Pelvic floor physical therapy: Enhancing patient outcomes

Pelvic floor disorders are a wide-ranging group of conditions arising due to abnormalities of the musculature of the pelvic floor. These conditions can include constipation, pelvic pain, urinary incontinence, and dyspareunia. This article first provides an overview of key anatomy of the pelvic floor muscles before discussing pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT), highlighting the goals of treatment and tactics used by physical therapists to achieve these goals. The article then explores the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of constipation, pelvic pain, and urinary incontinence caused by pelvic floor dysfunction. It is meant to help reduce the gap in this underdiagnosed and undertreated condition and identify key patient populations that may significantly benefit, including through improvements to quality of life, from PFPT.