What Is Pelvic Health Physical Therapy?
Pelvic Health Physical Therapists specialize in pelvic issues that can affect women, men, teens, and children. We recognize that issues that impact your ability to feel confident in your most personal bodily functions and abilities can have a deep impact on how you feel about yourself, so we work to address these issues throughout the lifespan.
Our team of pelvic health physical therapists specialize in treating the pelvic floor and any issues that can occur. Your session will be in a private treatment room with your therapist where your care will be catered to you and your unique needs.
You will receive a complete assessment to determine how we can best help you, and we will provide you with a personalized plan that may include hands-on manual work, exercise, postural work, and more.
We partner with MOJO Pelvic Health to offer the highest quality pelvic health physical therapy to our patients. This enables us to provide our patients with innovative and well-rounded care.
Specialty Areas Within Pelvic Health
Pelvic Pain
Pain anywhere in the body is disruptive and impacts how you can show up in your life, the amount of enjoyment you have in your daily activities, and even relationships and work capabilities. Pain in the pelvic region is no different and often further impacts other areas like hips, low back, knees, feet, etc. Pelvic pain can feel dull, achy or sharp and burning. Pain can occur with prolonged standing, with intimacy, with monthly cycles, with certain movements, or spontaneously. We believe that no matter where your pain is, it is worth the time and effort to address it.
Women’s Health
Pelvic health physical therapy is essential throughout the lifespan for women. From puberty to post menopause, we assist in the changes and issues that may arise so that you can live a vibrant, empowered, and symptom free lifestyle. Whether you’re experiencing pain with menstrual cycles or ovulation, difficulty or pain with intercourse, urinary or bowel issues that you may have attributed to aging or part of “being a woman”, menopause symptoms such as dryness, atrophy, or pain, we are here for YOU! All of these issues can and should be addressed 1:1 with your pelvic PT and we look forward to working with you.
Men’s Health
Many pelvic floor conditions cause common issues in men that often go untreated, such as chronic low back pain or hip pain that hasn’t resolved with other methods, erectile dysfunction, prostate pain or leaking post prostatectomy, IBS/bowel issues, and pain or difficulty with intercourse. Any of these issues can occur at any point in a man’s life and can and should be addressed with a highly trained and specialized pelvic health physical therapist.
Teen Pelvic Health
We are seeing more and more young people have pelvic issues that improve with pelvic PT including tailbone or deep hip or low back pain with sports or activities, postural issues, leaking with laughing, jumping, running, or tumbling, even chronic constipation or IBS symptoms. Many teens are experiencing intense PMS symptoms such as bloating, cramping, heavy cycles, back or tailbone pain, and increased symptoms of anxiety and depression that often accompanies this sequelae of symptoms and often the answer is birth control or other meds to make it through the days. Pelvic health PT treats and addresses these issues so that teens are not having to miss school, sporting events, or daily activities due to any of these issues.
Fertility
Pelvic floor physical therapy can assist you during your fertility journey whether this is preparing for pregnancy or throughout fertility care like IVF and fertility assistance methods. Our techniques help with increasing blood flow to the pelvic floor and pelvic organs, increasing lymphatic flow and drainage in the pelvis, and by decreasing pain or tension in the pelvic floor with procedures or intercourse.
Pregnancy & Postpartum
There are numerous body changes that occur during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum that can greatly impact how women feel during each stage.
During pregnancy, our therapists assist when pain or issues arise and help prepare the pelvic floor for birth with stretches and breathing techniques to assist during labor.
Recovery postpartum can include strategies to regain muscle tone in the abdominal wall and pelvic floor – muscles that create your internal girdle of support and are responsible for bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction. The weakened muscle of the abdominal “core” may cause you to change the mechanics of daily tasks, causing low back pain, posture changes, and difficulty performing daily tasks.
Postpartum care can also include scar work (C-Section, perineal tear) and can address any new issues that may arise such as pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence, or hemorrhoids.
At MS Physical Therapy, postpartum care can begin 6-8 weeks postpartum and will be catered and focused on you. Babies are welcome to attend our sessions, and we will assist you in any way so that you can receive the care that you need.
Painful Intercourse
Intercourse should not be painful, but if it is, we can help. The pelvic floor is a complex muscular system and issues can arise just like any other muscle group in the body causing pain and disruption in your sensory system. We utilize manual techniques, exercises, and stretches that alleviate the pain and tension that many people experience with intimacy.
Interstitial Cystitis/ Painful Bladder Syndrome
We know how hard it is to concentrate or go about your life when your bladder is hurting or impacting your bathroom frequency or causing pain with urination. Our therapists are specially trained to help you with your bladder and help restore you to a life without frequent bladder pain.
Pelvic Health and the Athlete
Many men, women, and teens participate in sports or exercise while enduring pelvic floor dysfunction such as incontinence, pelvic pain, groin pain, decreased pelvic flexibility or generalized pelvic instability or weakness. We work with athletes of all ages and levels to help eliminate these issues so that your emphasis can be on your goals and training and not on your limitations.
