Perimenopause & Menopause Physical Therapy
Menopause/ Perimenopause are normally transitional stages in a woman’s life, but that doesn’t mean that they are always easy. Perimenopause refers to the years leading up to menopause when the hormone estrogen levels begin to fluctuate. Menopause is officially reached once an individual has gone 12 months without a menstrual period. Both of these stages mark the end of the reproductive years and can also result in a variety of hormonal changes that can affect many systems in the body. Some people experience mild changes; however, others may experience symptoms that significantly impact their everyday lives. Pelvic floor therapy can be a great resource to support women through this stage of their lives.
Physical Therapy Relief
Common Perimenopause & Menopause Symptoms
The experience of menopause looks different for everyone; there are several different symptoms that individuals report during these two stages. The hormone estrogen plays a key role in many different systems in our body, including aiding in muscle/ tissue health, bone health, and regulating our nervous systems.
When estrogen levels start to decline, patients may experience:
- Changes in bowel or bladder function
- Vaginal dryness/ itching: tissues of the vagina/ vulva can become thinner, drier, and more sensitive, leading to irritation during daily activities and sexual activity
- Changes in sexual function
- Sleep disruptions: hormonal changes can make it more difficult to stay asleep or fall asleep
- Pelvic pain/ discomfort
- Mood shifts: hormonal changes can cause increased irritability, anxiety, or episodes of low mood
Pelvic Floor Function & Pain
How Perimenopause & Menopause Can Affect the Pelvic Floor
Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that sit at the bottom of your pelvis and work to support your bowel, bladder, and sexual function. Within these muscles, estrogen helps maintain optimal strength, elasticity, and hydration, enabling them to contract, relax, and adapt as needed. Changes in your hormones can also affect tissue sensitivity and muscle tension in the pelvic floor.
When there is a decline in estrogen, the muscles are less resilient and have increased tension, causing:
- Urinary frequency and urgency
- Urinary incontinence with sneezing, coughing, laughing, or strong urge
- Constipation
- Bowel frequency
- Bowel incontinence
- Increased pelvic pressure/ heaviness feelings
- Pain or discomfort with intercourse
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help Perimenopause & Menopause Symptoms
In pelvic floor therapy, we focus on improving pelvic floor muscle function by providing individualized treatment plans, hands-on manual therapy, education, and comprehensive exercise plans. The primary goal of pelvic floor therapy is to improve overall tissue health by increasing blood flow, improving tissue mobility, and providing strategies to reduce irritation. In pelvic floor therapy, we can help you address:
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Strengthening and coordinating the muscles to aid in increased support to the bladder, rectum, and uterus, and to reduce the feeling of pelvic pressure and heaviness
Urinary Frequency, Urgency, and Incontinence
Bladder training, pelvic floor muscle strengthening, and strategies to improve coordination of muscles to prevent urgency and leakage
Bowel Frequency or Constipation
Bowel movement training, education on proper defecation mechanics, and muscle coordination during bowel movements.
Pelvic Pain
Manual therapy to release muscle tension, stretching and relaxation techniques, gradual tissue desensitization, tissue health education.
Regular physical therapy can make a big difference in the management of menopause related symptoms. Movements can be proven to support muscle strength, overall energy, sleep, and mood – all things needed during and after menopause. Our pelvic floor therapist can devise individualized, safe, and effective exercises to help maintain PFM strength, core stability, and full-body movement.
Welcome New Patients
Perimenopause and menopause are natural parts of a woman’s life; however, the symptoms that come along with them can be quite challenging. By addressing bowel and bladder concerns, tissue health, pelvic pain, and overall movement strategies, pelvic floor therapy can help women feel more confident in their bodies during this important life transition.
Solstice Physiotherapy accepts new patients at our New York locations.
Contact us to schedule your initial evaluation.
We do accept insurance and are out-of-network providers.
Menopause & Perimenopause Articles
Menopause – Navigating Change with Support and Care
Menopause marks a significant transition in a woman's life - the end of her reproductive years. This natural process, typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. It brings a variety of physical and emotional changes. While some women navigate menopause with...
Free Pelvic Floor Exercise Physical Therapy Videos
Here is a sampling of pelvic floor physical therapy videos. Note that we don’t recommend you try these exercises for the first time alone, as they should be done under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist to ensure proper positioning.
Schedule your appointment so we can get you started on a personalized physical therapy exercise plan.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Pelvic floor muscle assessment
Pelvic Floor Strengthening Exercises
TrA activation
Diaphragmatic breathing
Mini Yoga break: relax your pelvic floor
Five Convenient New York Locations
NEW: HUNTINGTON
11 Stewart Ave.
Suite #1
Huntington NY 11743
NYC - MIDTOWN
315 Madison Ave., Suite 2100
New York, NY 10017
NYC - DOWNTOWN
139 Fulton Street, Suite 1012
New York, NY 10282
LONG ISLAND
8 Bond Street, #301
Great Neck, NY, 11021
WESTCHESTER
862 Scarsdale Avenue
Scarsdale, NY 10583
Patient Testimonials
Solstice Physiotherapy is proud to help our patients recover from injuries and live pain-free lives. But don’t take our word for it, here are some reviews from patients who have benefited from our services.
“I cannot say enough good things about Solstice. They were recommended to me by my doctor some months ago for my pelvic floor issues and I have found their therapists to be knowledgeable, skilled, kind, incredibly helpful. I honestly do not know what I would’ve done without them. I’d also like to add that Solstice is really well managed. Everything is done on time and professionally. The receptionists (Amanda and Kim) always get back to you immediately with appointment information. I feel really lucky that I found them.”
— Ellen
“I know the thought of pelvic floor PT can be a bit scary and uncomfortable, but Erica and Kara made my first pelvic floor PT experience so easy, comfortable, educational, and they delivered results quickly. Everyone at Solstice is so knowledgeable, compassionate, thorough, and just simply good at what they do. For my symptoms that did not require surgical intervention, Solstice had me feeling better in no time.”
— Rachel
“I’m so happy with the treatment and the knowledge shared to help me heal myself to be able to function in life during that time of the month. I no longer need to take round the clock Motrin. I’m so grateful 🙂 I highly recommend Solstice. The office has a very relaxing vibe. Everyone is so thoughtful and caring. And no one should suffer. Get checked out if your suffering because it’s unnecessary to think that’s just the way it is when it doesn’t have to be and your not alone. :)”
— Nancy