Preventive Pelvic Floor Therapy
Myth: You have to have a previous diagnosis or current symptoms to receive pelvic floor therapy.
Fact: There are many seasons of life that are great reasons to have your pelvic floor assessed, regardless of symptoms or diagnosis!
Everyone has a pelvic floor. Certain times of life, such as shifts in hormones, new activity levels, or big life events, can affect how the pelvic floor functions long before you notice any symptoms.
We often think of seeing a dentist for a cleaning or a primary care provider for an annual physical, even when nothing feels wrong. A pelvic floor wellness visit works the same way. At Root To Rise Physical Therapy and Pelvic Health, we welcome patients at our Scarborough and Bath, Maine clinics for preventive pelvic floor care, not only for specific concerns.
Seasons of Life That Are Great Reasons for a Check-In
Some life changes that may spark interest around the function of your pelvic floor include:
Having intercourse for the first time or with a new partner
Having a speculum exam
Trying to conceive, becoming pregnant, or delivering a baby via vaginal delivery or cesarean section
Times of hormonal shifts such as puberty, postpartum, or (peri)menopause
Starting a new sport or type of exercise, like running, lifting, CrossFit, or training for a race
Sustaining an injury, including those unrelated to the pelvic floor
Preparing for or recovering from abdominal, pelvic, or prostate surgery
Experiencing a traumatic event, chronic stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health condition
A few of these may surprise you. An ankle sprain or low back injury, for example, can change how you move and breathe, and the pelvic floor often adapts right along with it.
Why Preventive Pelvic Floor Care Matters
Many pelvic floor symptoms, like leaking with a sneeze, pain with intercourse, constipation, or a feeling of heaviness, are common. Common does not mean normal, and it does not mean you have to wait until they show up to take care of your body. Here are a few ways a wellness visit can support you:
Catching changes early. Muscle tension, weakness, or coordination changes can be present before they cause symptoms. Addressing them early is often simpler than treating a problem that has had years to develop.
Building a strong foundation before big life events. Learning how your pelvic floor works before pregnancy, a new sport, or surgery gives you tools to use when you need them most.
Getting a baseline. Knowing how your pelvic floor functions now gives you and your provider a reference point if anything changes down the road.
Supporting your activity goals. The pelvic floor works as part of your core. Good coordination between your breath, abdominals, and pelvic floor supports lifting, running, and everyday movement.
Learning habits that last. Small things, like how you breathe, how you sit on the toilet, and how you manage pressure when you lift, add up over a lifetime.
Reducing worry. Sometimes the most helpful thing we can offer is reassurance that your body is doing just what it should.
What You Can Learn in a Pelvic Floor Evaluation
Whether or not you are in one of these seasons of life, everyone has the right to know how their body works! In a pelvic floor evaluation, you can learn:
The location of your pelvic floor muscles
How your pelvic floor muscles function during exercise, intercourse, urination and bowel movements, daily activities, and more!
How the pelvic floor connects to the rest of your body, your breath, and your mental health
The current state of your own pelvic floor and how it may relate to current or possible future symptoms
How to optimize your pelvic floor now and for your future self!
What to Expect at a Wellness Visit
If you have never had pelvic floor therapy, it is normal to feel a little unsure about what happens during a visit. A wellness session with our team typically includes:
A conversation. We talk about your health history, activity level, goals, and anything you are curious about.
A movement and posture assessment. We look at breathing, hips, spine, and core, since they all work together with the pelvic floor.
An optional internal assessment. With your consent, an internal exam gives us the most detailed information about muscle tone, strength, and coordination. This is always your choice, and we can learn a lot without it.
A personalized plan. You leave with an understanding of your pelvic floor and a few simple strategies to support it.
You are in control of your visit from start to finish, and we move at whatever pace feels comfortable for you.
Schedule a Pelvic Floor Wellness Visit in Scarborough or Bath, Maine
You do not need a diagnosis, a referral for symptoms, or a reason beyond curiosity to learn more about your pelvic floor. If you live in southern or midcoast Maine, our pelvic floor physical therapists at Root To Rise in Scarborough and Bath would love to help you understand your body and care for it now and in the years ahead.