Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is a specialty area of physical therapy concentrating on the muscles of the pelvic floor and focusing on treatment of both women and men with pelvic floor dysfunction.
Our PFPT program is led by our pelvic floor physical therapists who are both formally trained in the treatment for this specialty. Learn more about our specialists: Kylie Hayes-Akers and Jen Sloan.
Patients experiencing the following conditions can benefit from PFPT to address underlying muscle weakness, muscle spasm, and soft tissue restrictions:
- urinary incontinence
- fecal incontinence
- pelvic organ prolapse
- constipation
- pain with intercourse (dyspareunia)
- pelvic pain
- generalized strengthening and mobility following abdominal or pelvic surgeries
- pain during and/or after pregnancy
- urinary incontinence after prostate or colorectal cancers
In order to schedule an evaluation, you will need a referral placed for PFPT by your doctor. At the evaluation, you will complete a thorough visit, including medical/surgical history, pregnancy history (if applicable), bladder/bowel symptoms, sexual function, pain symptoms, and dietary/lifestyle habits.
Our specialists will next share more about pelvic floor anatomy and how it is related to your chief complaint(s). A pelvic exam is also typically performed on the first day following a verbal explanation of the objective and your consent.
From there, a plan of care will be devised. The frequency of therapy visits is determined based on individualized needs, but treatments are always one-on-one with our specialist. Your treatment plan may include:
- manual therapy to address soft tissue restrictions/muscle spasms
- therapeutic exercise to improve strength and mobility
- biofeedback to improve coordination and proprioception of pelvic floor muscles
- education on behavior modifications and lifestyle changes to optimize bladder and bowel function
To schedule an appointment, have your referring provider fax a referral to (937) 578-7891.
Take the questionnaire below to find out if you have pelvic floor dysfunction and would benefit from seeing a pelvic health physical therapist!
View moreAnswer YES or NO to the following:
- I sometimes have pelvic pain (in genitals, perineum, pubic or bladder area, or pain with urination) that exceeds a “3” on a 1-10 pain scale, with 10 being the worst pain imaginable
- I can remember falling onto my tailbone, lower back, or buttocks (even in childhood)
- I sometimes experience one or more of the following urinary symptoms
- Accidental loss of urine
- Feeling unable to completely empty my bladder
- Having to void within a few minutes of a previous void
- Pain or burning with urination
- Difficulty starting or frequent stopping/starting of urine stream
- I often or occasionally have to get up to urinate two or more times at night
- I sometimes have a feeling of increased pelvic pressure or the sensation of my pelvic organs slipping down or falling out
- I have a history of pain in my low back, hip, groin, or tailbone or have had sciatica
- I sometimes experience one or more of the following bowel symptoms
- Loss of bowel control
- Feeling unable to completely empty my bowels
- Straining or pain with a bowel movement
- Difficulty initiating a bowel movement
- I sometimes experience pain or discomfort with sexual activity or intercourse
- Sexual activity increases one or more of my other symptoms
- Prolonged sitting increases my symptoms
If you answered YES to three or more of the above, you are likely experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction. Speak to your provider about a referral to the Memorial Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy team to set up an appointment.
*The Cozean Questionnaire was created by Nicole Cozean, PT, DPT, WCS, CSCS* and Jesse Cozean, MBA.
Hear directly from our patients:
“Physical therapy for pelvic floor with Kylie helped me so much! I have struggled with what I thought were lower back/hip issues since I gave birth to my first baby 21 years ago. I have spent so much money on acupuncture, massages, naturopaths. I went in to see Kylie and after assessing my pain and issues, she told me that she thought it was my pelvic floor and not really my back. I am truly thankful for physical therapy and the major improvements that I have experienced. It has been a game changer for me.”
“Little did I know that my life would increasingly change drastically after Pelvic Floor Therapy was approved with Kylie-Hayes Akers. Incontinence problems are very personal and hard to talk about or to explain the severity of the condition. Kylie’s knowledge, professionalism, and personable demeanor made the therapy process of strengthening the pelvic floor muscles a positive, healing process. She equipped me with exercises and taught me how to properly execute them. She didn’t make me feel uncomfortable at all. The encouragement to continue my regimen was bladder control. I can take long trips without stopping at rest areas or gas stations. Shopping from store to store without urine just running out of my bladder or feeling a great urge to release with little result are over. I continue my exercises about 5 days a week now; I am more functional and happy. Overall, I have minimal pain and am not burdened with, “Where is the next bathroom?” ”
“For years I have had bad posture that led to bad habits on how I carry myself. In everything I did, I bent wrong, lifted wrong, and just all around moved wrong. Doing that for 15 years in a fast paced, manual job caught up with me. I started by going to a chiropractor and I got my back adjusted, but the problem never got resolved. Then I got in a car accident and my back issues started to get worse. So, I started Physical Therapy and soon after I found Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy. Thanks to Kylie and others in the Memorial Health system, I found out that I have had a hernia for the past five years. Kylie really coached me though the weeks leading up to surgery and gave me tools and resources to get through surgery with my medical anxiety. Since I have been going to Pelvic Floor PT, I am finally getting results. I’m seeing better habits forming without me having to think about it. I really have enjoyed working with Kylie and appreciate her patience with me. She has gone above and beyond to give any resources she has that can help. She is very knowledgeable and is dedicated to seeing her patients make improvements.”
