Endometriosis and Physical Therapy

Endometriosis is a form of abdominal and pelvic pain that occurs during menstruation. It is the growth of uterine cells outside of the uterus, where they don't belong. This tissue is affected by hormones and can cause inflammation and pain during a woman's cycle. This leads to significant pain, bloating, and dysfunction.

Physical Therapy can help with endometriosis. Pain and function can improve with working on tight muscles, especially in the abdomen and pelvic floor. Home exercises, stretches, and breathing can be taught so that you can help manage your own symptoms.

Common Symptoms related to endometriosis: 

• Painful periods

• Pelvic, abdominal, or low back pain

• Severe abdominal cramps with menstruation

• heavy periods that last for days

• difficulty or pain with bowel movements or urination

• nausea or vomiting during menstruation

• pain during and after sex

• infertility

• chronic fatigue

Conservative Physical Therapy Management of pelvic pain due to pelvic floor dysfunction may include: 

• Modalities such as heat and ice

• Manual Therapy:  “hands on” treatment to improve pain and restore function and movement. 

• Mobilization and Manipulation:  movement of a joint to improve pain and restore functional movement.

• MFR- Myofascial Release: "hands on" treatment to improve the fascia and connective tissue.

• Therapeutic exercise:  specific exercise to improve pain and restore functional movement.  

• Functional Movement Training:  exercises to improve posture and movement  

• Electrical Stimulation or TENS:  used to help improve pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, muscle function, and circulation.

To schedule an appointment with Clemens Physical Therapy call 304-842-6008

Not all physical therapists work with the pelvic floor.  There are pelvic rehabilitation physical therapists who specialize in pelvic floor rehabilitation.    You can get more information on this specialty area of physical therapy or locate a PT who works with these conditions at the website for the Academy of Pelvic Health or the APTA. (TIP: the APTA's find a PT does not have an option specifically for male pelvic issues: choose the "women's health" as many of these PT's also work with male pelvic issues.