Many women suffer from a variety of conditions involving pelvic floor dysfunction. One of the most common is urinary incontinence, a condition characterized by the involuntary loss of urine which affects nearly 13 million Americans every day. While common, incontinence is never normal, even during the natural course of pregnancy or aging. Many women also experience pelvic pain, which can be a result of surgery, injury, labor and delivery, or sexual abuse. Pelvic floor dysfunction can be a very complex problem and frequently requires evaluation and treatment of the surrounding musculoskeletal structures impacting upon the pelvic floor.
The first step in treating pelvic floor dysfunction is to discuss the problem with a doctor who can identify its specific cause. Patients referred to Rusk Institute receive a complete evaluation by specially trained physical therapists, who then develop an individualized treatment program, which may include:
Therapeutic exercise - Focuses on the pelvic floor muscles, on the accessory muscles of the legs and abdomen, and on postural awareness and control
Manual therapy - Addresses musculoskeletal alignment and muscle tone of the pelvic floor and its surrounding muscles
Therapeutic modalities -- Focuses on muscle retraining through biofeedback, increasing muscle strength through electrical stimulation, improving tissue elasticity through ultrasound, and controlling pain through transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Education - Focuses on prevention
and management strategies, pelvic floor function, bladder retraining,
and relaxation techniques
PT Pelvic Floor MD Orders/Referral Form
To facilitate the outpatient intake process, please complete the entire form with you physician's office. Unanswered questions may delay clearance.
