This is the first pelvic floor health book aimed at ALL women, including trans women, outlining the importance of understanding your pelvic floor and how it impacts on overall health, fitness and wellbeing for life - not just around pregnancy and childbirth. This book outlines symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, and shows you how to fix them. What is pelvic organ prolapse - which 50% of women will experience - and can it be prevented? Urinary incontinence is treatable with physio. Women on average suffer symptoms for 7 years before going to a healthcare professional which has a huge effect on mental health. Pelvic floor issues are often only talked about in relation to pregnancy and childbirth. This is not just a "mum issue": high impact exercise (running, HIIT, CrossFit) affect the pelvic floor. Young athletes/gymnasts who have never had children are highly likely to suffer from incontinence. Women should not accept dysfunction as a "normal part of being a woman", but instead need to prioritize their pelvic floor health - this book shows that it is never too early and, crucially, never too late to do so.
Bridging the gap between evidence-based research and clinical practice, Physical Therapy for the Pelvic Floor has become an invaluable resource to practitioners treating patients with disorders of the pelvic floor. The second edition is now presented in a full colour, hardback format, encompassing the wealth of new research in this area which has emerged in recent years. Kari Bø and her team focus on the evidence, from basic studies (theories or rationales for treatment) and RCTs (appraisal of effectiveness) to the implications of these for clinical practice, while also covering pelvic floor dysfunction in specific groups, including men, children, elite athletes, the elderly, pregnant women and those with neurological diseases. Crucially, recommendations on how to start, continue and progress treatment are also given with detailed treatment strategies around pelvic floor muscle training, biofeedback and electrical stimulation. aligns scientific research with clinical practice detailed treatment strategies innovative practice guidelines supported by a sound evidence base colour illustrations of pelvic floor anatomy and related neuroanatomy/ neurophysiology MRIs and ultrasounds showing normal and dysfunctional pelvic floor incorporates vital new research and material uses key summary boxes throughout new edition to highlight quick reference points now in full colour throughout and a hardback format
Pelvic Floor Re-education encompasses a variety of techniques for increasing the strength of, and control over, the pelvic floor muscles. These techniques are now emerging as an effective and viable alternative to surgery in the treatment of urinary incontinence and related conditions. This volume presents a reasoned, scientific approach to the use of pelvic floor re-education. Starting with the latest theories on anatomy, pathophysiology and possible causes of pelvic floor damage, the text then describes the importance of pelvic floor evaluation in determining the type of treatment required. A number of re-education techniques are assessed including isolated muscle exercise, vaginal cones, biofeedback control and electrical stimulation. Recent research work is also reviewed which allows the reader to evaluate the different modalities advocated in the management of pelvic floor dysfunction.
Incontinence affects four out of 10 women, about one out of 10 men, and about 17% of children below age 15. The most common reason for admitting a family member to a nursing home is the family's inability to cope with incontinence. It is estimated that in the US incontinence costs 26 billion dollars a year.While it is common to exercise many parts of the body to stay fit, very little attention is paid to exercising the pelvic floor. Many exercises exist for the general fitness of the body, strengthening of the arms and legs and the abdominal and back muscles. Finding fun exercises for the pelvic floor involves searching through a great deal of literature; finding exercises suitable for men, women, and children that are fun and effective appears to be impossible. This book should provide therapists with treatment ideas and encourage patients to ask for help. It focuses on exercises and discusses other treatment options.
This book is for any woman who has avoided the trampoline or yoga class for fear of urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. If you have pelvic pain, dyspareunia, vaginismus, vestibulodynia, vulvodynia, lichen sclerosis, endometriosis, androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), MRKH, or tailbone pain (coccydynia), this book is for you. If you suffer from constipation, urinary urgency, urinary frequency, or overactive bladder, this book is also for you. This book quickly and easily teaches you how to manage conditions related to the pelvic floor, bladder, uterus, and bowel directly from a certified pelvic floor physical therapist who regularly treats women just like you in her clinic. With a tasteful sense of humor, and compassion, Dr. Olson explains how to cure urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse using different types of Kegels. If you're prone to urinary urgency, you'll learn which foods to avoid. Constipated? Dr. Olson will teach you how to solve it. The pelvic floor muscles are a vital system of muscles that support the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, and rectum). These muscles can be too weak, too tight, or have poor coordination that can lead to issues with urination, defecation, pelvic pain, and intercourse. The good news is that these issues are solvable with natural remedies. Furthermore, learn how a pelvic physical therapist in your area can provide additional one on one help and specific kinds of treatment to address women's health issues. Chapters include: 1. Introduction to the Pelvic Floor, Organs, Kegels and Women's Health 2. Urinary Incontinence: Why Do I Pee When I Sneeze? 3. Urinary Frequency and Urgency: Why Do I Have to Pee Every Time I Turn Around? 4. Bladder Irritants: Why What You Eat and Drink Can Be Irritating 5. Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Why It Feels Like Your Organs are Falling Out of Your Body 6. Kegels, Pelvic Floor and Core Strengthening 7. Constipation 8. Pelvic Pain 9. The Importance of Breathing 10. To Infinity and Beyond: Thoughts on Women's Health for the Future If you are trying to find a natural way of curing common women's health issues and avoid surgery, this book is for you. Find out how breathing, down training the pelvic floor, vaginal dilator training and specific pelvic exercises can help with pelvic pain. Pelvic floor exercise for beginners and more advanced kegel exercises for progression are demonstrated, and most importantly which exercises are most beneficial to women's health. Curious about kegel exercise products, such as which kegel balls for beginners are best? Dr. Olson has you covered. She also explains which kegel trainer and pelvic floor strengthening devices for women are best to help you achieve your goals. Chapter 6 discusses abs, core, and pelvic floor while chapter 8 helps you heal pelvic pain. Chapters end with real world, anonymous examples of patients Dr. Olson has healed with the techniques found in this book. If you have issues related to pelvic floor dysfunction, this pelvic floor book will teach you the pelvic floor therapy necessary to feel results.
