Women's Health Physiotherapy

Women’s Health physiotherapy, also known as Pelvic Floor physiotherapy, is a safe, non-surgical option to help manage your symptoms and regain mobility and function. Women’s health physical therapists have specialized education and expertise in the evaluation and treatment of both acute and chronic conditions that specifically affect women, such as incontinence (urinary leakage) and pelvic pain.

The Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor muscles are located in your pelvis and stretch like a hammock from the pubic bone (at the front) to the coccyx or tailbone (at the back) and from side to side. The pelvic floor muscles work with your deep abdominal (tummy) and deep back muscles and diaphragm to stabilize and support your spine. They also help control the pressure inside your abdomen to deal with the pushing down force when you lift or strain, such as during exercise. Pelvic floor muscles support the bladder, bowel and uterus in women. They also help maintain bladder and bowel control and play an essential role in sexual sensation and function.

Who should see a women’s health physiotherapist?

• Accidentally urine leakage when you exercise, laugh, cough or sneeze
• Needing to get to the toilet in a hurry or not making it there in time
• Constantly needing to go to the toilet
• Finding it difficult to empty your bladder or bowel
• Accidentally losing control of your bladder or bowel
• Accidentally passing wind
• A prolapse: in women, this may be felt as a bulge in the vagina or a feeling of heaviness, discomfort, pulling, dragging or dropping.
• Pain in your pelvic area
• Painful sex

How do pelvic floor problems occur?

Pelvic floor problems can occur when the pelvic floor muscles are stretched, weakened or too tight. Some people have weak pelvic floor muscles from an early age, while others notice problems after certain life stages, such as pregnancy, childbirth or menopause.

Pelvic floor muscle fitness is affected by a number of things. These include:

• Not keeping them active or overworking them
• Being pregnant and having babies
• A history of back pain
• Ongoing constipation and straining to empty the bowels
• Being overweight or obese
• Heavy lifting (e.g., at work or the gym)
• Previous injury to the pelvic region (e.g., a fall, surgery or pelvic radiotherapy)
• Growing older

If you experience pelvic floor (or bladder or bowel control) problems, it is advisable to see a women’s health physiotherapist to determine the cause of your symptoms and discuss the best treatment and management options to suit your needs. This may include an individually tailored pelvic floor muscle training program to help get you back in control.

What can you expect during pelvic floor assessment and treatment?

In your pelvic floor assessment and follow-up appointment, we will:

• Take a detailed personal and medical history
• Assess your posture and spine
• Check for muscle imbalances
• Assess the strength, tone and function of your pelvic floor muscles and core (this is done with an external and an internal exam of the pelvic floor) **
• Check for Diastasis Recti (abdominal separation)
• Check for pelvic organ prolapse
• Assess and treat any scar tissue from tears or incisions from previous births or surgeries in our pelvic floor and abdomen
• Create a comprehensive treatment plan that may include exercise, manual therapy, education and self-management of your symptoms
• Address any questions or concerns you may have in regard to your care

^**An internal Pelvic exam is the Gold Standard for Pelvic floor care. If you are uncomfortable or have questions, please talk to your physiotherapist for the best possible treatment for you.