Baptist Health is now offering pelvic floor therapy at two locations: Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute-Little Rock and Baptist Health Therapy Center-North Little Rock.
Pelvic floor therapy is specialized therapy to treat conditions related to sexual, bowel and bladder dysfunction, and conditions related to pelvic health. These areas include the back, hips, diaphragm and pelvic floor.
“Often, people do not recognize that their symptoms can be treated with therapy,” said Erin Musgrave, PT, DPT, of Baptist Health Therapy Center-North Little Rock. “We are excited to use this option to meet the health needs of our community when it comes to pelvic health.”
Musgrave completed her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Central Arkansas in 2014, where she also received her Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2017. She specializes in orthopedics and women’s health therapy.
The pelvic floor consists of all the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues surrounding your organs in the pelvic region. These tissues are responsible for sexual function, maintaining bowel and bladder control, and are a major component of your core.
Both men and women can experience problems with their pelvic floor and benefit from therapy. Common conditions that can be treated include, but are not limited to:
- Incontinence (leakage of urine/feces)
- Urinary urgency/frequency
- Pelvic pain
- Pain with intercourse
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Post-surgical changes, scar tissue management
- Pregnancy-related changes
- Postpartum care and return to activities/exercise
A personalized experience, pelvic floor therapy includes a highly detailed pelvic floor evaluation, both external and internal, that no other discipline can provide. Evaluations focus on the pelvis and surrounding regions, as well as the impact the relationship between all body systems has for your symptoms.
“This whole-body approach based on individual needs is what makes pelvic floor therapy so unique and highly specialized,” said Stephanie Warner, OTR/L, of Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute-Little Rock.
Warner graduated with a Master of Occupational Therapy from University of Central Arkansas in 2015. She has worked as an occupational therapist for many years, treating patients with various neurological and orthopedic injuries.
At your first visit, you can expect your therapist to spend time getting to know you and the symptoms you are experiencing. Your therapist will educate you about the pelvic floor, what the functions are and what to expect in therapy. Typically, your therapist will perform a detailed evaluation of your overall mobility and strength, and ask you to perform some functional tasks.
An external and internal pelvic floor assessment may also be performed or deferred to the second therapy session. Alternatives to internal assessments are always an option, and your therapist will discuss these with you as well. Sessions are performed in a private room, and the patient always has the right to deny or stop any treatments they are not comfortable performing.
Reach out to your local pelvic health provider if you have questions or concerns about how pelvic floor therapy could benefit you.
Recommended referrals will be made if your condition requires another specialty provider.