Conditions We Treat
- Vulvar Pain/Vestibulitis/Vulvodynia
- Vaginismus
- Pudendal Nerve Pain/Entrapment
- Endometriosis, PCOS
- Rectal Pain
- Hip Pain
- Groin Pain
- Low Back Pain
- Post Op Pain (C-Section, Prolapse, Hysterectomy)
- Dysmenorrhea (Pain With Menstrual Cycle)
- Dyspareunia (Pain With Penetration, Tampon Use, Ob/Gyn Exam)
- Endometriosis And PCOS Symptoms
- Lower Abdominal Pain That Persists And Is Not Alleviated With Other Modalities
- Interstitial Cystitis/ Painful Bladder Syndrome
- Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain)
- Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction
- Non-Bacterial Prostatitis
- Proctalgia Fugax (Sharp Pain In Anus/Rectum)
- Incontinence
- Stress: Leaking With Jumping, Laughing, Sneezing, Etc
- Urge: Leaking When Trying To Get To The Bathroom Or When Bladder Is Full
- Voiding Dysfunction
- Difficulty Initiating Flow
- Bladder retention
- Dribbling After Stream Ends
- Incessant Feeling Of Bladder Fullness
- Having To Push To Empty Bladder
- Difficulty Initiating Flow
- Urinary Frequency (Overactive Bladder)
- Dysuria (pain with urination)
- Nocturia (Night Time Urination >2x A Night)
- UTI like Symptoms And Recurrent UTIs
- Overactive Bladder
- Interstitial Cystitis/ Painful Bladder Syndrome
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Fecal Or Gas Incontinence
- Bowel urgency
- Chronic Constipation
- Pain With Bowel Movements
- Sharp Pain In Rectum
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Hemorrhoids or fissure pain
- Pain With Penetration (At The Opening Or Deep)
- Inability To Orgasm
- Loss Of Sensation
- Pain With Orgasm Or Arousal
- Leaking With Intercourse
- Pain Or Heaviness After Intercourse
- C-Section Scar Care
- Episiotomy Or Perineal Tear Scar Care
- Appendix/ Gallbladder Removal
- Post Abdominal Laparoscopy Pain
- Post Prostatectomy Pain Or Issues
- Bladder sling
- Hysterectomy
- Hemorrhoids
- Vulvar Varicosities
- Perineum/C-Section Scar
- Diastasis Recti
- Pelvic Floor Weakness
- Sciatica
- Neck And Upper Back Pain
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse (Feeling Of Heaviness, Bulging Of Organs)
- Low Or Absent Abdominal Wall Tone: diastasis Recti, Difficulty
- Toning Lower Abdomen, Hernia
- Hip, Back, Sacroiliac Joint Pain Or Clicking
- C-Section Recovery (Scar Work, Pain, Numbness)
- Episiotomy Or Tearing In With Vaginal Delivery
- Return to prior activities (fitness, exercise, self care, work, lifting, sport, etc)
Ready to Start?
We understand the extent to which everyday pain issues can limit you and impact the way that you feel about yourself and your body. We specialize in the things that are talked about the least, but often impact us the most.
YOU DESERVE A LIFE WITHOUT PAIN!
Let’s get you feeling better, starting with your very first visit.
Millions of people across the United States live with spine pain. If you’re like them, you’ve tried everything, and now you’ve accepted pain as part of your daily life. But each day it has a negative effect on your health, your work, your family, your hobbies, and your ability to simply enjoy everyday life.
At MS Physical Therapy, we believe you shouldn’t have to go one more day accepting your pain or the limitations it puts on your life. That’s why, starting with your very first visit, our licensed and skilled therapists develop a hands-on, personalized treatment plan to accelerate your path to a pain-free life.
We look forward to working with you and helping you feel empowered and strong.
Get Started Today: Contact Us
You will need a referral from your doctor, nurse practitioner, or chiropractor, so please have those faxed to: 601.203.3633
Can I use my insurance?
YES! We are in network with several insurance companies and will be covered under your physical therapy benefits. We are in network with: BCBS, Cigna, Aetna, and Medicare.
We offer out of network visits as well, and you can use HSA/FSA.
Special Financing Options Available.*
Whether you use your healthcare credit card to cover your deductible, or to pay for treatments and procedures not covered by insurance*, CareCredit helps make the health and wellness treatments and procedures you want possible today.
- See if you prequalify
- Apply
- Pay
Meet the Team
Abbie Joiner, PT, DPT, UDN-C
Abbie Joiner born and raised in Philadelphia, MS. She majored in biology with a minor in neuroscience at Millsaps College and received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Abbie was first introduced to pelvic health physical therapy during one of her clinical rotations which helped her to discover her passion within her physical therapy career. She has since taken several pelvic floor specific courses to expand her knowledge and skill set. Abbie is also certified in dry needling.
Outside of the clinic, she enjoys spending time with her Dalmatian, Maci, and 2 cats, Max and Mia. She enjoys traveling, scuba diving, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.
Missy McElroy, PT, DPT
Missy McElroy was born and raised in Batesville, MS. She majored in Kinesiology at Mississippi State University and received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy Degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Missy became interested in pelvic health after working with the geriatric population in acute care, outpatient, and home health care settings. After seeing so many patients struggle with incontinence and pelvic pain that limited their mobility in the community, she decided to pursue pelvic health training through MOJO and The Herman and Wallace Institute.
When not working, Missy enjoys spending time with her family, watching her kids play sports and playing with her dog Lucy.
