What is Pelvic Physiotherapy?
What is Pelvic Physiotherapy?
Pelvic floor physiotherapy helps people rehabilitate and strengthen their pelvic floor muscles. It works on the strengthening and relaxing of the muscles to improve core stability, control urination and bowel movements, as well as sexual function.
There are many factors as to why your pelvic floor muscles appear to be weak. Some factors include childbirth, surgery, heavy lifting, constipation, or menopause. Many people with weak pelvic floor muscles experience incontinence during activities like sports, or with coughing, sneezing, and jumping.
Who can benefit from pelvic physiotherapy?
1. Prenatal and postpartum
The most common individuals that need pelvic physiotherapy are women in the prenatal and/or postpartum stages of their pregnancies. During a pregnancy, a woman experiences many changes in her body. Their pelvic floor muscles can become weakened and can lead to pain and discomfort.
2. Menopause
When going through menopause, individuals can experience symptoms such as incontinence, urgency to urinate as well as urinating frequently, and pelvic pain.
3. Men
Common symptoms that men can experience include incontinence, the feeling of incomplete bladder or bowel movements, and erectile dysfunction.
What does a treatment session look like?
The initial treatment session is subjective to different individuals. Usually, the physiotherapist will need a breakdown on your health history, including your bladder and bowel function, sexual function, and medical and surgical history as needed. The physiotherapist also educates the client on pelvic floor treatments and further information about the specific pain and discomfort you have been feeling.
Once the physiotherapist has a better understanding, they may assess your low back and hips to see your range of motion and flexibility. A gentle internal exam may also be needed for further assessment.
The physiotherapist will then show you exercises that can help with pelvic pain and other symptoms you may be experiencing. Similar to a regular physiotherapy treatment plan, the physiotherapist will create a treatment plan catered to your individual needs.