In the eighth video of the IC101 Master Class, the role of the pelvic floor muscles is discussed. When the first pelvic floor PT study was released by the NIH years ago, it showed physical therapy was remarkably effective at reducing urinary symptoms. It was at that point that physicians started considering IC/BPS as a pelvic pain syndrome rather than as an incurable bladder disease. New studies now estimate that the great majority of IC patients have muscle dysfunction. Yet, many patients are completely surprised that their muscles are contributing to or causing their urinary symptoms and pelvic pain. If it takes five, ten, fifteen seconds or longer before you can start urination, odds are you have tight pelvic floor muscles.
In our national AUA Guidelines for IC/BPS, they ask physicians to assess for muscle dysfunction at their very first visit with a new patient and, if muscle dysfunction is found, they have been asked to immediately refer these patients to a physical therapist. Why? Because we now recognize the toll that tight muscles can play in reducing blood supply to the bladder and other organs (ischemia) as well as in compressing nerves (pudendal nerve entrapment, sciatica, etc.).
In this video, Jill shares what to expect when you visit a physical therapist. Internal myofascial massage is strongly suggested, vaginally in women and rectally in men. Why is internal work necessary? Because you simply can't reach these muscles externally.
The goal of physical therapy is to restore normal, healthy muscle tone and function. This may take some time in patients who have had tension for years, often due to injuries that occurred in childhood. So, it's important to have patience. Muscles respond beautifully to muscles work however if your muscles continue to stay quite tight even after PT, then it's important ask "what is putting pressure on these muscles?" It's quite common for some patients to have a bad hip, SI joint, broken tail bone, knee problems and, surprisingly, foot problems causing long-term muscle tension.
Our favorite book, especially for patients with a long history of tension and/or previous injury, is Breaking Through Chronic Pelvic Pain by Dr. Jerome Weiss. This book is available in the ICN shop. [ Ссылка ]
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- Learn more about pelvic floor physical therapy at: [ Ссылка ]
- Learn more about IC/BPS at: icnetwork.org
- Join in a live support group meeting: [ Ссылка ]
- Sign up for the free ICN newsletter: [ Ссылка ]
- Subscribe to the IC Optimist Patient Magazine: [ Ссылка ]
IC101: It's Not Just Bladder A Disease is currently available at: icnsales.com or Amazon.com.
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The Necessary Legal Disclosures:
This video content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Our goal is to encourage you to work more closely and seek out the advice of your medical professionals.
The IC Network, JH Osborne, Inc. and Jill Osborne hereby disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of this Video Content, which is provided as is, and without warranties.
