Medical Health Information

Perineal rehabilitation aims to re-educate the muscle called the perineum or "levator ani" to the firm and / or how to use it wisely.

What is the perineum?

The perineum is a muscle that can support all the genitals and abdomen to monitor any area. It is through the perineum that can prevent urinary incontinence and anal disturbances (incontinence or gas).

Who is affected by pelvic floor muscle training?

Anyone who has urinary leakage or incontinence or constipation can do pelvic floor muscle training (one in five, one in ten men and one in ten children suffer from incontinence according to the Association of Urology).

Often recommended after pregnancy, pelvic floor muscle training is justified because the weight of the baby pressing on the perineum for several months and the passage of his head has loosened fibers.

At what point can or should be done perineal rehabilitation?

Care after pregnancy can make the point, but perineal rehabilitation can be done at any age, whether you are a man or a woman, a child or an adult, before or after birth.

In the context of pregnancy, women can do pelvic floor muscle training before delivery to avoid urinary leakage and / or soften their perineum.

After pregnancy, all women (even those who have had a caesarean section) should do pelvic floor muscle training from eight weeks after childbirth, at least to the point, because some women have a perineum good but do not know use. Before these eight weeks, women who have severe pain can massage the perineum.

Who practice perineal rehabilitation?

Physiotherapists practicing pelvic floor muscle training as it is muscular work. In the context of pregnancy, midwives are also entitled to this therapy. Note however that you always contact a professional who has experience of this practice, either a physiotherapist or midwife.

What are the different methods of perineal rehabilitation?

There are three methods of pelvic floor muscle, which are complementary in function of the state of the perineum. This armamentarium includes manual therapy, electrostimulation by vaginal probe and biofeedback.

With the manual method, the fingers of the therapist can feel every fiber and direct muscle contraction depending on the working side.

Electrostimulation by vaginal probe can strengthen a weak muscle and thus deal with urinary urge incontinence, but this method does not learn to use his perineum.

Finally, the probe biofeedback allows the patient to work alone with a screen. This method is effective if the therapist analysis results with it in order to best direct the appropriate.

What are the benefits of perineal rehabilitation?

Perineal rehabilitation helps keep urinary continence and / or anal intercourse, to avoid prolapse and learn to use his perineum, especially during intercourse. If episiotomy or tear, perineal rehabilitation to better heal without pain.

What might we not do perineal rehabilitation?

In contrast, poor perineal promotes prolapse and incontinence more or less long term and more or less strong. Finally, the risk of losing sensation during sexual intercourse (self or partner) or suffer from dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse, particularly during intercourse) increases significantly.