Around 32% of women (and some men) worldwide suffer from pelvic pain. This kind of pain can vary drastically and in some cases, it may be mild while in others, it may force a person to miss work or other obligations. If you often suffer from pelvic pain, you might be wondering what you can do to fix the problem.
Physiotherapy is often one of the most effective ways to ease pelvic pain. But what does physiotherapy involve and how can it help you overcome your pain?
Keep reading and learn more about it below.
How Can Physiotherapy Help Pelvic Pain?
Physiotherapy is also known as physical therapy and its main goal is to treat pain through naturalistic means such as exercise, massages, and similar treatments. This type of therapy aims to help a person regain the function of their body and to reduce pain. Physiotherapy is not only helpful for pelvic pain but also other pain throughout the body.
This is important because reducing pain and restoring function can help a person get their life back on track. That way, instead of being stuck at home with chronic and severe pain, a person would be able to start doing things that they enjoy again. Pelvic pain can happen for a variety of reasons and physiotherapy can help in different ways.
For example, pelvic pain may have to do with the bones of the pelvis themselves. On the other hand, pelvic pain may have to do with pelvic floor pain. This does not have to do with the bones in the pelvis but rather the muscles that connect to the pelvis and also support the internal organs in that area.
Many women suffer from pelvic floor pain for a variety of reasons. Childbirth is one of the main reasons. Childbirth stretches the pelvic floor muscles and may even slightly dislocate the organs, nerves, and blood vessels in the area which could contribute to chronic pain.
The Details
Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles often helps this problem and physiotherapy is just the thing that can help with that. A professional will be able to help you with certain exercises that will strengthen these muscles in the pelvis and overall improve the health of your pelvis. Besides that, a physiotherapist can also help you with the flexibility of the joints in the region of your pelvis.
If your pelvic joints are stiff, this may also contribute to further pelvic pain and even mobility issues. This is especially true concerning the lower spine which connects to the base of the pelvis as well as the hip joints that connect to your femurs.
With the help of a physiotherapist, you could regain plenty of flexibility and movement in your pelvis so that the entire area moves and functions in a much healthier and more efficient way.
This is especially important for older people since they tend to have stiffer joints than those who are younger.
The Benefits of Physiotherapy for Pelvic Pain
You might be wondering what kind of exercises and treatments you should expect from physiotherapy for pelvic pain. The first thing you should know about physiotherapists is that they are educated in the science of movement. They know all about how to move the human body in order to help it regain function and reduce pain.
For that reason, you should expect a hands-on approach. It is important for a physiotherapist to touch you because this allows the therapist to move your body in a particular way. For example, if your pelvic pain has to do with your hip joints, the therapist can help move your joints in a particular way that will help soothe them.
The therapist should also show you how to do exercises on your own to help with the pain. That way, when the therapist isn’t around, you can continue exercising and keeping your pelvis healthy and as pain-free as possible. But what about pelvic floor pain?
What to Know
The first step the therapist will likely take will be to show you the important muscles in the pelvic floor area. Once you become more familiar with the location of those muscles and what they do, it will be easier for you to target those muscles during exercise. An important pelvic floor exercise is Kegels.
Kegels involve squeezing your pelvic floor muscles very tightly and then releasing them. It is necessary to repeat this exercise several times every day. Over time, your pelvic floor muscles will become much stronger.
As mentioned before, these muscles may become weak and vulnerable after childbirth (although they also weaken naturally with age). Once they begin to strengthen, they will start to work properly and ensure that your entire pelvic floor is situated properly. This usually reduces pelvic floor pain in most people.
Muscles involving the abdominal wall may also help with some forms of pelvic pain. Again, your therapist can help you target these muscles and will show you different exercises to best work out those muscles to get the best results.
Pelvic Pain and Physiotherapy
Pelvic pain is a relatively common problem and it can often be chronic. Fortunately, physiotherapy can help in a variety of ways. In particular, a physical therapist can help you identify the root of the pain and then help you with different exercises to help reduce your pain and also improve mobility in that area.
Overall, this will help you get your life back on track so that your pelvic pain isn’t running the show. To learn more, contact us here.