus and stomach. Many people, including pregnant women, suffer from heartburn or acid indigestion caused by GERD.
How physical therapy can help
At Redefining Health Physical Therapy, one of our dedicated physical therapists will work closely with you to design a treatment plan specifically fit for your needs. For a treatment plan focused around GI health, the majority of your treatments will revolve around gentle exercises, aimed at moving your body in optimal ways for enhanced digestion. Physical therapy has the ability to treat several gastrointestinal disorders and conditions, including nausea, acid reflux, and GERD.
Our physical therapists can also provide you with certain lifestyle changes that can help combat your gastrointestinal issues, such as adopting a more nutritious diet, cutting out certain foods, or losing a certain amount of weight.
With pregnancy, the body experiences many changes, including postural adjustments, increased load on the pelvic floor, and stretching and thickening of the ligaments. Changes such as these can cause back pain and pelvic floor issues.
During the delivery process, you may need to undergo a procedure that might result in a scar, such as a c-section or an episiotomy. These can cause restrictions in the myofascial system of the body.
Some women might also suffer from diastasis recti, also known as abdominal separation. Diastasis recti can interfere with the strengthening of the abdomen muscles and cause the belly to ?pooch.?
How physical therapy can help
Redefining Health Physical Therapy can help mothers deal with pre- and post-natal pains as their bodies experience the effects of pregnancy and childbirth. Our Portland, OR in-home physical therapists will also help in addressing any problems that may arise during this time. Our mobile physical therapy practice uses specific myofascial and scar-release techniques to eliminate these restrictions and prevent your myofascial system from being further compromised. By including physical therapy in your prenatal and postnatal care, you can be better prepared for one of the biggest challenges in a woman?s life: delivering and caring for a baby.
?Urinary incontinence? is a technical term for leaking urine by accident. It is a common condition in more elderly demographics, especially elderly women, although it can happen to anyone for a number of reasons.
How can physical therapy help
At Redefining Health Physical Therapy, we know that living with urinary incontinence can be limiting ? and even embarrassing at times, especially when it occurs during a social setting. Our Portland, OR in-home physical therapists are dedicated to improving your pelvic health, quality of life, and socialization, so you can get back to living your very best life.
Pelvic pain…….
