Why pelvic floor therapy isn't just for new moms

Pelvic floor disorders happen when the muscles or connective tissues of the pelvic area weaken or are injured. Many times, this can happen in pregnancy. But new moms aren’t the only ones who may have a pelvic floor disorder.

Kristen Joyce is a pelvic floor physical therapist at AdventHealth Parker and helps patients experiencing a variety of conditions, including urinary incontinence, constipation, painful periods, and painful intercourse. Pelvic floor physical therapy helps patients retrain pelvic floor muscles through outpatient sessions to return position, function, and strength.

“I see both men and women who are as young as teenagers, all the way up to patients in their 90s,” said Kristen Joyce, Physical Therapist at AdventHealth Parker. “A lot of people have pelvic floor problems and they think it’s normal. Common doesn’t necessarily mean normal.”

Studies have found nearly 32% of women and 16% of men have at least one pelvic floor disorder. Symptoms typically begin gradually and progress over time.

“If you go to the bathroom more often than every two to four hours, and haven’t drank a ton of liquids, that can be a sign to see a pelvic floor physical therapist. If you’re leaking when sneezing, coughing, or during any activity, that is also a sign to come in.”

Joyce also helps women experiencing pelvic organ prolapse, a condition where one or more of the pelvic organs have become displaced from their normal position, usually “dropping” from its original location.

“Pelvic floor physical therapy is more than just working directly on the pelvic floor. It’s addressing how different things impact the pelvic floor,” said Joyce. “I take a whole body approach, which helps get ahead of problems and prevent patients from needing more care down the road.”

If you think you may benefit from pelvic floor therapy, Joyce recommends scheduling a consultation.

“Even if you’re not sure what’s going on, it’s always worth a look. My first session is always focused on learning what the patient needs and providing education on what the pelvic floor does. From there, I always offer patients two to three options of approaches we can take to ultimately help them meet their goals.”

To learn more about pelvic floor therapy at AdventHealth Parker and request an appointment, click here.