What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialty that provides care for bowel, bladder, and sexual function. Physical therapists who specialise in this field have taken additional training courses to be qualified to treat, diagnose, and assess the various issues that may contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction. Treatment plans may include improved continence, decreased pain with daily activities, pregnancy and postpartum healing, or improved sexual function.
Types of Therapy:
- Manual Therapy
- Biofeedback
- Stretching and Relaxation Techniques
- Bladder and Bowel Retraining
- Postural Education
What Can Pelvic Therapy Treat?
People may be experiencing symptoms or feel the diagnosis below may benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy:
- Urinary or faecal incontinence
- Urinary or faecal urgency/frequency
- Urinary retention
- Constipation
- Pain with bowel movements
- Pelvic girdle pain or low back pain
- Pain during or after pregnancy
- Preparation for labour
- Recovery from childbirth or surgery
- Pain with intercourse
- Diastasis recti
- Hip pain or sacroiliac joint pain
- Pre- or post-prostatectomy
- Constipation
- Tailbone pain or sacroiliac joint pain
- Vaginismus or dyspareunia
- Endometriosis symptoms
- Bladder pain/interstitial cystitis
- Vulvodynia
- Dysmenorrhea
- Lichen sclerosus
Request A Call Back from a Physical Therapist
If you’re not quite ready to book an appointment yet and have some questions you would like answered first, click the link below to complete a form to get the conversation started.
Are Kegels for Everyone?
Kegels are active contractions of the pelvic floor muscles and are often associated with pelvic floor physical therapy.
If your muscles are too tight or not functioning properly, you may not be a good candidate for Kegels. Kegels are not always the answer for every problem.
Make sure to have a full pelvic floor assessment with a pelvic floor physical therapist to determine if Kegels are the right treatment plan for you!
What to expect during the first visit?
Your therapist will assess the movement of your body systems to perform an individualised plan. This includes an external and internal exam where they will assess strength, mobility, and coordination. Treatments may include manual therapy, bladder or bowel retraining, strengthening, education, or coordination. Together, your therapist will develop a personalised treatment plan to help you reach your goals.