An Introduction to Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Elizabeth Cendan has practiced as a physical therapist for over a decade. Most recently in service at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, Elizabeth “Liz” Cendan focused on evaluation and treatment of patients with pelvic floor disorders.
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Pelvic floor physical therapy focuses on strengthening the pelvic floor muscles. A key part of many treatment regimens in the women’s health field, it addresses a variety of conditions ranging from fecal or urinary leakage after childbirth to pain during intercourse. It may also be recommended for men and is likewise broadly applicable, as pelvic floor physical therapy can be used to treat a variety of conditions such as prostatitis, incontinence after prostate surgery, or pudendal neuralgia.
The process of pelvic floor physical therapy often involves an external and internal evaluation of the pelvic floor area. Pelvic floor physical therapists, thoroughly trained in this type of examination, use the results to develop an individualized system of exercises and interventions. These may include muscular support exercises and re-learning of certain body movements as well as adjustments of behavioral and dietary habits.
