Pelvic Floor Exam Technique

A pelvic physical therapist will often use internal vaginal and rectal examination and treatment techniques all of which are evidence based to help assess and correct a woman s pelvic dysfunction.

Pelvic floor exam technique.

Patients with pelvic floor dysfunction pelvic scrotal and or penile pain and incontinence will often need a rectal exam to determine the strength and tone of the pelvic floor muscles. Internal vaginal or rectal examination is different than a pelvic or prostate exam done by physician. Physical therapy internal exams are different from the pelvic or gynecological exams performed by your medical health practitioner. The pelvic floor muscles are located internally.

This will only be done with your informed consent. Pelvic exam is a important part of the exam for female patients and important towards making various diagnoses such as yeast vulvovaginitis bacterial vaginosis lichen sclerosis cancers such as cervical cancer anal rectal cancer sexually transmitted infections gonorrhea chlamydia trichomonas syphilis herpes and human papillomavirus and many other diagnoses. The pelvic floor also called the pelvic diaphragm is a bowl shaped muscular sheet whose main functions are to support the abdominal and pelvic organs and to control the opening and closing of the urethral and anal sphinters. Physical examination methods to evaluate pelvic musculature for presence of myofascial pain varied significantly and were often undefined.

The exam is done with a gloved finger placed in the vaginal or rectal canal. What to expect on your first visit at cpch. It is performed to look at the muscles and connective tissue in the pelvic floor. Given the known role of pelvic floor myofascial pain in chronic pelvic pain and link between pelvic floor myofascial pain and lower urinary tract symptoms physi.

This technique allows your. We do not use a speculum and we are not evaluating the reproductive urinary or intestinal systems. We evaluate the pelvic floor muscles joints ligaments and fascia for strength quality endurance and motor. 3 the pelvic floor rests at the bottom of the pelvis and is formed mainly by the levator ani muscle group.

Your doctor may perform an internal exam by placing a. Internal techniques to examine the pelvic floor. Physical therapy pelvic floor muscle exam male.