Revitalize Physical Therapy Blog

Admittedly, I am not the most technologically savvy individual. As my web-designer, my friends who work at Google (who patiently field my many questions), and basically anyone who has ever met me already knows, I know enough to outsource most tasks that involve a plug and an outlet (#noshame). I kid you not when I share that one of the highlights of my week thus far was independently figuring out (okay, fine, with a little help from the internet) how to import photographs from my phone onto my laptop. I believe my grandmother has already been doing that for years.

That being said, I appreciate when others who are fluent in devices, computers, and programming create tools which enhance my life and the lives of my patients. I have recently been introduced to several mobile apps which are extremely beneficial for patients with pelvic floor dysfunction, and I would like to highlight three of those apps in today’s blog.

Pelvic Track

Pelvic Track is an incredible and comprehensive app developed by Dr. Evelyn Hecht. The app allows patients to keep track of exercises, enter information into bladder and bowel diaries, monitor symptoms, and set reminders for themselves (ex. “relax your pelvic floor” at set times throughout the day). The app provides helpful pictures and explanations of the exercises as well as self-help techniques. I encourage pelvic floor therapists to introduce their patients to Pelvic Track, especially ones who love having their homework consolidated in one easy to use application.

Seconds Pro Interval Timer

For patients who get bored of counting the seconds remaining to their monotonous endurance Kegel contraction, Seconds Pro Interval Timer is the perfect app. Instead of counting oneself, this interval training timer app will do all the work for patients while they enjoy music, watch Netflix, or daydream. The patient can customize both the squeeze/hold time as well as the rest time, and they can modify both factors as they get stronger and can holder for longer periods of time. Patients can also monitor heart rate and calories burned during the workout.

Perifit

Biofeedback is a modality employed by pelvic floor physical therapists to teach proper muscle recruitment, relaxation, isolation, and discrimination patterns. It is a technique in which a typically unconscious physiological process is presented to the patient (and therapist) as visual or auditory signals. Many patients who appreciate biofeedback and the positive educational experience it offers have expressed that they wished there was an equivalent home version. Thanks to developers in Europe, there is now. The Perifit is a kegel exerciser with sensors that connects through Bluetooth to one’s smartphone. The user opens the app and can perform pelvic floor exercises with feedback from the sensor appearing on their phone. The company claims, “This is about as fun as you can get training your pelvic floor muscles,” and my own patients have confirmed that assertion. In fact, one postpartum mother told me that she would recommend this innovative technology to all postpartum clients, because the Perifit provided extra motivation and allowed for greater ease in tracking progress.

So there you have my top three pelvic floor apps! I am excited to see how future technological advances will converge with and benefit pelvic health and wellness. It is an ever-unfolding story that possesses abundant potential.

Ever wonder about pelvic organ prolapse and what it means? Well, here is everything you need to know!

Q: Where are my Pelvic Floor muscles?
A: The muscles create a hammock that go from your pubic bone (in front) to your coccyx (in back) as well as side to side. The pelvic floor muscles consist of three layers; the superficial layer can be found externally and internally while the two deeper layers can only be found internally.

Q: What is the job of the pelvic floor muscles?
A: These muscles support your organs, provide sphincteric control to help maintain bladder and bowel contents, and contribute to sexual function.

Q: Ok but what exactly do these muscles do?
A: In order to urinate, pass a bowel movement, or achieve orgasm the Pelvic Floor muscles need to relax and expand. In order to prevent urinary or fecal leakage the pelvic floor muscles need to be strong and remain active. For a variety of reasons the pelvic floor muscles can become weak, spastic, or restricted leading to difficulty with bowel movements, urination, or sexual function.

Q: What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PF PT)?
A: Physical therapists are musculoskeletal experts, this applies to the pelvic floor muscles as well. A physical therapist works with the client on re-training the Pelvic Floor muscles to work properly. An underactive Pelvic Floor (example: prolapse, weakness, urinary incontinence, postpartum issues) requires a strengthening/up-training program, whereas an overactive pelvic floor (example: constipation, chronic pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction) requires relaxation/down-training program.

Q: How do my Pelvic Floor muscles relate to my prolapse?
A: The job of the pelvic floor muscles is to support your organs. If the pelvic floor muscles are weak they will be unable to support your organs. This lack of muscular support will cause the organs (often times the bladder or rectum) to descend which is known as a prolapse.

Q: How can Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy help my prolapse?
A: PF PT works on re-training and strengthening the muscles through an up-training program to better support your organs. Once the muscles that support your organs are strengthened the organs will have a better support system and not descend.

Q: Should I just do kegels all day every day and hope the prolapse resolves? If I don’t have a prolapse should I be doing kegels to prevent a prolapse?
A: Kegels are great WHEN they are done correctly. Unfortunately most people do not know how to properly engage their pelvic floor muscles and perform the kegels. People tend to substitute with their inner thigh muscles or gluteal muscles instead. This is why in certain countries, such as France, women are sent to PF PT after giving birth to learn how to properly perform kegels and strengthen their pelvic floor muscles. In order to prevent substitutions it is beneficial to see a PF PT to ensure proper pelvic floor muscle activation.

Q: If I haven’t yet seen a PF PT but was diagnosed with a prolapse is there anything I can do in the meantime?

A: Yes! There are certain positions that will alleviate the pressure placed on your organs providing you with some much needed relief. Gravity is working against you and your prolapse putting pressure on the organs, when you take the pressure off the organs you allow gravity to work in your favor. One of the positions is to lay on your back on the floor with your feet up on the couch alternatively you can lay on your back with your hips elevated upon pillows or a wedge. Finally downward dog is a yoga position that helps temporarily pull the organs back into alignment.

APP-solutely Amazing

Pondering Pelvic Prolapse