What is pelvic floor physiotherapy?
Author: Samatha Edwards, Physiotherapist
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is evidence-based treatment of common pelvic health concerns such as incontinence, prolapse, and pelvic pain. It plays a large role in pre and postnatal care, however, you do not have to have had a baby to see a pelvic floor therapist. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is for people of all ages and stages of life.
Often times people are curious as to what a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment entails. First off, an in depth subjective assessment will be done which will include your health history and questions that pertain to your bowel, bladder and sexual health, as these are all important functions of the pelvic floor.
There will then be an objective assessment, which will include assessment of your posture, breathing, range of motion, strength and your pelvic floor muscles. Your pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that attach to your pelvis and act as a sling of support. If there is a dysfunction in these muscles that is when people may experience incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, or pain, among other symptoms. In order to properly assess the pelvic floor muscles, an internal exam is helpful, however, if you are not comfortable having an internal exam, it is not necessary and you can still benefit from the external assessment. Once the assessment is complete you will then receive a personalized treatment plan to help meet your goals.
