What is Biofeedback for the Pelvic Floor?
Our Boulder and Lafayette clinics now offer surface EMG biofeedback for pelvic muscle training! Biofeedback for the pelvic floor, or specifically surface EMG (sEMG), is a device that senses muscle activity at the pelvic floor muscles via external electrodes. You can then visually view on the device when your pelvic floor muscles contract or relax.
This video shows what the biofeedback device looks like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNP_Gox-nEk
When would we use biofeedback with a patient?
Our biofeedback device is totally EXTERNAL. Any patient that is uncomfortable with internal pelvic floor assessment or treatment can opt for external only assessment and treatment made possible by a biofeedback device. The external nature of biofeedback is also why it is often used in populations like: pediatrics, early postpartum, post gynecologic or urologic surgeries, those with pelvic pain prohibiting tolerance to internal assessment, etc. Biofeedback is also incredibly helpful for scenarios when patients have zero awareness or control of their pelvic floor. Feel like you can’t do a Kegel? Biofeedback may be the first thing to start with. Other unique opportunities arise with biofeedback such as being able to see what happens with the pelvic floor during higher level exercises like strengthening or impact exercises in order to make real time change in those patterns.
Watch this video to see biofeedback used during a barbell back squat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSHI7ZI_n5E
Ask one of our pelvic health specialists about biofeedback or schedule an appointment today.