Pelvic floor rehabilitation

What is the pelvic floor?

The pelvic floor (or perineum) forms the lower closure of the pelvis and is made up of muscles and connective tissue.

It helps to support the pelvic and abdominal organs, aids anal and urinary continence, and supports sexual function; for women, it is of particular importance during pregnancy and natural childbirth.

The causes and symptoms of pelvic floor weakness

Birth-related trauma
Menopause (which involves a reduction in oestrogen and a gradual breakdown of connective tissue)
Age
Physical inactivity
Musculoskeletal problems affecting the spine and pelvis

The symptoms of a weakened pelvic floor can be difficult to spot, but it is essential to consult a specialist as soon as any suspicious signs appear. Starting a rehabilitation programme as soon as possible helps to restore muscle tone and prevent the condition from worsening.

Particular attention should be paid to the presence of pain, which can manifest in various ways:

spontaneous and continuous;
triggered by specific actions or conditions;
localised in the pelvic region;
associated with particular circumstances, such as dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse) or dysmenorrhoea (menstrual pain), and with conditions such as pelvic floor hypertonicity.

What conditions are linked to the pelvic floor?

Conditions affecting the pelvic floor can generally be categorised into two main types:

muscle hypertonia or hyperactivity (muscles that are almost constantly stiff and contracted):

difficulty emptying the bladder (retention) or the bowels (constipation)
painful sexual intercourse
painful urination that mimics a urinary tract infection
urgency and frequency
pelvic pain

pelvic muscle hypotonia or weakness (loss of muscle tone):

urinary or faecal incontinence (leakage)
pelvic organ prolapse

Rehabilitation for men

The pelvic floor is also a vital organ for men’s health, responsible for both supporting and suspending the pelvic organs.

Through which the urethra and rectum pass, it plays an essential role in controlling the bladder and bowel, as well as in sexual function.

The male pelvic floor can weaken as a result of:

prostate surgery
constant straining during bowel movements (constipation)
heavy physical work
chronic coughing
obesity
a sedentary lifestyle

The most common symptoms in men:

Involuntary loss of urine
Urgency to urinate
Perineal pain
Frequent urge to urinate
Erectile dysfunction
Premature ejaculation

How does rehabilitation treatment work?

The methodology employs a personalised and multidisciplinary approach, designed to help both women and men improve their condition and continue, independently at home, with the exercises needed to maintain the results achieved over time.

The first session is devoted to assessing the patient’s condition and drawing up a specific rehabilitation programme.

Subsequent sessions include kinesitherapy (therapeutic exercises) and proprioceptive techniques, alongside instrumental therapy such as biofeedback and electrostimulation.

The exercises are tailored to the affected function, the severity of the condition, the stage of the treatment programme and the objectives set at the outset.

The programme comprises a maximum of ten sessions, each lasting approximately one hour, held every 2–3 days, and led by a specialist midwife.

What to do to start a rehabilitation programme

You must bring a doctor’s referral with you and book an appointment for rehabilitation therapy.