The pelvic floor is a group of muscles at the base (or “floor”) of your pelvis that play an important role in your daily activities. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is specialized care that enables your physical therapist to assess the structures internal and external to your pelvis to determine the cause of your symptoms. Imbalance in the structures within and in other parts of your body can lead to bladder, bowel, sexual, supportive and circulation/ lymphatic dysfunctions.

At the Latina Physio, your Doctor of Physical Therapy has received extensive training to examine the structures within and outside of the pelvis. We believe in taking a comprehensive approach and assess and treat your entire body to heal the root cause of your symptoms.

Any person can benefit from Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and/or Wellness. This is because the pelvic floor has a role in all daily activities including peeing, pooping, sex, exercise, and just plain existing. A pelvic floor physical therapist can help ensure you perform all the above activities safely. Pregnant people can especially benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy to decrease discomfort during pregnancy, facilitate delivery and birth recovery.

Also, anyone who experiences any of the following can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy:

1. Hip, low back, or groin pain

2. Pain or discomfort during sex

3. Other pelvic pain or discomfort

4. Leaking urine or feces

5. Urinating more than 8 times a day

6. Feeling intense urge to urinate without being able to delay using the restroom

7. Waking at night to urinate

8. Constipation or difficulty producing bowel movement

Orthopedic Physical Therapy focuses on assessing and treating conditions involving muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, bones, joints and nerves. Pelvic physical therapists are orthopedic physical therapists but specialize further to be able to assess pelvic structures internally and externally.

At The Latina Physio, we believe being able to assess and treat the pelvic floor provides us with the missing link that prevents people from getting better in traditional orthopedic physical therapy.

The first session includes extensive information gathering. We will review the information on your intake form and discuss all relevant information relating to your symptoms. Afterwards, your therapist will perform a comprehensive initial assessment of your entire body to uncover the cause of your symptoms. An internal vaginal and/or rectal assessment will only be performed with your consent. You can opt for it to be performed at a later visit or not at all. After the evaluation we will begin treatment and you will have tools and exercises that you can implement on day one.

At The Latina Physio, we value your comfort. It is unnecessary to cancel your appointment as Dr. Ortiz is experienced and comfortable with treating you any day of your cycle. If you prefer external treatment, there are many external physical therapy techniques that can be helpful. If you prefer to cancel your appointment, please give us at least a 24 hour notice.