Pelvic Floor Health

Pregnancy and birth take a toll on a woman’s body and often, along with a new bundle of joy comes one or more pelvic floor issues. Incontinence, painful sex, and pelvic or back pain are frequently experienced by new mothers.

Pregnancy and childbirth can damage the muscles, ligaments and nerves of the pelvic floor. Stretching from the pubic bone to the tailbone, the pelvic floor muscles support your bladder, bowel, uterus, vagina, pelvis and back, and are involved in virtually every step you take. When these muscles become weak, torn or tight, incontinence, prolapse and pain can be the result. Scar tissue from an episiotomy or C-section can cause pelvic or back pain as well as sexual or bowel dysfunction.

If you are among the roughly 40 percent of women who experience a problem after birth, pelvic floor rehabilitation – a specialized type of physical therapy – can often eliminate your symptoms and make a significant difference in your health and well-being.

Too many women try to simply live with their symptoms and don’t seek treatment until years after they given birth, when the seemingly small problems – a “little” pain or leaking – have grown into larger, more serious issues. If your symptoms are still present at your six-week checkup, ask your doctor for a referral for pelvic floor therapy at St. Jude’s Centers for Rehabilitation. Our services are covered by all insurance plans.

By normalizing pelvic floor muscle tone, decreasing tissue tightness and sensitivity, and strengthening weak or overstretched muscles, the vast majority of pelvic floor disorders can be treated or prevented. For more information or to make an appointment, please call us at 714-578-8720.

Pelvic floor therapy can help with:

  • Bladder or bowel incontinence
  • Diastasis recti (a separation of the abdominal muscles from their central tendon)
  • Rectal pain 
  • Urinary frequency, urgency or retention (difficulty starting your urine stream)
  • Vulvar burning and pain
  • Tailbone pain
  • Scar tissue from C-section, episiotomy or tears
  • Perineal pain
  • Pelvic prolapse (when the uterus, bladder or bowel slips out of place)
  • Back or hip pain
  • Painful intercourse
  • Constipation and obstructed defecation

About St. Jude Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

We are uniquely qualified to help. We offer a highly trained and experienced team of female physical therapists who specialize exclusively in women’s pelvic health – along with one of the state’s most comprehensive and innovative array of services and therapies. The result is highly individualized treatment in an emotionally healing environment.

Our integrative and holistic approach uses today’s most effective non-surgical options to restore balance, strength and flexibility to the muscles and tissues throughout the pelvic area – each designed to help you regain a healthy and active life, free of embarrassment, pain or limitation. Our services are covered by insurance. To learn more or make an appointment, please call us at 714-578-8720.

Pilates Meets Pelvic Floor Fitness

In addition to individualized physical therapy, we offer Pilates, a unique and highly effective pelvic floor strengthening class designed for all fitness levels. Twice-a-week group classes use simple Pilates-inspired exercises and traditional rehabilitation to help participants rebuild pelvic floor muscles and recover normal bladder, bowel and pelvic floor function. To sign up, please call 714-578-8720. No physician referral needed.