Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

The month of May is National Physiotherapy Month AND Women’s Health Month so we would like to discuss how your physiotherapist can help with your pelvic floor health!

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is the assessment and treatment of the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles are what support bladder and bowel function, sexual function, and lower back and hip stability. Through a vaginal assessment of these muscles, we are able to determine what could be attributing to an individual’s pelvic health problems. Problems we treat include but aren’t limited to:

  • Incontinence (leakage)
  • Urinary urgency
  • Urinary frequency
  • Constipation
  • Chronic lower back pain
  • Chronic hip pain
  • Pelvic pain
  • Pain with intercourse
  • Pain associated with endometriosis

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is available for women and men of all ages.  An internal exam is required to assess the flexibility and strength of your pelvic floor.  Kegels are not for everyone! If you have tight pelvic floor muscles, kegels could actually do more harm than good. Once a diagnosis has been established, your physiotherapist will discuss treatment techniques, goals, and anticipated outcomes for you. Treatment varies between individuals.

The Cochrane Collaboration in 2010 concluded, “Physiotherapists with specialized training in pelvic floor rehabilitation should be the first line of defense, before surgical consultation, for stress, urge, and mixed incontinence.”  This is grade A, level 1 clinical evidence.

Contact the The Lavallee Health Center to get more information on pelvic floor physiotherapy.
Article by Jamie Smith, Physiotherapist

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