Bladder Prolapse and Cystocele
Condition Overview
Bladder prolapse or cystocele refers to a condition where the bladder drops down from its normal position into the anterior wall of the vagina. This can occur with weakening of the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues or with repeated or prolonged pressure on the pelvic floor.
Causes
The most common causes of cystocele are pregnancy and childbirth, prolonged straining, aging/menopause, constipation, chronic coughing, heavy lifting, and prior pelvic surgery. These activities contribute to poor pressure management and weakness to the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues.
Symptoms
Cystocele symptoms typically worsen as the day goes on because of muscle fatigue and gravity increasing pressure on the system. Common symptoms include
Vaginal pressure or bulging
Feeling like your insides are falling out of your vagina
Low back pain or pelvic heaviness that is worse as the day goes on
You may also experience difficulty emptying when urinating or urinary leakage
What Can Physical Therapy Do For Me?
During a physical therapy evaluation we will assess your bladder/bowel habits, exercise routine, and pressure system. We will also perform an in-depth muscle examination including an external and internal pelvic floor assessment. With this, we will determine your abdominal, hip, and pelvic floor muscle strength, endurance, and coordination.
Despite people thinking that kegels are the solution to a prolapse, many people have an overactive pelvic floor, which can cause weakness.
In addition, many people lack coordination, meaning despite the strength of their pelvic floors, they are not performing a pelvic floor contraction at the appropriate times, therefore they do not get the support they need when performing activities.
This is why it is so important to have a muscle assessment and not just begin a pelvic floor muscle strengthening program without knowing your baseline.
After your initial assessment, we will set-up a treatment plan depending on your pelvic floor characteristics!
We will educate you about optimal bladder and bowel health, give techniques to improve your pressure management, provide manual treatment as necessary, and outline pelvic floor exercises to begin with.
Manual treatment can include but is not limited to dry needling, myofascial release, cupping, and connective tissue mobilization.
Exercises can include but are not limited to kegels, hip and abdominal strengthening, downtraining/pelvic floor stretches, and functional mobility exercises. With each session we will reassess and progress as appropriate!
Schedule an appointment today if you feel like any of this could pertain to you!