Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
FYZICAL-Niles proudly offers pelvic health physical therapy services for women in the north suburbs of Chicago. Unfortunately, suffering from pelvic pain and other pelvic-related health issues is too familiar for many women. They can negatively affect your daily life. However, you can mitigate these painful conditions with the help of a qualified physical therapist. Our physical therapist, Joerlyn Manalang, specializes in pelvic health and can develop a treatment plan to help you.
Pelvic Health
Pelvic health refers to the best possible functioning and managing of the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. More than 50 million women in the United States suffer from pelvic health disorders. At some point in life, almost every woman will suffer from some type of pelvic health issue.
Who Needs Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized type of physical therapy. Whether you are currently suffering from a pelvic health problem or are concerned about issues that might arise in the future, physical therapy can help improve your pelvic health. Clinical evidence supports pelvic floor physical therapy because it is a minimally invasive treatment option that can be used as a first-line method for treating all different types of pelvic floor dysfunction, including pelvic organ prolapse, urinary or fecal incontinence, painful intercourse, and others.
Women with pelvic conditions or pain can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy to improve pelvic health. You might need to see a pelvic floor physical therapist if you have:
- Pain during urination or when your bladder is full
- Urine leakage when coughing, laughing, or sneezing
- A strong urge to urinate, yet feeling unable to empty your bladder
- Pain during or after intercourse
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help Treat Several Conditions
Joerlyn Manalang PT, DPT is a physical therapist at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers in Niles, IL. Joerlyn recently became certified in physical therapy to treat pelvic health and pelvic floor therapy.
Joerlyn can treat the following conditions in female patients:
- Urinary incontinence (UI) in women (commonly caused by pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause)
- Chronic pelvic pain (CPP)
- Vulvar pain
- Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC or PBS)
- Pain during intercourse
Physical Therapy for Pelvic Health
Pelvic floor physical therapy targets the pelvic floor muscles to improve their strength and function. It utilizes physical therapy principles to safely and effectively recondition the pelvic floor muscles to alleviate any pain or discomfort you may experience.
Learn more about how physical therapy can treat various pelvic conditions:
Physical Therapy for Urinary Incontinence (UI)
Urinary Incontinence is the undesired leakage of urine that occurs during the day or night. Physical therapy for UI can help you control your symptoms and reduce or even eliminate the need for pads and special undergarments. Your physical therapist will design a program to help you improve your pelvic floor muscle function to control your bladder.
Physical Therapy for Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP)
Chronic Pelvic Pain is felt in the lower abdomen and typically lasts for at least six months. Physical therapy can help those suffering from CPP restore strength, flexibility, and function to the muscles and joints in their pelvis. Your physical therapist can help teach you how to use these muscles correctly, work with you on exercises to stretch and strengthen the affected muscles, and teach you the right pelvic-floor muscle exercises. Ideally, she will be able to get you back to doing all of the activities you enjoyed before your chronic pelvic pain.
Physical Therapy for Vulvar Pain
Many women who suffer from vulvar pain, or vulvodynia, have pelvic floor dysfunction. In women with vulvodynia, muscles in their pelvic floor often spasm. Physical therapy can help you relax these muscles.
Physical Therapy for Interstitial Cystitis (IC) and Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS)
The American Urological Association has identified physical therapy as a first-line treatment for women suffering from interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. Physical therapy for interstitial cystitis can help ease women’s pain, learn about how to handle their condition, train their bladders, and relax the muscles in their pelvic floor, legs, back, and abdomen.
Physical Therapy for Pain During Intercourse
Pelvic floor physical therapy can dramatically reduce and possibly even eliminate pain during intercourse for many women. Typically, when sex hurts, the problem is more than skin deep. Physical therapy can help increase pelvic blood flow, release trapped nerves, and decrease pain sensitivity. Your physical therapist can work to relax, balance, stretch, and tone your pelvic muscles. After completing physical therapy, many women can go back to pain-free intercourse.
How Does Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Work?
Pelvic floor physical therapy might consist of the following treatments:
- Exercises to relax or contract your pelvic floor muscles, like Kegels
- Manual therapy
- Biofeedback
- Vaginal dilators
About Joerlyn Manalang, Pelvic Health Specialist
Joerlyn Manalang is a licensed doctor of physical therapy at FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers in Niles, Illinois. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Joerlyn is certified in Athletic Movement Assessment 1 and Herman and Wallace: Pelvic Floor 1. She speaks English, Spanish, and Tagalog.
About FYZICAL-Niles
FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers is an evidence-based physical therapy practice emphasizing pelvic health, balance and vestibular disorders, neck and back pain, neuropathy, neurological conditions, and the treatment of general therapy disorders like knee, shoulder, and foot pain. All of our patients receive one-on-one care to provide teaching and demonstration, ensuring optimal results.
Pelvic Health Treatment at FYZICAL-Niles
You don’t have to suffer alone with pelvic health issues. At this time, we limit our pelvic treatment to females. However, Joerlyn plans to become certified in the treatment of males in the future. To make an appointment to see Joerlyn, contact us at FYZICAL-Niles at (847) 390-0999.
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