Is Endometriosis Holding You Back? Fortunately, PT Can Help
Are you experiencing excessively heavy menstrual cramps, pain during intercourse, or irregular periods? If so, it’s possible you have endometriosis. It can be unnerving to hear you have endometriosis, but you are certainly not alone. This condition affects roughly 190 million girls and women globally.
The pelvic area is a complex and vital part of the body that serves a variety of functions, particularly for women. Pelvic pain can occur at various stages of your menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, after giving birth, following surgery, or as a result of an underlying condition such as endometriosis. Contact PhysioStrength Physical Therapy, Schedule an appointment with us today to get started on your path toward relief!
What does it mean to have endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition that develops during menstruation. It occurs when endometrium tissue (similar to uterine lining) migrates outside of the womb, where it is not supposed to be. This causes inflammation, pain, and irregular menstrual cycles.
If you have endometriosis, you are not alone. Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of the global population. Among the most common symptoms are:
- Severe cramping
- Heavy periods
- Periods lasting longer than a week
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Pain during intercourse
- Disorders of the bowel and/or urinary tracks
- In severe cases, infertility
How can physical therapy provide relief?
Endometriosis can affect the pelvic bones, muscles, ligaments, and nerves. Visceral manipulation (hands-on therapy for your organ systems) and pelvic floor rehabilitation can help reduce endometriosis pain and bloating and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and core with specialized exercise training.
Among the techniques commonly used during visceral manipulation, core and pelvic floor rehabilitation are:
- Postural exercises. These exercises are designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which also improve posture.
- Myofascial exercises. These exercises will target the pelvic floor muscles and the fascia that connects them. In order to target painful trigger points and provide relief, this treatment may include light exercise, stretches, and massage.
- Diaphragmatic breathing. Deep breathing exercises allow your diaphragm to expand and contract, which aids in the relaxation of pelvic muscles. When the muscles relax, they drop and lengthen, providing pain relief and restoring function.
- Relaxation techniques. Relaxation is a significant part of physical therapy. It allows your muscles to relax, making it easier to stretch and massage them. In order to help you relax, our physical therapist may recommend techniques such as guided imagery or biofeedback.
- Organ mobility techniques. Endometriosis frequently results in adhesions and decreased mobility of the affected organs. The ability of each organ to move within its designated range within the body is critical for pain-free living. If that space becomes constrained or any part of the connective tissue becomes compromised, the organ will be unable to move as it should.
- Organ motility techniques. The inherent cellular flow within each organ is referred to as motility. When an organ’s mobility is compromised, or there is a disease process in the body that requires the organ to work harder, the motility (inherent cellular flow) becomes sluggish.
Every organ has a unique pattern of cellular motion within it, similar to the ocean’s tides. Organs are fluid and viscous and must be treated as such. If an organ’s motility is not optimal, the organ will be unable to function correctly and perform the functions it was designed for. - Specialized core exercise training. Your core is designed to work as a single, harmonious unit, providing a healthy, mobile, and nourishing environment for your abdominal and pelvic organs, as well as a stable base of operation for your entire body.
The diaphragm, pelvic floor, rectus abdominis, obliques, transverse abdominis, and multifidus are the primary core muscles. Mobility and nourishment are critical when dealing with endometriosis.
Contact PhysioStrength Physical Therapy today!
Is endometriosis affecting your quality of life? Relief is possible with PhysioStrength Physical Therapy. When you first visit our (town) physical therapy clinic, your therapist will ask you a series of questions to help identify your pain symptoms.
From there, a customized treatment plan will be developed that meets your exact needs. Your treatment plan may include postural exercises, myofascial exercises, relaxation techniques, and more.
If you are suffering from endometriosis, don’t wait any longer to contact PhysioStrength Physical Therapy. Schedule an appointment with us today to get started on your path toward relief!