Postpartum Pelvic Floor Therapy Is In Demand
Postpartum Pelvic Floor Therapy is becoming popular these days. Many Ob-Gyns are recommending that their postpartum patients see a Physical Therapist if they’re experiencing a variety of symptoms, ranging from incontinence and bowel issues to lingering pain and discomfort after birth. Even pelvic organ prolapse can be addressed successfully, and quite many more issues.
Over 65 studies suggest that Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can help postpartum women, but we should keep in mind that some studies have a medium to low level of evidence, and there can be variation in the quality and content of interventions reviewed.
Either way, there are certainly many Physical Therapists specializing in Postpartum Pelvic Floor PT who are highly skilled and able to help patients recover after childbirth.
But What Is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy has become very popular due to social media and even daytime talk show hosts featuring this therapy modality. PFT is a type of PT, focusing in the muscles, nerves, and connective tissue in the pelvic area.
Pelvic floor therapy involves teaching the post-partum patient exercises, using manual techniques, and sometimes other methods, to address issues like muscle laxity or weakness, and on the other side of the coin, muscle tightness, or constrictions.
The idea is regaining pelvic floor strength and avoiding the many pitfalls and symptoms associated with postpartum life. The practice helps improve symptoms related to bladder, bowel, and sexual function by teaching patients to properly strengthen and relax these muscles, as well as working on this all manually, as stated earlier. Urinary or fecal incontinence is also addressed.
Is Pelvic Floor Massage Therapy the Same As Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
That is an interesting question, and the answer is that Pelvic Floor Massage Therapy is NOT the same as Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy. And, likewise, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is not Pelvic Floor Massage Therapy, though there may be some manual work done on the pelvis during a session of PFT PT.
A Medical Board Licensed Massage Therapist certified in Pelvic Floor Massage performs Pelvic Floor Massage Therapy, only.
A Medical Board Licensed Physical Therapist certified in Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy performs Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, only.
There are some similarities, and even more differences.
The goals are the same. The muscles addressed are the same. However, the methods utilized are vastly different.
Is Pelvic Floor Massage a Viable Alternative To Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
In fact, Pelvic Floor Massage, delivered by a competent and specially-trained LMT, can be as effective as Pelvic Floor Therapy. Studies have not been done, however, such rare LMTs possessing this Certification are working within their Scope of Practice to do Pelvic Floor work. The issue of viability is that you won’t likely find a therapist who performs this modality.
Is Pelvic Floor Massage Less Invasive Than Pelvic Floor Therapy?
As nothing is used but the LMT’s hands, and no glass rod is inserted intra-vaginally, it makes sense that many women report anecdotally, that the PFM is less invasive than the PT-performed PFT PT.
These claims are not supported by evidence because such research has never been done, however, it stands to reason that an LMT, a trained and licensed Medical Professional whose focus is exclusively the soft tissues can perform a session as competently as a PT.
How Do Pelvic Floor Massage Therapy and Pelvic Floor Therapy Differ?
The LMT typically focuses on the entirety of the pelvis, front and back, top to bottom, as one whole, working on the over-tight or lax muscles, fascia, and ligaments with her hands. The LMT may guide the patient though exercises, learning how to relax, and tighten, and become more aware of, the pelvic floor.
The PT typically focuses on the entirety of the pelvis, front and back, top to bottom, as one whole, working on the over-tight or lax muscles, fascia, and ligaments with her hands. The LMT may guide the patient though exercises, learning how to relax, and tighten, and become more aware of, the pelvic floor.
The LMT uses her hands to provide help to the entire structure of the pelvis, as a whole, working superficially to deeply, dealing with everything layer by layer, aiding fascia, muscles, and ligaments, utilizing the techniques for Postpartum Massage Therapy, as well as Pelvic Floor Massage, they recived additional certifications in.
The LMT uses her hands to provide help to the entire structure of the pelvis utilizing the techniques for Pelvic Floor Massage they were certified in.
The PT uses her own hands (and/or the hands of an assistant, potentially), to provide soft tissue mobilization and trigger point therapy, as well as administering electro-stim, and intra-vaginal work using a large glass tool they insert inside the vagina.
Can All LMTs and PTs Provide Postpartum Pelvic Floor Massage Therapy and Pelvic Floor Therapy, Respectively?
An LMT without both Perinatal and Pelvic Floor additional training and certifications beyond their LMT license cannot practice Pelvic Floor Massage Therapy.
A PT without Pelvic Floor additional training and certification beyond their PT license cannot practice Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy.
