What does pelvic floor dysfunction mean??
It is an inability to control the pelvic floor muscles. A group of muscles and ligaments form the floor/bed for our pelvic organs. This acts like a sling to support the abdominal & pelvic organs. The pelvic organs which are the bladder, rectum and uterus or prostate can function optimally only if the pelvic floor muscles are strong enough.
Pelvic floor dysfunction may result in poor bowel movements, thereby hampering the digestion process. It may also lead to incontinence ( uncontrollable urine leak while coughing, sneezing, laughing, jumping or running). Incontinence is another major problem faced by most of the population above the age to 40yrs or seen in obese individuals.
What are the Symptoms?
• Urinary incontinence : it can either be urge to urinate or painful urination.
• constipation or bowel strain
• Low back pain ( which usually is ignored or mismanaged).
• pain in pelvic region, genitals or rectum.
• discomfort during intercourse (specially in women).
• constant pressure in pelvic region or rectum.
• muscle spasm in pelvis.
What Causes pelvic floor dysfunction?
• Childbirth/labour: it starts during pregnancy in most of the ladies and does not get back to normalcy after childbirth.
• Traumatic injuries to the pelvic organs /region
• nerve damage: may be due to an infection, injury or accident.
• obesity: this is one cause which is overseen as individuals do not talk about it due to embarrassment leading to mismanagement.
• pelvic surgery.
How do we get it diagnosed?
We cannot self diagnose it. You would need specialists to assess and diagnose.
Your doctor would need to go through your medical history and observe your symptoms. Your doctor or experienced physiotherapist may perform few physical examinations including an internal examination using a perineometer( if needed).
Treatment of Pelvic floor dysfunction?
The major improvement is seen only with exercises which are to be done for life. These exercises have to be pelvic floor specific. The most commonly recomend exercise is the “Kegels exercise”, where the patient is told to contract and relax the pelvic floor muscles repeatedly. There are multiple exercises that help in improving pelvic floor muscle function which help in complete elimination of the problem.
It is of utmost importance to learn it and perform it infront of the experienced professional. Since it is a very tricky way, many people land up learning it wrongly and express their opinion on the exercise not helping.
However if the exercises are not helping, then the patient is asked to undergo a minor surgical procedure. Nevertheless, the success rate of this surgery remains debatable