Fitness for the Pelvic Floor Book

Incontinence affects four out of ten women, about one in ten men, and about 17% of children below age 15. The most common reason for admitting a family member to a nursing home is the family's inability to cope with incontinence. It is estimated that in the US, incontinence costs 26 billion dollars a year.

While it is common to exercise many parts of the body to stay fit, very little attention is paid to exercising the pelvic floor. Many exercises exist for the general fitness of the body, strengthening of the arms, legs, abdominal, and back muscles. Finding fun exercises for the pelvic floor involves searching through a great deal of literature; finding exercises suitable for men, women, and children that are fun and effective appears to be impossible. This book provides therapists with treatment ideas and encourages patients to ask for help.

The remarkably complex pelvic floor and its disorders comprise one of the most interesting and challenging areas of physical therapy. Recently, common problems once considered taboo, such as incontinence, have become mainstream issues. More than ever before, a solid understanding of the structure and function of the manifold problems of the pelvic floor is vital to successful treatment. This groundbreaking work brings together an international team of world-renowned experts in the treatment of urinary and fecal incontinence, as well as sexual dysfunction, to provide a comprehensive guide to the structure and function of the muscles of the pelvic floor. Using concise text, clear illustrations, and helpful photographs, the author presents all phenomena associated with pelvic floor dysfunction. The author begins with a detailed overview of the anatomy and physiology of the pelvic floor, and then discusses all state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment strategies, from biofeedback and manual therapy to the causes of different types of pain and psychosocial problems. Detailed discussions of the specific issues associated with children, women, and men, as well as with rectal and anal dysfunction, follow. With its thorough coverage, this highly practical text is essential reading for all healthcare professionals who wish to provide their patients suffering from disorders of the pelvic floor with the best care available.

Fitness for the Pelvic Floor Book provides exercises, treatment options, and evaluation forms for female and male patients. The 160 page manual, written by physical therapist Beate Carriere, is a clear and easy-to-use therapy tool that focuses on improving the pelvic floor and health function.