Managing Pelvic Floor Functional Roles of Stability and Respiration: Part of the Job for All Physical Therapists

Abstract

All patients with neuromusculoskeletal conditions managed by a physical therapist (PT) could have pelvic floor (PF) dysfunction contributing to their condition. Yet many PTs do not include assessment and management of the PF and pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) in their practice. While complex primary disorders of the PF, including continence and sexual function, are appropriately managed by pelvic health specialists, these specialists are few in numbers and availability across the country. This leaves patients with secondary PF involvement, specifically related to PF roles of stability and respiration, undermanaged. Lack of assessment of PFM contributions to respiration and stability leaves a practice gap for PTs and patient care across populations and settings. Clinicians, educators, and administrators are invited to join together to solve this practice gap. The purpose of this article is a call to action for PTs across all practice settings to address the PF functional roles in stability and respiration critical for neuromuscular function in our patients (see the Supplemental Digital Content Video Abstract, available at: http://links.lww.com/JWHPT/A114).