Chronic pelvic or rectal pain or dysfunction is a common and frustrating problem. It usually affects woman more than men. Symptoms are often vague and difficult to pin-point, but patients typically complain of pain, pressure, or discomfort in the rectum, pelvis, sacrum, or tailbone.
Symptoms may have been present for months or years by the time a diagnosis is made. Other symptoms include a feeling of heaviness in the pelvis, low back pain, thigh pain, and pain with intercourse. Patients may notice that the symptoms are worse with prolonged sitting, physical activity, bowel movements, menses, or psychological or general physical tension.
In many patients chronic pelvic pain is caused by the inability to control the pelvic floor muscles, also called pelvic floor dysfunction. The muscles of the pelvic floor feel tight and constantly contracted, which is uncomfortable and can lead to long-term damage. Pelvic pain, discomfort, or a sensation of heaviness in the lower abdomen or pelvis for six months or longer is one of the main symptoms of pelvic floor tension myalgia.
Since the pelvic floor is the seat of organs such as the bladder, uterus, vagina, and rectum, there are other signs and symptoms to watch out for as well, including:
Pain that intensifies with certain movements or that is relieved by repositioning the body.
Your pelvic floor muscles support your reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum. Typically, these muscles tense when needed, then relax again. In some women, however, the pelvic floor muscles spasm or remain in a state of tension.
What Is the Pelvic Core Neuromuscular System?
When most practitioners think of pelvic issues, childbearing women are usually the first patients who come to mind. While it’s true that many women need support resolving their pregnancy-related issues, young nulliparous (women who have never given birth) females also face problems that are often overlooked and misunderstood. A comprehensive understanding of the Pelvic Core Neuromuscular System (PCNS) and the body’s natural chain reactions can help physical therapists identify and treat pelvic floor dysfunction across women’s lifespans.
The PCNS is a complex system of muscles and organs in the pelvic core. These include the:
Together, these components function as an integrated, connected inner-core system. When one or some of these components doesn’t function properly, whether from injury, childbirth, or other issues, the ensuing dysfunction can lead to pain, stress or urge incontinence, and bowel dysfunction. Unfortunately, many women think they have to live with this dysfunction because they don’t know that with the right approach. Many of these issues can be resolved with a functional approach.. Understanding this complex system is the first step to addressing issues that are preventing a normal life.
Risk Factors
The direct cause of pelvic floor tension myalgia is unknown, but several factors may contribute to its development, including:
Conventional wisdom might suggest treating the pain, rather than the source of the dysfunction. At PróMotion Physical Therapy, we believe that everyone deserves to lead dignified, pain-free lives. Pelvic floor core issues keep many women from living life to their fullest. When you understand how the body works, you know how to help it heal. Most often with pelvic pain there is a dysfunction in the ability to relax the pelvic floor muscles. At PróMotion Physical Therapy our approach includes an extensive assessment of the pelvic floor musculature. We utilized the principles of chain reaction biomechanics, as taught by the Gray Institute, which allows us to assess not only the floor of the core musculature their relationship to the entire body. Proper movement in the areas above and below the pelvis must occur efficiently and effectively in order to load and/or lengthen the pelvic floor muscles effectively.
When this happens, the pelvic floor is allowed to relax and contract normally. Our goal is to work with you to understand and treat your pelvic pain. We help retrain your pelvic floor muscles to contract and relax correctly. Every pelvic floor patient will have access to the online program MyCoreFloor, which is full of excellent information, classes, and the opportunity to chat with other women who have similar challenges. You can find out about this online course work here. We utilize the movement Rx application which allows us to customize and film individual exercises for you Making it simple for you to follow along the video in doing your home “work”.