How Can Physical Therapy Help With Interstitial Cystitis?

Pelvic Floor Physical TherapyPelvic PainIncontinence

Nov 7

Have you been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and have been wondering how can pelvic floor physical therapy help with interstitial cystitis (IC)? Dealing with common symptoms of interstitial cystitis such as bladder pain, urinary urgency, and burning with urination can be frustrating to find solutions for. The good news is that we are going to explain how can physical therapy help with interstitial cystitis and get you some relief!

Did you know that IC has recently been classified as a chronic pain condition instead of a bladder disease? Research shows that Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can significantly decrease pain and urinary symptoms, as well as improve daily function for people with IC. In fact, the American Urological Association recommends physical therapy as the first line of medical treatment for people with IC!

What does Pelvic Floor PT look like for People with IC?

Manual Therapy

Because IC is a chronic pain condition, the body will react with inflammation in the pelvic floor and surrounding areas. This inflammation typically causes tightness in the pelvic floor muscles along with muscles of the inner thighs and abdomen. The goal of manual therapy is to decrease the tightness and trigger points in these areas in order to restore normal muscle function. Pelvic floor physical therapists are specially trained in manual techniques to address tightness in both internal and external muscles and fascia using techniques such as myofascial release, soft tissue mobilization, cupping, and dry needling.

Home Program

A home program for people with IC typically focuses on the relaxation of the pelvic floor (no kegels here!). This can include belly breathing, pelvic floor stretches, and self-trigger point release. Belly breathing is an excellent way to promote relaxation throughout both the pelvic floor and your nervous system. This helps calm some of the urgent symptoms that people with IC often experience. Along with belly breathing, these stretches can be used to help relax the muscles of the pelvic floor and the surrounding areas.

Education and Lifestyle Changes

Physical therapy for people with IC will also likely include implementing healthy bladder habits, avoiding bladder irritants, and managing daily stressors. A physical therapist can provide education on healthy bladder habits, including urge suppression strategies to decrease urinary urgency associated with IC.

A bladder journal can also be extremely helpful in distinguishing irritants that are specifically triggering for you. Common bladder irritants include coffee, tea, soda, and citrus. For more information on bladder irritants, check out this video.

Stress is also a contributor to IC, especially since it is now classified as a chronic pain condition. Getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep can help to regulate your body’s stress response. Other stress management techniques may include exercise, deep breathing and meditation, and social connection.

Conclusion

We know it can be challenging to navigate interstitial cystitis and know where to begin with managing your symptoms. A Pelvic Floor Specialized Physical Therapist can be a great resource for you as many of your symptoms may be stemming from the pelvic floor. Not sure if your pelvic floor is to blame? Try these stretches daily for 3 weeks to see if you notice any change in symptoms. If you do, you may benefit from PT! Contact us today to begin working on managing your IC with one of our pelvic floor specialized physical therapists!