PHILADELPHIA – When a woman is referred for pelvic floor physical therapy, what’s involved? Is there evidence behind the treatments, and what exactly does pelvic floor therapy look like?
Denise Hartzell Leggin, a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor dysfunction, reviewed how the female pelvic floor can change with age, and provided the rationale for pelvic floor physical therapy (PT) at the annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society.
“Physical therapists treat musculoskeletal and neuromuscular dysfunctions,” said Ms. Hartzell Leggin. So, when a physician suspects a musculoskeletal cause for pelvic floor dysfunction, a PT referral may be appropriate, she said.
Why refer for PT?
As part of the aging process, pelvic floor dysfunction can coexist with the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), said Ms. Hartzell. Though the pathophysiology is not always clear, aging does have some effect on the pelvic floor musculature and, together with GSM, can contribute to women’s urogenital symptoms in later life.
These symptoms, she said, can be the harbingers of “a host of clinical conditions,” including urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence, constipation, and bladder-emptying problems. Also, changes in the pelvic musculature from childbirth, surgeries, and hypotonicity or hypertonicity can contribute to sexual dysfunction in later life, said Ms. Hartzell Leggin, who is affiliated with Good Shepherd Penn Partners and in private practice in the Philadelphia area.
The musculature of the pelvic floor functions as more than a bowl for carrying the pelvic organs, Ms. Hartzell Leggin said. The collective muscles and fascia form a sling that fills in the pelvic ring and functions as an integrated system with constant resting tone. But the musculature is also active and interactive.
“The diaphragm and the pelvic floor move in symmetry during respiration,” and pelvic floor tone tightens in anticipation of increased intra-abdominal pressure from a cough, a sneeze, or even a laugh. “These are active structures – the brain can talk to the pelvic floor and make it do something,” she said.
Who’s a good candidate?
Looking at risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse alone, Ms. Hartzell Leggin said these can include age, body mass index, a history of occupational or recreational heavy lifting, chronic cough, and even genetics.
However, one of the most significant risk factors for prolapse of pelvic organs is simply having had a vaginal delivery. Up to 50% of women who have delivered a child vaginally may eventually have some degree of pelvic organ prolapse, though not all women will be symptomatic, Ms. Hartzell Leggin said.
Since postsurgical pelvic organ prolapse rates may top 30% within 2 years, an initial referral for pelvic floor PT is a rational conservative approach, she said. And even if a patient progresses to surgery, PT may be a useful adjunct.
Pelvic floor dysfunction may also be considered if a diastasis recti is discovered on physical exam, or if the patient reports a linear abdominal bulge. Patients with diastasis recti are more likely to have pelvic floor dysfunction than the general population, she said, so it’s worth asking about any related symptoms.
For voiding issues, “conservative treatment is first-line,” said Ms. Hartzell Leggin, so a PT referral for pelvic floor therapy and, in some cases, some behavioral retraining can help with issues of urinary frequency and urgency. These are options that may be considered before prescribing anticholinergic medication, she said.
How does pelvic floor PT work?
When a physician refers a patient for pelvic floor PT, what’s the process? The physical therapy evaluation will begin with history taking, including the chief complaint, past medical and surgical history, and an obstetric/gynecologic/sexual history, said Ms. Hartzell Leggin. Medications are also reviewed.
The physical therapist’s examination should encompass a thorough orthopedic examination, with attention to the lumbar spine and hips, and posture and gait. An external and internal examination of the pelvic floor will look for muscle tone at rest and with strain, and for any defects or prolapse.
Pelvic floor strength is assessed according to ability to contract, with some assessment of strength available through palpation. More quantitative means may include manometry, dynamometry, or the use of progressive weighted vaginal cones.
There’s no single standardized measurement tool to assess pelvic floor strength. Palpation is a valuable tool for an experienced clinician, and it also can provide real-time feedback to the patient as she becomes more aware of her pelvic floor. The discipline is moving toward more standardized terminology, with several reporting scales now available to report pelvic floor strength, said Ms. Hartzell Leggin.
The Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory is a validated tool that captures information about the impact of pelvic floor dysfunction on a patient’s daily functioning. “I think I capture a lot when my patient comes in and completes that form,” said Ms. Hartzell Leggin. The Genitourinary Pain Index is another validated tool that measures urinary symptoms, pain, and associated quality of life impacts. Patients may be asked to keep a home therapy and symptom or voiding diary for additional information.
The pelvic floor PT treatment algorithm will vary, depending on whether there’s underlying hypertonicity or hypotonicity, but will involve pelvic floor exercises, soft tissue mobilization, and consideration of a variety of modalities including electrical stimulation and ultrasound. For hypertonicity, vaginal dilators may be used, while weighted vaginal cones may be used for hypotonicity.
Physical therapists should know when to refer a patient back to a physician and should always work as part of an interdisciplinary team, she said.
Ms. Hartzell Leggin reported that she is the president of Elite Rehabilitation Services in Audubon, Pa.
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