Editing Interstitial cystitis (section)

===Pelvic floor treatments===
Urologic pelvic pain syndromes, such as IC/BPS and CP/CPPS, are characterized by pelvic muscle tenderness, and symptoms may be reduced with pelvic myofascial physical therapy.<ref name="AndersonWise">{{cite journal |last1= Anderson |first1=R|last2=Wise |first2=D|last3=Nathanson |first3=BH|title=Safety and effectiveness of an internal pelvic myofascial trigger point wand for urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome|journal=Clin J Pain|volume=27 |issue=9 |pages=764–8 |year=2011 |pmid=21613956 |doi=10.1097/ajp.0b013e31821dbd76|s2cid=23867038}}</ref>

This may leave the pelvic area in a sensitized condition, resulting in a loop of muscle tension and heightened neurological feedback ([[Pain wind-up|neural wind-up]]), a form of [[myofascial pain syndrome]]. Current protocols, such as the [[Wise–Anderson Protocol]], largely focus on stretches to release overtensed muscles in the pelvic or anal area (commonly referred to as [[trigger points]]), physical therapy to the area, and progressive relaxation therapy to reduce causative stress.<ref name="Pelvic Floor">{{cite journal |last1=Bharucha |first1=AE |last2=Trabuco |first2=E |title=Functional and Chronic Anorectal and Pelvic Pain Disorders |journal=Gastroenterology Clinics of North America |volume=37 |issue=3 |pages=685–96 |year=2008 |pmid=18794003 | doi = 10.1016/j.gtc.2008.06.002 |pmc=2676775}}</ref>

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a fairly new area of specialty for physical therapists worldwide. The goal of therapy is to relax and lengthen the pelvic floor muscles, rather than to tighten and/or strengthen them as is the goal of therapy for people with urinary incontinence. Thus, traditional exercises such as [[Kegel exercise]]s, which are used to strengthen pelvic muscles, can provoke pain and additional muscle tension. A specially trained physical therapist can provide direct, hands on evaluation of the muscles, both externally and internally.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Physical Therapy|url=https://www.ichelp.org/diagnosis-treatment/treatments/physicaltherapy/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Interstitial Cystitis Association|date=7 October 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>

A therapeutic wand can also be used to perform pelvic floor muscle myofascial release to provide relief.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bond|first1=J.|last2=Pape|first2=Hilary|last3=Ayre|first3=Colin A.|date=2017|title=Efficacy of a therapeutic wand in addition to physiotherapy for treating bladder pain syndrome in women: a pilot randomized controlled trial|url=https://bradscholars.brad.ac.uk/handle/10454/12129|language=en}}</ref>