Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
Treating Incontinence and Other Pelvic Floor Disorders
Learn about pelvic floor rehabilitation.
For many women incontinence and pelvic floor concerns can be corrected without the need for surgery. Aurora Health Care offers pelvic floor rehabilitation specialists with training and experience to help women optimize the strength and function of their pelvic floor muscles. Specially-trained occupational and physical therapists use every aspect of their training to develop personalized treatment plans for pelvic floor rehab and help women improve function and, ultimately, their quality of life. Read about physical therapy from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
The pelvic floor muscles run like a hammock from the pubic bone in front to the tailbone in the back. The muscles and ligaments within the pelvis support the bladder, uterus, urethra and rectum - they hold the organs in position and help them function properly.
Many factors can weaken pelvic floor muscles, including pregnancy, childbirth, age, weight and lifestyle.
Our Approach
At Aurora, pelvic floor rehabilitation specialists provide individualized, evidence-supported treatment therapies to retrain and strengthen these muscles so that they are better able to support the pelvic organs and control function. Increased muscle support makes it easier for patients to manage conditions like urinary incontinence, pelvic prolapse and pelvic pain.
Stepwise treatment strategies should be discussed with the patient. In general, treatment should advance from least invasive (lifestyle changes, behavioral therapies, medications) to more invasive therapies.1* In older patients, correcting contributory factors such as comorbid conditions, functional impairment, and medications should be the initial focus.2**
Various therapies, most notably bladder training and pelvic muscle exercise, are effective for several types of urinary incontinence, including urge incontinence, stress incontinence, and mixed incontinence.
Techniques and Treatments
Following a complete health assessment, techniques and treatments may include:
- Behavioral and lifestyle modification to assist in retraining pelvic muscles
- Biofeedback: a painless process that uses small sensors and a computer monitor to help patients visualize and identify muscle activity. Patients gain awareness of proper muscle contraction and relaxation in order to maximize exercise technique. Learn more about pelvic muscle dysfunction biofeedback from the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA)
- Information and education regarding anatomy, diet and fluids, personal care and other related issues
- Manual therapy techniques to improve muscle and bone alignment
- Pelvic floor muscle exercise therapy to optimize proper function
With the specialized care of pelvic floor rehab specialists, women can regain health, confidence, comfort and quality of life.
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Specialists
A referral for physical or occupational therapy is required and can be obtained from your health care provider.
| Northern Wisconsin | |
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Aurora BayCare Medical Center Women's Center 2845 Greenbrier Rd. Green Bay, WI 54311 Lindi Magnuson, PT, BCB-PMD Kelly Gerl, PT 920-288-4700 |
Aurora Medical Center Aurora Rehabilitation Center 5300 Memorial Dr. Two Rivers, WI 54241 Karen Schultz, DPT 920-793-7570 |
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Aurora Medical Center Aurora Rehabilitation Center 855 N. Westhaven Dr. Oshkosh, WI 54905 Cherry Perkins, PT Katie Van Scyoc, DPT 920-456-7100 |
Aurora Health Center Aurora Rehabilitation Center 210 Wisconsin American Dr. Hwy. 23 East Fond du Lac, WI 54937 Tiffany Fisher, DPT 920-907-7000 |
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Aurora Health Center Aurora Rehabilitation Center 1136 Westowne Dr. Neenah, WI 54956 Jessy Trinkner, DPT 920-720-8090 |
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| Central Wisconsin | |
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Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center Aurora Rehabilitation Center 2629 N. 7th St. Sheboygan, WI 53083 Leslie Gerbitz, PT Sam Fetterer, PTA 920-451-5550 |
Aurora Rehabilitation Center 1048 E. Commerce Blvd. Slinger, WI 53086 Betsy Muellenbach, PT 262-644-6268 |
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Aurora Medical Center Aurora Rehabilitation Center 1640 E. Sumner St. Hartford, WI 53027 Rose Nelson, PT Shannon Coulter, PT 262-670-4300 |
Aurora Rehabilitation Center 1575 N. Rivercenter Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53212 Liesel Oechsner, PT 414-224-6424 |
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Aurora Sinai Medical Center Aurora Rehabilitation Center 945 N. 12th St., 4th Floor Milwaukee, WI 53233 Erica Vitek, BCM-PMD 414-219-5241 |
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| Southern Wisconsin | |
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Aurora Wellness Center
Pam Lofgren, DPT |
Aurora Women's Pavilion in Franklin 4202 W. Oakwood Park Ct. Franklin, WI 53132 Liesel Oeschner, PT Erica Vitek, OT, BCM-PMD 414-855-2900 |
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Aurora Women's Pavilion Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders 8905 W. Lincoln Ave. West Allis, WI 53227 Jeannette Tries, Ph.D., OTR, BCIA-PMDB Mary Plummer, OTR, BCIA-PMDB Lisa Fischer, OTR-CLT 414-329-5650 |
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From UpToDate (from Aurora Libraries site for Evidence Based Medicine):
1*. Management Recommendations. In: Incontinence, 4th ed., Abrams P, Cardozo L, Khoury S, Wein A. (Eds), Health Publications, Paris 2009. p.1774.
2**. DuBeau CE, Kuchel GA, Johnson T, et al.. Incontinence in the frail elderly. In: Incontinence, 4th ed., Abrams P, Cardozo L, Khoury S, Wein A. (Eds), Health Publications Ltd, Paris 2009. p.961.
