Biofeedback Therapy
Your physician may recommend that you have biofeedback therapy. This painless therapy provides feedback to you and your therapist on the strength and relaxation of your pelvic floor muscles. Using images on a computer screen, you will learn to strengthen, tone and relax the pelvic floor muscles while isolating muscles such as your abdomen. You will also be given information on how to control urinary urges, avoid bladder irritants and decrease pressure on the bladder.
Why You Need Biofeedback Therapy
- You are incontinent (leak urine)
- Your bladder has dropped (prolapsed)
- You have pain in the pelvic area
- You have uncomfortable symptoms, such as the frequent need to urinate
The Pelvic Floor Muscles
Your pelvic floor muscles are used to help control the act of urination. The pelvic floor is a sling of muscles and other tissues that support the pelvic organs and their contents, including the bladder, urethra, bowel, vagina and uterus. The tissues of the pelvic floor are attached to the bones on the front, rear and the sides of the lower pelvis.
What Will Happen During Biofeedback Therapy
A nurse will take a thorough bladder history. She will ask you questions about urinary leakage, frequency and pad use. After the history is completed, she will ask you to undress from the waist down, put on a gown and lie on the exam table. A small probe is then inserted into the vagina or the rectum. The probe contains sensors that pick up muscle activity of the pelvic floor. Three electrodes are also placed on the abdomen to pick up abdominal muscle activity. You will then be asked to contract your pelvic floor muscles, as if stopping the loss of stool or urine. The therapist will then explain what is shown on the computer screen and an exercise program will be developed for you based on your history and the results of the measurements on the screen. The first session lasts approximately 1-1/2 hours. You will be given a written home program to follow, as well as a voiding diary to complete.
Length of Therapy
The number of biofeedback sessions varies depending on each patient’s particular history and complaints. However, most patients complete therapy in 6 to 8 sessions over a 3 to 4 month period. Return sessions focus on reviewing your progress, along with further strengthening of the pelvic floor with the use of biofeedback. These sessions are one hour in length.
