Why see a pelvic floor physiotherapist for endo
Women with endometriosis commonly have tense and painful pelvic floor muscles, although this is not always the case. Since your pelvic floor muscles play an essential role in sexual, bladder and bowel function, it is possible that any dysfunction in these muscles is the cause of some of your symptoms.
While pelvic floor physiotherapy can’t cure endometriosis or change the disease process itself, it can help reduce your pain and improve your function.
Symptoms of Endometriosis - image thanks to https://www.parkwayeast.com.sg
Pelvic floor physiotherapy may help improve:
Internal pelvic pain, such as pain with penetration or during intercourse
External pelvic pain, lower back pain and/or abdominal pain
Bowel dysfunction, such as constipation, urgency, difficulty emptying and pain
Bladder dysfunction, such as urgency or frequency, difficulty with emptying, leakage and pain
Persistent/ chronic pain
Treatment strategies will vary depending on your symptoms and goals, but may include:
Pelvic floor relaxation techniques and exercises.
Manual release work to the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles (internal and external muscles)
Bladder and/or bowel training
Stretching and strengthening exercises
Pain education and management strategies
If you live with endometriosis, physiotherapy can make a significant difference to your pain, bladder and bowel function as well as your pelvic floor muscle function. The goal of physiotherapy is to help provide you strategies to manage your symptoms.
If you suspect you may be suffering from endometriosis and aren’t sure where to begin, see your GP or get in touch with us to help point you in the right direction. Help is out there!
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Next week on the blog we share some stretches that can help settle pelvic pain.
Love,
References
Allaire C, Aksoy T, Bedaiwy M, et al. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Endometriosis-associated Persistent Pelvic Pain. Journal of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Disorders. 2017;9(2):77-86. doi:5301/jeppd.5000284
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2010, reaffirmed 2018). Practice Bulletin No. 114: Management of endometriosis. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 116(1), 223–236. Retrieved February 11, 2020, from https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Citation/2010/07000/Practice_Bulletin_No__114__Management_of.41.aspx
Dos Bispo AP, Ploger C, Loureiro AF, Sato H, Kolpeman A, Girão MJ, Schor E. Assessment of pelvic floor muscles in women with deep endometriosis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016 Sep;294(3):519-23. doi: 10.1007/s00404-016-4025-x. Epub 2016 Feb 5. PMID: 26848858.
Orr NL, Noga H, Williams C, Allaire C, Bedaiwy MA, Lisonkova S, Smith KB, Yong PJ. Deep Dyspareunia in Endometriosis: Role of the Bladder and Pelvic Floor. J Sex Med. 2018 Aug;15(8):1158-1166. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.06.007. PMID: 30078464.
Wurn, B.F., Wurn, L.J., Patterson, K., King, C.R. and Scharf, E.S., 2011. Decreasing dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea in women with endometriosis via a manual physical therapy: Results from two independent studies. Journal of Endometriosis, 3(4), pp.188-196.