What Is Pelvic Floor Tension?
Pelvic floor tension is a type of pelvic floor dysfunction that involves strain in the structures of the pelvic floor. It is referred to in many different ways: Pelvic floor tension myalgia (PFTM), overactive pelvic floor, hypertonic pelvic floor, and so on.
When the muscles and other structures of the pelvic floor are constantly activated or tense, they struggle to perform normal daily functions or coordinate with other organs.
What does it mean to have tension? To understand this, you should know that your pelvic floor can both contract and relax in order to perform its daily functions. You can even actively contract and relax these muscles on command!
However, someone with a lot of tension in their pelvic floor may be stuck in a state of continuous muscle contraction, and struggle to relax these muscles naturally or on command.
Tension can fluctuate, but over time builds up more to create other pelvic floor issues and dysfunction. For example, having a lot of stress can create tension in the body, including your pelvic floor. Tension is often present alongside other forms of pelvic floor dysfunction. It can contribute to a variety of symptoms, which we’ll discuss below.
What Does Pelvic Floor Tension Look Like?
Daily functions such as using the restroom, enjoying sexual activities, or even just movements such as lifting can become more difficult or painful when there is tension in the pelvic floor.
In general, pelvic floor tension can cause or contribute to the following symptoms:
- Constipation
- Painful, difficult, or incomplete bowel movements
- Pelvic pain
- Pressure in the pelvic area
- Pain with sex
- Erectile dysfunction
- Inability to orgasm
- Muscle spasms
- Pain in the lower back
- Pain in the hips
- Difficult urination
- And more
It is important to note that the severity of pelvic floor tension can range widely and symptoms can vary. Unfortunately, because these symptoms can mimic many other conditions, pelvic floor tension often goes undiagnosed.
If you seek other treatments and still struggle with symptoms such as these, you should consider seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist.
What Causes Tension in the Pelvic Floor?
There are many different things that can create tension in the pelvic floor. Luckily, many of these causes can either be supported or prevented with pelvic floor physical therapy.
Other Conditions
Pre-existing conditions can often cause or contribute to pelvic floor tension. This is because these conditions often can cause repeated stress or pain to the pelvic area, naturally causing you to activate your muscles.
When this happens frequently, that tension can build up and cause pelvic floor dysfunction. Some examples of conditions that may cause this include:
- Endometriosis
- Chronic constipation
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Interstitial cystitis
- And more
While chronic conditions cannot necessarily be healed or prevented, you can significantly improve your quality of life with pelvic floor therapy. Physical therapy can reduce pain, improve movement, and lessen symptoms such as those caused by pelvic floor tension and other dysfunctions.
Poor Posture
Tension can build up in the pelvic area as a result of poor posture. This includes poor posture when sitting, standing, lifting, or doing a variety of other activities.
Therefore, individuals who stand or sit all day when working may be more prone to pelvic floor tension. Those who lift items often at home, in the gym, or at work are at higher risk of creating tension, particularly when doing these activities with poor form.
Lastly, those who play sports recreationally or professionally may also be prone to pelvic floor tension. While it may be surprising, athletes actually use their pelvic floor for a variety of movements!
The pelvic floor provides balance, endurance, and power during practically any sport you can imagine, and is significantly affected by your posture during these activities.
Posture can be corrected and improved with physical therapy, whether it’s standing posture, sitting posture, or athletic form. Pelvic floor physical therapy can improve many different lifestyle habits!
Poor Bathroom Habits
Your habits related to using the restroom can significantly affect your pelvic floor’s health! Sitting on the toilet for too long, straining during bowel movements, holding urine for a long time, pushing while urinating, frequent urination, and many other daily habits can affect your pelvic floor’s health.
These may seem like small, harmless actions—but over time they can strain the pelvic floor, increase tension, and create unwanted symptoms. Your pelvic floor physical therapist may discuss these behaviors with you, and discuss how to make changes to both these habits and your voiding schedule if necessary!
Trauma
The pelvic floor plays such an important role in many of your body’s functions… but, this also means it can be affected by a wide variety of experiences. Sometimes, certain experiences can cause particularly heavy amounts of stress and trauma to the pelvic floor. Some examples include:
- Pregnancy / childbirth
- Pelvic injury
- Pelvic surgery
- Sexual or physical abuse
In these cases, the pelvic floor will definitely need extra care to bounce back and return to its best form. Working with a pelvic floor physical therapist when you’ve experienced any of the above examples is very important in order to restore proper function and comfort to your pelvic floor.
Previous Surgery or Injury
Individuals who have experienced a surgery or injury to the pelvic area may experience more restrictions to their pelvic floor because of scar tissue. Scar tissue or adhesions can reduce flexibility in your pelvic tissues, and therefore create more tension and tightness in the pelvic floor as a result.
Additionally, nerves in the pelvis can be affected by injury or surgery, and may not coordinate properly with the pelvic floor muscles to perform daily functions.
How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help
Pelvic floor physical therapy is the best way to address symptoms of pelvic floor tension. Believe me, I’ve seen and treated countless patients over the years, and have helped many struggling with pelvic floor tension!
However, dysfunction can vary from person to person. Therefore, I don’t believe care can be a one-size-fits all process. With my many years of training, education, and experience, I’ll be able to identify your unique form of dysfunction, and create a treatment plan based on your unique needs!
In your individualized plan of care, I will look to achieve goals such as:
- Relieve your pelvic floor tension
- Restore pelvic floor coordination with other structures
- Improve your control and understanding of your pelvic floor
- Improve pelvic floor strength and resilience
- Restore your ability to relax your muscles as needed
Through consistent treatment and at-home practice, your pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms will be alleviated and your pelvic floor will be ready to take on your daily activities. Not only that, but you’ll have the education, resources, and tools necessary to preserve your pelvic floor’s health in the long run!
Your treatment plan will include a variety of activities, education, and exercises. I may utilize manual therapies, teach you breathing techniques, have you engage in exercise or activities such as stretching, and much more!
I’ll likely guide you through treatments such as neuromuscular education and biofeedback, which will restore your control and understanding of your pelvic floor.
You can also expect instruction and strategies for at-home care, which will be catered to your individual needs. These strategies may include exercises and behavioral modifications that will maintain good pelvic floor health and prevent tension from building in the long run.
Rest assured that my main priority is to create a welcoming and inviting environment for pelvic floor treatment! I welcome patients of all ages and gender identities, because everyone deserves sincere and accessible care.
If you’d like to learn more, get started with an appointment, or check out the discovery call!
