A team of UCLA specialists provides men and women with evaluation and innovative treatment designed to rehabilitate pelvic floor dysfunction such as urge or stress incontinence, voiding dysfunction and pain from interstitial cystitis.
UCLA’s Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation and Biofeedback Program promotes a conservative approach that is corrective in up to 70 percent of cases and can obviate the need for drug or surgical intervention; for some patients, pelvic floor rehabilitation and biofeedback therapy serve as a complimentary therapy to medication. Appropriate surgical referral is available for patients who fail to respond to rehabilitation and biofeedback therapy.
Additionally, specialists encourage preventive measures to avoid the potential onset of pelvic dysfunction in athletes, women who are post-vaginal delivery, and patients diagnosed with neurogenic disorders such as multiple sclerosis.
Patients participating in the UCLA Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation and Biofeedback Program also benefit from a full spectrum of pelvic floor dysfunction management protocols as well as ongoing and innovative clinical studies.
Application
Physical therapy involving bladder retraining with Kegel exercises and pelvic massage is the first step in managing pelvic floor dysfunction. If physical therapy is not successful, an individualized biofeedback therapy plan is created for the patient.
During the patient’s first weekly session, a thorough muscle strength assessment is made and specific protocol determined. A second assessment is made after six weeks of biofeedback treatment, and a home maintenance program is provided.
Protocols vary according to the individual’s need, ranging from the placement of an internal probe to monitor pelvic contractions to the NeoControl chair that uses highly ocused pulsed magnetic fields aimed at the muscles of the pelvic floor.
Biofeedback therapy is covered by most insurance plans for patients with incontinence who have failed physical therapy.
Team members
Larissa Rodríguez, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Urology
Co-Director – UCLA Urinary Incontinence & Voiding Dysfunction Center
Shlomo Raz, M.D.
Professor of Urology
Co-Director – UCLA Urinary Incontinence & Voiding Dysfunction Center
Alain Bourcier, P.T.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Urology
Patient referral
UCLA Urology Referral Line: (310) 825-9867
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