Can Pelvic Therapy Help with Sexual Dysfunction?
Sexual dysfunction problems, such as low libido, decreased lubrication, inability to sustain an erection, painful sexual intercourse, among others, can have a significant impact on an individual’s self-esteem, intimate relationships, and overall quality of life. Fortunately, pelvic floor therapy offers a safe and effective treatment for every type of sexual dysfunction you may experience.
Symptoms of Sexual Dysfunction
Symptoms include erectile dysfunction, anejaculation or delayed ejaculation, anorgasmia, vaginal dryness, fissures and vaginismus.
Pelvic Therapy Techniques for Sexual Dysfunction
Like every other physical therapy procedure, pelvic therapy techniques aim to address the root cause of sexual dysfunction, rather than the symptoms alone. Pelvic therapy can treat physical and address behavioural causes of sexual dysfunction. Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with sexual dysfunction after a comprehensive assessment by a professional, the following are some of the most common techniques you may undergo during a pelvic therapy procedure at Lilly Physical Therapy in Edmonds, WA:
Manual therapy
This physical therapy technique assesses, diagnoses, treats, and manages musculoskeletal conditions that cause dysfunction. Therefore, this non-invasive technique can evaluate and treat dysfunctional pelvic floor muscles and their surrounding fascia, joints, and connective tissues that cause sexual dysfunction. People suffering from sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction, vaginismus, anorgasmia, dyspareunia, and other pelvic disorders causing sexual dysfunction, can benefit from manual therapy.
Manual therapy treats and manages conditions like erectile dysfunction and anorgasmia by improving blood circulation and relaxing tight muscles. It can also gently stretch and retrain the vaginal muscles and tissues to manage conditions like vaginismus and dyspareunia.
High‑Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM)
HIPEM is a non-invasive technique that employs pulsed electromagnetic fields to strengthen pelvic floor by inducing thousands of supramaximal contractions in a single 30 minute session, all while you're fully clothed. This therapy can treat sexual dysfunctions, such as premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, anorgasmia, urinary incontinence (comorbid with sexual dysfunction), prolapse related symptoms, low libido, etc.
Electromagnetic field therapy strengthens the pelvic floor through neuromuscular reeducation, ensuring that patients who struggle with voluntary contraction or relaxation of their pelvic muscles can perform either action easily.
SoftWave Therapy
This is a regenerative therapy that applies low-intensity acoustic waves to the pelvic or genital area to stimulate the body’s natural process by improving blood circulation, triggering tissue repair, and promoting nerve regeneration. SoftWave therapy can treat sexual dysfunction conditions, such as vaginismus, erectile dysfunction (of vascular causes), dyspareunia, pelvic pain, menopause related vaginal atrophy, etc.
SoftWave therapy can restore natural erections in men and reduce pain and enhance sensitivity in women by triggering the development of new blood cells and regrowth of nerves in the pelvic tissue.
Breathing and Relaxation Training
This is a behavioural therapy technique that is suitable for people suffering from pelvic pain and dysfunction. It involves diaphragmatic breathing, where you focus on expanding your belly when you inhale and relax your pelvic muscles. Breathing and relaxation training help you to relax involuntarily clenched pelvic muscles and reduce anxiety, improving sexual function. This technique can treat several sexual dysfunctions, including vaginismus, anorgasmia, dyspareunia, and other tension-related conditions.
Pelvic Floor Muscles Training
This involves a program of strengthening and conditioning exercises aimed at fortifying the pelvic floor. Common examples of pelvic floor exercises that train the pelvic floor muscles include Kegels, pelvic tilts, bird dog, squats, bridge pose, etc. These exercises can treat and manage sexual dysfunction, such as erectile dysfunction, anorgasmia, premature ejaculation, low libido, and other pelvic floor weakness-related issues.
Conclusion
Sexual dysfunctions can be frustrating yet embarrassing to talk about. If left untreated for a long time, it can damage your relationships and reduce your overall quality of life over time. Fortunately, pelvic therapy offers a very effective and non-invasive treatment option for all types of sexual dysfunction. Therefore, if you suffer from any type of sexual dysfunction, you should consider undergoing pelvic floor therapy at Lilly PT for effective treatment.
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