Pelvic Floor Archives - Legacy Physical Therapy

Pelvic Floor Tightness During Menopause: Signs You Might Be Missing

Leave a Comment / Menopause, Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Physical Therapy / Dr. Manali Andrus PT, DPT Pelvic Physical Therapist

When women start experiencing pelvic floor symptoms during perimenopause or menopause, one of the first assumptions is often: “My pelvic floor must be getting weak.” And sometimes weakness is part of the problem. But not always. Your pelvic floor muscles can also become too tight, overactive, or have difficulty fully relaxing. In fact, some symptoms […]

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Can You Have Pelvic Floor Problems Without Symptoms?

Leave a Comment / Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Pelvic Physical Therapy / Dr. Manali Andrus PT, DPT Pelvic Physical Therapist

When most people think about pelvic floor problems, they think about obvious symptoms: bladder leakage, pelvic pain, constipation, painful intercourse, or pelvic organ prolapse. But what if you don’t have any of those symptoms? Can you still have pelvic floor dysfunction without realizing it? The answer is yes. Your pelvic floor muscles may have changes

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Walking, Running, and Exercise With Prolapse: What Is Safe?

Leave a Comment / Athletes, Fitness, Movement, Pain, Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Pelvic Physical Therapy / Dr. Manali Andrus PT, DPT Pelvic Physical Therapist

Receiving a diagnosis of pelvic organ prolapse can be overwhelming. One of the first questions many women ask is: “Can I still exercise?” Maybe you’ve been told to stop running, avoid lifting weights, or skip your favorite fitness class. Others are told simply to “listen to your body,” leaving them unsure of what that actually

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What Aggravates SI Joint Pain? How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help

Leave a Comment / Joint Pain, Pain, Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Pain, Pelvic Physical Therapy, Sacroiliac / Dr. Manali Andrus PT, DPT Pelvic Physical Therapist

If you’ve been struggling with pain around your low back, buttock, or pelvis, you may have heard someone mention your sacroiliac (SI) joint. SI joint dysfunction is a common cause of pelvic and low back pain, yet it is often misunderstood or mistaken for a herniated disc, sciatica, or hip problem. Many people notice their

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How Does Fiber Decrease Constipation? A Pelvic Physical Therapist Explains

Constipation, Hemorrhoids, Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Physical Therapy / Dr. Manali Andrus PT, DPT Pelvic Physical Therapist

If you’ve ever been told to “eat more fiber” when you’re constipated, you’re not alone. Increasing fiber intake is one of the most common recommendations for improving bowel regularity but have you ever wondered why fiber works? The answer is that fiber does much more than simply “keep you regular.” It changes the consistency of

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Pelvic Floor Therapy for Athletes: Does It Really Help Performance?

Athletes, Exercise, Fitness, Movement, Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Physical Therapy, Workout / Dr. Manali Andrus PT, DPT Pelvic Physical Therapist

Whether you’re training for your first 5K, competing in CrossFit, playing Division I sports, lifting heavy in the gym, or chasing your kids around the backyard, your body relies on one often-overlooked group of muscles: your pelvic floor. Most athletes don’t think about their pelvic floor until something goes wrong. Maybe you leak urine when

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C-Section Scar Treatment: How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help You Heal

Baby, C-section, Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Physical Therapy / Dr. Manali Andrus PT, DPT Pelvic Physical Therapist

Your C-Section Scar May Be Healed…But Is It Functioning Well? For many women, the six or eight -week postpartum checkup marks the official end of healing after a C-section. The incision has closed, the staples or stitches are gone, and you’re told everything looks good. But months or even years later, you may still notice:

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Is It Normal to Wake Up at Night to Pee?

Bladder, Bladder Leakage, Nocturia, Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Physical Therapy, Sleep / Dr. Manali Andrus PT, DPT Pelvic Physical Therapist

You finally fall asleep after a long day… only to find yourself awake an hour or two later because you have to use the bathroom. Maybe it happens once. Maybe it’s two, three, or even five times every night. If you’re wondering whether this is just a normal part of aging, you’re not alone. The

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How to Prepare for Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Physical Therapy / Dr. Manali Andrus PT, DPT Pelvic Physical Therapist

If you’ve scheduled your first pelvic floor physical therapy appointment, you might be feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty. You may be wondering: These are incredibly common questions—and the good news is that preparing for pelvic floor physical therapy is much easier than most people think. At Legacy Physical Therapy in St. Louis and

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Can Pelvic Floor Therapy Help With Tenesmus?

Constipation, Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Physical Therapy / Dr. Manali Andrus PT, DPT Pelvic Physical Therapist

Constantly Feeling Like You Need to Have a Bowel Movement? Have you ever finished using the bathroom only to feel like you still need to go? Or maybe you experience a constant sensation of pressure in your rectum, as if there is stool remaining even when there isn’t. This uncomfortable feeling is known as tenesmus,

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