The remarkably complex pelvic floor and its disorders comprise one of the most interesting -- and challenging -- areas of physical therapy. And recently, common problems once considered taboo, such as incontinence, have become mainstream issues. More than ever before, a solid understanding of the structure and function of the manifold problems of the pelvic floor is vital to successful treatment. This groundbreaking work brings together an international team of world-renowned experts in the treatment of urinary and fecal incontinence, as well as sexual dysfunction, to provide a comprehensive guide to the structure and function of the muscles of the pelvic floor. Using concise text and clear illustrations and helpful photographs, the authors present all phenomena associated with pelvic floor dysfunction. The authors begin with a detailed overview of the anatomy and physiology of the pelvic floor, and then discuss all state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment strategies, from biofeedback and manual therapy to the causes of different types of pain and psychosocial problems. Detailed discussions of the specific issues associated with children, women, and men, as well as with rectal and anal dysfunction, follow. With its thorough coverage, this highly practical text is essential reading for all health care professionals who wish to provide their patients suffering from disorders of the pelvic floor with the best care available.
The initial objective of this work was to reduce stress incontinence surgery from a major surgical procedure (requiring up to ten days in hospital) to a minor day-care operation. From the beginning it was clear that the two major impediments to achieving this goal were post operative pain and urinary retention. Addressing these problems became a long and winding road and culminated in the Integral Theory. The IVS 'tension-free' tape operation was inspired by Dr Robert Zacharin's anatomical studies. Though Zacharin suggested that the ligaments and muscles around the urethra were important for urinary continence control, he did not say how. The observation that implanted foreign materials created scar tissue led to the hypothesis that a plastic tape inserted in the position of the pubourethrallig ament, would leave behind sufficient scar tissue to reinforce that ligament, which would then anchor the muscles for urethral closure. In September 1986, two prototype Intravaginal Sling operations were per formed. A Mersilene tape was inserted with neither tension nor elevation, in the position of the pubourethral ligament. Restoration of continence was immediate and both patients were discharged on the day following surgery without require ment for catheterization. There was minimal pain, and immediate restoration of continence. After six weeks the tapes were removed. Both patients were still conti nent at last review 10 years later. The results appeared to confirm the importance of a midurethral anchoring point.
This textbook provides a comprehensive, state-of-the art review of the Overactive Pelvic Floor (OPF) that provides clinical tools for medical and mental health practitioners alike. Written by experts in the field, this text offers tools for recognition, assessment, treatment and interdisciplinary referral for patients with OPF and OPF related conditions. The text reviews the definition, etiology and pathophysiology of non-relaxing pelvic floor muscle tone as well as discusses sexual function and past sexual experience in relation to the pelvic floor. Specific pelvic floor dysfunctions associated with pelvic floor overactivity in both men and women are reviewed in detail. Individual chapters are devoted to female genital pain and vulvodynia, female bladder pain and interstitial cystitis, male chronic pelvic and genital pain, sexual dysfunction related to pelvic pain in both men and women, musculoskeletal aspects of pelvic floor overactivity, LUTS and voiding dysfunction, and anorectal disorders. Assessment of the pelvic floor is addressed in distinct chapters describing subjective and objective assessment tools. State of the art testing measures including electromyographic and video-urodynamic analysis, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are introduced. The final chapters are devoted to medical, psychosocial, and physical therapy treatment interventions with an emphasis on interdisciplinary management The Overactive Pelvic Floor serves physicians in the fields of urology, urogynecology and gastroenterology as well as psychotherapists, sex therapists and physical therapists.
Bronze Medal Winner of a 2009 National Health Information Award Stop your pelvic pain . . . naturally! If you suffer from an agonizing and emotionally stressful pelvic floor disorder, including pelvic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis, prostatitis, incontinence, or discomfort during sex, urination, or bowel movements, it's time to alleviate your symptoms and start healing--without drugs or surgery. Natural cures, in the form of exercise, nutrition, massage, and self-care therapy, focus on the underlying cause of your pain, heal your condition, and stop your pain forever. The life-changing plan in this book gets to the root of your disorder with: A stretching, muscle-strengthening, and massage program you can do at home Guidelines on foods that will ease your discomfort Suggestions for stress- and pain-reducing home spa treatments Exercises for building core strength and enhancing sexual pleasure
All the characteristics and driving force of The Cleveland Clinic are to be found in this book on pelvic ?oor function. The Cleveland Clinic is a group practice founded in 1921 on the principles of cooperation,collaboration,and collegiality.Its founders believed that many physicians working together will discover better solutions to medical problems than physicians working in isolation. They believed that the combination of disciplines, with their inherent differences in philosophy and skills, will produce a better outcome than might have evolved singularly. The power of the collaborative approach is on full display in this book. The pelvic ?oor unites three separate organ systems. Before this time, each has been approached individually. Urologists, gynecologists, and colorectal surgeons are each trained in their own disciplines, and the pelvic ?oor is subsumed in these larger ?elds of study. When they combine their focus on the pelvic ?oor, they bring their unique perspectives and different approaches to a common goal: the relief of pelvic ?oor syndromes such as incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
