The muscles of the pelvic floor control the flow of urine and support the organs found within the pelvis.

For good bladder control, all parts of your system must work together. The pelvic floor holds up the organs, the sphincter muscles control the flow of urine, and the nerves activate these muscles to function. When one or more of these components becomes weak, the system is unable to provide the needed support to keep the urethra closed tightly.

Pelvic floor muscle exercises, such as Kegels, strengthen the weakened structures around the bladder so you can gain control.

The process begins with a 60-minute office visit, during which a health assessment is performed and you are introduced to the equipment. Through this initial consultation, a comprehensive plan of care is developed to meet your specific needs, including a signature home exercise regimen combined with weekly office visits. The entire therapy program lasts approximately six to eight weeks, depending on needed therapy.

Throughout this process, your progress is evaluated and measured during 30-minute weekly office appointments.

Electrical stimulation might be used during the therapy. The strength of the current, length of the contractions, and the amount of time in between contractions is based on your symptoms.

Your treatment is based on the information obtained from your health history and the pelvic floor muscle measurements taken during the initial consultation. Your therapy may include:

PELVIC FLOOR REHABILITATION
It will be determined whether or not you are contracting the correct muscle, and when the muscle begins to fatigue. Using this information, a specific muscle strengthening routine will be prescribed.

PELVIC FLOOR STIMULATION
This is done with an internal sensor which stimulates the pelvic floor muscles, causing a comfortable, timed contraction of the pelvic floor. Low frequency, low intensity stimulation, along with muscle strengthening, calm the contractions and symptoms of an overactive bladder.

BLADDER RETRAINING
Once strength is improved to the pelvic floor, the bladder can be "retrained" to hold a larger volume so bathroom stops are not so frequent and sense of urgency can be controlled.

DIETARY CHANGES
Some people can help alleviate symptoms with simple dietary modifications, which will be discussed during therapy.

Pelvic Floor Therapy might be relevant treatment if you have one or more of the following conditions:

• Stress Incontinence

• Urge Incontinence

• Urinary Frequency

• Urgency

• Interstitial Cystitis

• Chronic Pelvic Pain

• Overactive Bladder

• Pelvic Floor Relaxation

• Frequent Nighttime Urination

You should not attempt this treatment if you:

• Have a pacemaker or heart arrhythmia

• If you are pregnant

• Experience rectal bleeding or painful, swollen hemorrhoids

• Have unstable seizure disorder

• Had pelvic surgery in last 6 months

• Treatment is non-invasive and painless

• It has up to an 80% success rate

• It has no significant side effects

• It is not a new treatment - it has been practiced for a number of years in the U.S. and other countries around the world

• It works for people of all ages and gender

• Most patients will see results in three or four weeks