Childbirth
Childbirth is obviously the most significant risk factor for pelvic floor impairments. The process of labor, particularly with vaginal delivery and current medical management, can produce significant trauma to the structures of the pelvic floor.
• A longitudinal cohort study with follow-up 15 years after delivery (N = 55) showed that stress incontinence during the first […]

Prolapse
A prolapse is a supportive impairment. It refers to the descent of any of the pelvic viscera out of their normal alignment because of muscular, fascial, and/or ligamentous deficits, and increased abdominal pressure. A prolapse often worsens over time and with subsequent pregnancies and can be aggravated by constipation and straining with elimination.
• A recent […]

Treatment of pelvic floor impairment has become more visible and accepted in the physical therapy community over the last 5 to 10 years. However, advanced and in-depth study of anatomy, physiology, evaluation, and treatment continues to be highly recommended for therapists who wish to specialize in this area.
Pelvic Floor Musculature
The pelvic floor musculature is composed […]

Breast cancer-related dysfunction of the lymphatic system and subsequent lymphedema of the upper extremity is a somewhat common and potentially serious complication of the treatment for breast cancer. It is estimated that 15% to 20% or as many as one in four patients with invasive breast cancer develop upper extremity lymphedema during or sometime after […]

Continued from Patient-Client Management Model (Part 1)
Prognosis—the predicted optimal level of functional improvement within a time frame—will also help determine intervention strategies. Predicting the level of improvement guides the intensity, duration, and style of intervention. The combination of diagnosis and prognosis is used to justify physical therapy management. The prognosis for […]