RiverView Health Physical Therapist Rhonda Breitbach is helping women and men improve their pelvic health, an area of the body for which patients don’t often realize they can receive care.Breitbach works with RiverView’s Pelvic Health Rehabilitation Program to provide a non-surgical approach to treat pelvic floor dysfunctions that contribute to bowel, bladder, sexual health, and/or pain complaints.“I want patients to become aware that there is conservative management and treatment for what they are experiencing that is highly effective whether it be incontinence, pelvic pain, core weakness and diastasis recti, constipation, hip and low back pain, prolapse issues, and abnormalities and pain with menstrual cycles,’’ she shared.Causes, SymptomsChildbearing, various cancer treatments, obesity, and the straining of chronic constipation are major culprits in weakening the pelvic floor.Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction may include• Frequent bathroom visits• Having to frequently start and stop when trying to urinate• Straining or pushing to pass a bowel movement• Having to change positions on the toilet or use your hand to eliminate stool• Constipation• Fecal incontinence• Urinary incontinence• Pain urinating• Unexplained low back pain• Pain in the pelvic region, genitals, or rectum — with or without a bowel movementTreatmentBefore a course of treatment is determined, an examination of the pelvic floor musculature, postural assessment, and a visit to review symptoms are completed.Treatments to reduce or eliminate pelvic dysfunction may include• Therapeutic exercises• Manual therapies• Behavioral strategies• Education• Functional retraining• ModalitiesBreitbach credits RiverView’s program with bringing awareness of pelvic problems to patients, especially those who are going through or have gone through childbearing.“Many patients assume problems with their core and pelvic floor are normal parts of aging that can’t be addressed,’’ she reported.
