A
t 70 years old, Sylvia R.
(patients’ names in this story
have been changed for priva-
cy) assumed leakage and multiple trips
to the bathroom every day were an
inevitable part of getting older.
“I had a teacher’s bladder,
” she said.
“When you can’t go whenever you
need to, it ruins the muscles.
”
Finally, her physician recommended
pelvic floor therapy, and she decided
to give it a try. By the sixth session,
Sylvia was using the bathroom less fre-
quently and the leakage had completely
stopped.
“I was very surprised. No meds or
surgery and it worked,
” she said.
Pelvic floor therapy, which has
been used successfully in Europe for
decades, is gaining rec-
ognition as a successful
non-surgical option for
treating a variety of pelvic
floor disorders such as
incontinence, consti-
pation, pain and organ
prolapse.
Jennifer Kaiser-Blase,
M.D., a local obstetrician/gynecologist,
is among a growing number of medi-
cal professionals who prescribe pelvic
floor physical therapy for patients with
a wide variety of issues.
“More and more of us are using pel-
vic floor physical therapy as one of the
first-line treatments for many pelvic
floor disorders, helping women avoid
painful surgeries and have longer-last-
ing results,
” she said.
WHAT IS A PELVIC
FLOOR DISORDER?
The pelvic floor is comprised of
muscles that support the organs and
control the opening and closing of the
urethra, vagina and rectum. When this
muscle group does not work proper-
ly, symptoms such as pain, urgency
and incontinence may result. While
a weakened pelvic floor is the more
common culprit, overly tight muscles
can also affect function.
While pelvic floor issues can cause
various conditions in all stages of life,
some disorders are more prevalent
among certain age groups. For exam-
ple, it is common for women to devel-
op stress incontinence and pelvic pain
during pregnancy or after giving birth,
especially with vaginal deliveries. Pelvic
floor issues can also cause painful
intercourse in young women who have
never been pregnant.
For older women, the physical and
hormonal changes that accompany
menopause often cause conditions
such as vaginal dryness and tightness,
urgency, bowel or bladder inconti-
nence, and prolapse of the bladder, rec-
tum or uterus. Decreased mobility can
also affect pelvic floor muscles.
Other causes of pelvic floor dis-
orders include chemotherapy or
radiation used to treat cancer, injuries
sustained in an auto accident, and psy-
chological conditions such as PTSD or
severe depression and anxiety. Impact
sports such as running, gymnastics or
bicycling can also play a role.
RELIEF IS POSSIBLE
Like Sylvia, some women resign
themselves to living with discomfort
because they are embarrassed to talk to
a doctor or don’t realize there is a way
to treat their symptoms
without surgery or med-
ication.
“
A lot of people think
these symptoms are a
normal part of aging …
women should know they
don’t have to live with
incontinence or pain,
”
said Elana Bodzin, PT, DPT, owner of
Aligned Physical Therapy and Wellness
in Pleasant Ridge. Conditions resulting
from pregnancy or birth are in the
same category. “Back pain after preg-
nancy is common, but it’s not normal.
”
The first step is an evaluation by a
physician, usually a gynecologist or
urologist, to rule out other medical
Pelvic floor therapy can help with incontinence
and other issues.
continued on page 30
Elana
Bodzin, PT,
DPT
RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
WOMEN’S HEALTH
28 | OCTOBER 31 • 2024 J
N
Jennifer
Kaiser-
Blase, M.D.
Discomfort
Don’t Live
With the
Elana Bodzin, PT,
DPT, provides
pelvic floor therapy
to a patient.