Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a condition characterized by urinary urgency/frequency combined with pain or pressure of the bladder not associated with active infection. IC may also be referred to as Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS) or Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS) and can affect all genders.

Interstitial cystitis is often a complex condition without a clear cause, and is often associated with a combination of abdominal, pelvic, and lower extremity muscle and fascia tension, a heightened sympathetic nervous system, and increased stress.

When treating IC, a knowledgeable pelvic physical therapist can be one of the most important providers on your care team by assessing the root of what might be contributing to your symptoms and work with you to address them. Treatment may include manual soft tissue mobilization throughout the spine, pelvis, pelvic floor, gluteals and legs, as well as stretches, breathing, stress reduction techniques, and extensive education and development of a self care program for home.