Pelvic Pain and Dysfunction

What is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor is made up of several layers of muscles, tissues, and ligaments joined to help support the bladder, urethra, uterus, vagina, and rectum. Primary roles of pelvic floor musculature include:

  1. Supporting of the pelvic organs, bladder, and colon

  2. Stop and start the flow of urine and passage of stool

  3. Serve for sexual function

  4. Stabilize the hips, lumbar spine, sacrum, and pelvis during movement to minimize back, hip, and lower extremity pain

What is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

Pelvic floor dysfunction refers to a wide range of problems that occur when the muscles of the pelvic floor are weak, tight, or if there is an impairment of the sacroiliac joint, low back, coccyx, and/or hip joint. The tissues surrounding the pelvic organs may have increased or decreased sensitivity and/or irritation resulting in pelvic pain. This dysfunction affects both men and women equally. Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction to include:

  • Bowel disorders:

    • Constipation

    • Incontinence

    • Diarrhea

    • Incomplete emptying

  • Unexplained pain in low back, pelvis, genitals, or rectum

  • Pelvic muscle spasms

  • Bladder dysfunction:

    • Urinary frequency-greater than one bathroom trip every two hours

    • Incomplete emptying of bladder

    • Weak urine stream

    • Pain or difficulty with initiating urination

  • For women, painful intercourse

How is pelvic floor dysfunction diagnosed?

Physicians and physical therapists, which are specially trained in treating pelvic floor dysfunction, diagnose the condition during a physical examination. Using external or internal “hands on” approaches or manual techniques to assess the function of the pelvic floor muscles, these specialists can assess your ability to contract and relax these pelvic floor muscles.