Learn more about the pelvic floor with Dr. Paige Butts
The often overlooked pelvic floor consists of the muscles between the tailbone (coccyx) and the pubic bone within the pelvis, and plays a pivotal role in our anatomy.
To go into greater detail we have Dr. Paige Butts.
She has been practicing Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PT) for almost eight years. In those eight years, she has also completed a Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Therapy (FAAOMPT), become a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), and become an Integrative Health Practitioner (IHP).
"It was always a dream of mine to open a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Practice and, what do you know? Empower Pelvic Health & Wellness hit its one year anniversary this past August!"
"My passion for pelvic floor started very early on in my high school days. I actually wanted to go to medical school to become an OB/GYN, but I got a job my freshman year of college in health services, where I worked in cardiac rehab and physical therapy," says Dr. Paige. "This is where I found my love for physical therapy, and knew that was the career that I was going to pursue."
When she started physical therapy school, she was introduced to Pelvic Floor PT, that's where all the dots connected for her and she knew this was what she was called to do.
"There is something so special in watching my patients learn how to become confident in their bodies and empowered in their health. Nothing is better!"
In this Q+A, Dr. Paige explains more about the pelvic floor, explains symptoms and signs it’s time to see a PT, and gives us ways to strengthen the pelvic floor.
Q. What is the pelvic floor?
A. The pelvic floor is essentially a hammock of muscles inside your pelvis that have some pretty important roles. They attach to the front of your pelvis and to the tailbone and sacrum to help stabilize your hips and your low back.
These muscles also play a vital role in supporting your bladder, uterus, and rectum; they work to provide the support these organs need to stay elevated and in the proper position. The pelvic floor muscles are a primary component in intercourse and allowing for penetration. The muscles have to be able to relax and contract to allow for penetration, arousal, etc.
A lot of people are familiar with urinary incontinence — the pelvic floor muscles are responsible to making sure that we do not have urine or bowel leakage. The last thing I will touch on in regard to the pelvic floor muscles is their role in pressure management. So, things like lifting weights, going for a run, lifting and carrying kids, sneezing, coughing, etc. These muscles have to function properly with the abdominal muscles to manage pressure efficiently and effectively.
Q. What are common symptoms/presentations that let you know you need to see a Pelvic Floor PT?
A. Anyone experiencing:
*Urinary or bowel leakage
*Constipation
*Difficulty with urination
*Urinary frequency and urgency
*Pain with intercourse (or any kind of penetration)
*Pelvic pain or lower abdominal pain
*Abdominal muscle separation
*History of endometriosis and interstitial cystitis
*Prior to undergoing any pelvic of abdominal surgery: ie hysterectomy, surgery for pelvic organ prolapse
*During pregnancy: Helping with labor and delivery prep and management
*After delivery (vaginal or c section)
Q. What are five ways to help your pelvic floor?
A. There are a few ways:
1. Drink water: I know this sounds cliche, but we underestimate how important water is for our bodies and for our pelvic health.
Increasing water will help with constipation and with urinary leakage. So, let this be your reminder to drink more water today — your bladder and your colon will thank you.
2. Diaphragmatic Breathing: Doing diaphragmatic breathing helps turn on our parasympathetic nervous system (or rest and digest system) to help improve overall tension and stress — but the diaphragm and pelvic floor also work together. So, when we spend time each day doing some really good and intentional breathing, we help the pelvic floor muscles work through their full range of motion.
3. Invest in a Squatty Potty: Using a Squatty Potty, or some kind of step stool, with bowel movements will substantially improve your ability to have a complete bowel movement. Using this allows your knees to get higher than your hips which helps the pelvic floor muscles relax, and when paired with correct breathing techniques, allow you to eliminate with less stress/straining and leave you feeling like you are empty.
4. Hip mobility: All of my patients will attest to my love of good hip, glute, and pelvic floor mobility exercises. These are critical in their plan of care and are considered one of my "non-negotiables." I really encourage patients to spend good, quality time working through some of my favorite mobility exercises to help them maintain the range of motion and progress that we make in sessions.
Your hip mobility is directly related to your pelvic floor and how those muscles function. Today, I challenge you to try some prolonged childs pose, happy baby, cat/cow, and deep squatting.
5. See a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist: Everybody has a pelvis and everybody deserves to live a life full of zest, confidence, and empowerment. If you are ever questioning symptoms revolving around your low back, hips, knees, ankles, or pelvis — pelvic floor PT is for you.
I always tell people, Pelvic Floor PTs are highly trained in evaluating, assessing, diagnosing and managing pain, dysfunction, weakness, and incoordination of the pelvic floor muscles, bladder, bowels, and surrounding structures (really the whole body, but we especially love the pelvis).
If you're local to Columbia, SC and would like to see a Pelvic Floor PT, schedule a consultation with Dr. Paige.
Have pelvic floor questions? Drop them here for answers from Dr. Paige in a follow up piece.