Hypertonic Pelvic Floor: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

The pelvic floor is a muscle group and tissue structure supporting important organs like the bladder, intestines, and uterus in women. These muscles assist in controlling bladder and bowel motions, including sexual function and stability in the pelvis. However, when these muscles contract too much and don’t release as they usually do, it can lead to a pelvic floor muscle disorder called hypertonic pelvic floor dysfunction.

What Is Hypertonic Pelvic Floor?

Hypertonic pelvic floor simply means the pelvic floor muscles are too tight or in a worked-up condition when it is supposed to be relaxed. Weak pelvic floor muscles, the opposite of hypertonic, are hypotonic in nature, with too little tension. Ideally, these muscles must contract and relax as needed, but continuous contraction causes several symptoms and problems that have an impact on an individual’s well-being.

Symptoms of Hypertonic Pelvic Floor

This can lead to a variety of symptoms that might be confused with those of other illnesses, including the following:

Pelvic Pain: Persistent pain in the pelvic region that lasts for an extended period. It worsens during physical activity or sitting for an extended period; it also worsens during sexual intercourse.
Pain in Intercourse: Pain at intercourse is another common symptom whereby penetration is the most painful part attributed by spasm of tightened muscles.
Urinary Problems: Increased frequency, urgency, or pain on urination.
Bowel Difficulty: Constipation and pain at the time of passage of stools because the pelvic muscles are too tight.
Lower Back Pain/Hips: The tension in the pelvic floor muscles can also give pain in the lower back, hips, or thighs.
Difficulty with Sexual Arousal or Orgasm: The muscle tension and discomfort can make sexual arousal difficult in men and women or prevent them from reaching orgasm.
Pelvic Area Pressure or Heaviness: One may experience a sense of pressure or fullness in the pelvic region. This pressure, as a result, is quite uncomfortable.

Causes of Hypertonic Pelvic Floor

There are several different causes that can contribute to hypertonic pelvic floor dysfunction:

Trauma or injury: Events like childbirth or surgical damage to the pelvis can lead to this.
Chronic Stress and Anxiety: The stress develops tension in the muscles of the whole body, which includes that in the pelvic floor. Continuous stress might lead to the tightening of pelvic muscles.
Pelvic Inflammatory Conditions: Endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, or chronic prostatitis might cause pain in the pelvis with associated muscle tension.
Poor Posture: Lean forwards or curvature of the lower back, such as pelvic tilt or scoliosis, is going to put added force on the pelvic floor muscles, eventually causing tightness.
Overuse of the Pelvic Floor Muscles: Too many exercises, like Kegels, or doing these exercises wrong will tighten the muscles too much.
Sexual Trauma or Abuse: People who have experienced sexual trauma can also result in hypertonic pelvic floor dysfunction due to physical and emotional tensioning of the pelvis.

Treatment for Hypertonic Pelvic Floor

Treatment of hypertonic pelvic floor dysfunction most probably involves a combination of physical therapy, some modifications in lifestyle, and sometimes medication. Some of the effective treatment options are:

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: A trained therapist who uses manual therapy, biofeedback, and certain exercises can release muscle tension through this kind of treatment. The therapist will also teach relaxation techniques and pelvic floor contractions.
Trigger Point Release: Therapists relieve knots in the pelvic muscles through techniques like trigger point release or dry needling, which helps alleviate pain and improve muscle functioning.
Behavioral therapy and stress management: This may include activities such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, mindfulness, meditation, and deep breathing. These may help reduce the occurrence of stress and muscle spasms.
Medications: Muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, and pain relievers are sometimes prescribed to help with the symptoms.
Lifestyle changes: Improving posture and avoiding heavy lifting, as well as including relaxation activities in daily life, will help reduce the pressure on the pelvic muscles.
Biofeedback: This therapy uses sensors to monitor muscle activity and teach self-relaxation techniques for the pelvic floor muscles.
Yoga and Stretching: This involves a gentle yoga flow and stretching exercises focusing on your pelvis, letting go of tension, and promoting relaxation. Child’s pose, happy baby, and deep squats are quite effective.

Consult with Dr. Sandesh Kade for Hypertonic Pelvic Floor

Dr. Sandesh Kade is a highly regarded Gynaecologist and Laparoscopic Surgeon in Abu Dhabi. With over 22 years of experience both in the UAE and internationally, he is recognized as a pioneer in his field. He specializes in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries, endometriosis treatment, and pelvic floor repairs.

Dr. Sandesh’s partnership with the internationally acclaimed Franco-European Multidisciplinary Institute of Endometriosis Academy (IFEM Endo) has further enhanced his reputation, contributing to the founding of a specialized clinic in the country.