Pelvic Health Dysfunction - Albert Lea, Minnesota

Our physical therapy team treats aging pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary and fecal incontinence, postural changes, weakened core and back pain for women and men (select locations). Some physical therapists have advanced training in treatment and management for pelvic floor dysfunction and pain, prenatal and postnatal musculoskeletal care and osteoporosis issues. 

Prenatal preventive services can address postural, pelvic floor and core changes in your body. This includes exercises to prevent pain, urinary incontinence and diastasis recti (split of abdominal muscles related to pregnancy).

Prenatal and postpartum services focus on back pain, foot pain, urinary incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction.

Physical therapists address the following:

• Alleviating low back pain and sciatica
• Alternative options to assist with pain during labor
• Bracing and support garments for pregnancy
• Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome
• Osteoporosis/osteopenia musculoskeletal pain, muscle imbalance, posture and self-care education
• Pelvic floor pain, myalgia or vaginismus
• Pelvic floor stability and Kegel exercises for present or future episodes of incontinence
• Pelvic floor overactive bladder or urinary urgency and frequency
• Pelvic floor urinary or fecal incontinence
• Positioning for labor
• Post-prostatectomy muscle training
• Posture and body mechanics during and after pregnancy (sleeping positions, lifting and carrying children, breast and bottle-feeding positions)
• Pregnancy back or pelvic pain, varicosity care, prenatal and postnatal education
• Proper breathing techniques
• Relaxation training before and during labor
• Return to activity and exercise after pregnancy
• Starting or advancing exercises during pregnancy
• Strengthening exercises for core stability (trunk and abdominal muscles)
• Vulvar vestibulitis.

Individualized treatment

Treatment may include:

• Neuromuscular reeducation. This reeducates your body on movement, balance, coordination, kinesthetic sense, posture and proprioception with or without the use of biofeedback.
• Therapeutic exercises. Specific exercises designed to improve coordination of muscles working and relaxing; reduce range of motion limitations; manage scar and myofascial restrictions; improve flexibility; and improve strength and general conditioning.
• Manual therapy. This gentle, hands-on treatment can improve joint mobility, and relax or extend soft muscle and connective tissue to restore normal mobility and posture.
• Back or pelvic supports. These can provide pain relief and proper positioning for healing of stressed joints or structures.
• Home care program. To optimize outcomes, patient receive an individualized home program.
• Biofeedback training. Electromyography (EMG) sensors can be used to test and reeducate muscles to change abnormal responses to more normal patterns by increasing a response, decreasing a response or learning to coordinate two responses more effectively.
• Electric stimulation. This can alleviate pain and promote pain control, muscle function and advance healing.

This service isn't available to those with unstable fractures for spine or pelvis, active pelvic infection or postop vaginal/rectal surgery, or before six weeks postpartum.

A provider referral for physical therapy is required for this service.