Mindfulness in Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Abstract

Biofeedback is recommended as the first line of treatment for patients with stress or urge urinary incontinence (Fantl et al., 1996). Research supports the use of biofeedback for bowel dysfunction (Bartlett, Sloots, Nowak, & Ho, 2011). There is mounting evidence for the use of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for the use of bladder and bowel dysfunction and pelvic pain (Fox, Flynn, & Allen, 2011; Paiva & Carneiro, 2013). The following case reports demonstrate the utility of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in helping patients who suffer from bowel, bladder, and pelvic pain syndromes. Mindfulness training can be used to bring attention to how emotions and food choices have a direct impact on the gastrointestinal tract. Present moment awareness of the urinary tract functioning also improves bladder function. Noticing tension in the pelvic floor muscles helps to improve pelvic pain symptoms (Anderson, Wise, Sawyer, Glove, & Orenberg, 2011; Fox et al., 2011; Paiva & Carneiro, 2011).