Myths and misconceptions about pelvic floor therapy
How much do you really know?
Pelvic floor therapy has gained a lot of attention over the past 10 years or so and today its almost become a bit of a buzz word. But with this, also comes a lot of misconceptions and just blatant wrong information. So I’m here to do some myth busting and shed light on what true pelvic floor therapy is (and should be), and what it most certainly is not!
#1 - My doctor’s office provides pelvic floor therapy
I’ve heard far too many times that someone tried pelvic floor therapy with a nurse or other staff member at their gynecologist’s office. Typically, these treatments consist of passive electric stimulation or kegels with a biofeedback machine. This is NOT pelvic floor therapy! A Pelvic Floor Therapist is a Physical Therapist or an Occupational Therapist who has gone through additional, highly specialized training for the pelvic floor. Our scope of practice and treatment techniques stretch far beyond having someone lie on a table and performing a passive modality on them. Other medical professionals cannot call themselves pelvic floor therapists or claim to be performing pelvic floor therapy without the appropriate training and background.
As an exception, there are some doctors offices that employ or contract with actual pelvic PTs/OTs. In these cases, this would be considered pelvic floor therapy and therefore their treatment sessions should look very different from the aforementioned scenario.
#2 - I’m required to have an internal exam
This is simply not true! Internal pelvic evaluation and treatment is often performed and helpful in most cases, however, a pelvic floor therapist should be meeting you where you are at and adjusting their approach to your comfort level. This is a very vulnerable type of therapy and those with a history of abuse and trauma must be especially considered here. At my practice, no one is ever required to participate in internal work. My personal opinion is that no PT/OT should be calling themselves a pelvic floor therapist without extensive experience, knowledge, and confidence to be working internally. This is, however, an entirely separate issue from patients being required to participate in internal work.
#3 - Pelvic floor therapy is only for postpartum women
Pelvic floor therapy is for everyone! Everyone has a pelvis, regardless of age, gender, sex, or ability, and therefore everyone is subject to pelvic floor dysfunction. At our practice, men make up roughly 30% of our caseload. Pelvic floor therapy is not just for those who are pregnant or postpartum. Men have bladder leakage as well. Those who have never been pregnant can experience prolapse. Teenagers can suffer from debilitating pelvic pain associated with Endometriosis. These are just some examples of other cases when pelvic floor therapy is needed.
#4 - Following pelvic floor accounts online is the same as getting pelvic floor therapy
As someone who publishes blogs and creates (as well as consumes) content on social media, I can understand and appreciate how quick bits of information can help someone to not feel so alone, make sense of their symptoms, and hopefully seek out help. But there is no substitute for individualized care by a healthcare professional who knows your history, your body, and your goals. Online programs have their place but won’t be able to explain what’s most appropriate for you, assess your movements for compensations, and they certainly can’t provide the hands-on therapy approaches are are so often needed.
What you can do next
If you’re considering pelvic floor therapy, reach out to local practitioners in your area and find out who is the best fit for you. Some key things to look for include: their credentials, how much time they’ll spend with you in a visit, their treatment approaches, and most important is your gut feeling and connection with them.
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