Physiotherapy Services

Pelvic Floor rehabilitation:

Pelvic Floor physiotherapy:

I started my career in physiotherapy treating orthopedic injuries while competing on the National Trampoline Team. Many of my teammates experienced leakage of urine while jumping, and this jumpstarted my curiosity in pelvic floor physiotherapy. The pelvic floor muscles do more than just stop leakage! They also part of our core and can be a key to solving low back pain.

What is Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy?

Pelvic floor physiotherapy uses multimodal treatments to help women and men who may be experiencing issues in the pelvic region. These issues may be related to continence (bowel or bladder issues), sexual function, back pain, menstrual pain, and pregnancy care. Pelvic Floor treatments vary depending on your symptoms. For example, different issues with continence may involve strengthening or lengthening the pelvic floor muscles.

What does a pelvic floor assessment look like?

Your initial pelvic floor assessment will start with a very detailed history. We will assess psychosocial factors that can affect pelvic health such as our stress levels, pain, and symptom history.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can involve internal and external exams of the pelvic region. External exams involve assessing structures such as the low back, inner thighs, lower abdomen, hip and core muscles. Internal exams may involve digital (finger) penetration of the vaginal or rectal area to assess deeper muscles.

Treatments may involve education, strengthening of the internal or external muscles in the pelvic region, bladder training, and return to activity guidelines post-surgery or pregnancy.

Who can benefit from Pelvic Floor physiotherapy?

Anyone experiencing the following can benefit from pelvic floor physiotherapy.

• Low back pain

• Urinary urgency, frequency, or leakage

• Sport/activity avoidance due to continence issues

• Struggles with bowel movements

• Pain with sexual intercourse

• Diastasis Rectus Abdominus (DRA)

• Painful menstrual periods

• Constipation

• Endometriosis

Services that can be offered:

• Prenatal planning to optimize birthing and prevent postpartum issues

• Postnatal treatment and return to activity planning

• Internal exams to assess and treat the pelvic floor muscles

• External (non-invasive) exams and treatments of the external muscles (lower abdomen, hip, inner thigh, low back).

Education:

1. Internal exams: Level 1 – The Physiotherapy Approach to anyone experiencing urinary incontinence

2. Non-internal: Pelvic Health for everyone

3. Non-internal treatment considerations for the pregnant and postpartum population

4. Pelvic Health Solutions: The Running Athlete