What is Pelvic Health Physiotherapy?
Many people are unsure what pelvic health physiotherapy is and how it could help them. In contrast with some other countries, unfortunately there is a lack of awareness and limited access to pelvic health physiotherapy here in New Zealand.
Knowledge is power. Being familiar with what is and what isn’t normal is one of the first steps to taking control of you pelvic health.
Symptoms such as incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and painful sexual intercourse are sometimes thought of as normal, although these problems are common (as many as 1 in 3 women will have pelvic floor related problems in their lifetime) they are not normal and shouldn’t be accepted as something you have to live with. This is where pelvic health physiotherapy can help. Every woman should feel well informed and in control of her own pelvic health. It certainly shouldn’t be something that holds you back from activities you once enjoyed or living your life the way you want to.
Knowledge is power. Being familiar with what is and what isn’t normal is one of the first steps to taking control of you pelvic health then knowing where you can turn for support and help if you have any concerns.
What type of problems can pelvic health physiotherapy help with?
Pelvic health physiotherapy can help with a wide range of problems women commonly encounter. These can be problems with the bladder relating to;
leaking of urine when you cough, sneeze or exercise
not making it to the toilet on time
feeling an uncomfortable urgency to go to the toilet
visiting the toilet more frequently than usual
Some people have issues with their bowels and these can include;
constipation
an inability to control wind or faeces
incomplete emptying
Many of these symptoms are related to problems with the pelvic floor muscles, pelvic floor problems also cover feeling;
a sensation of heaviness, dragging or a bulge in the vagina (these can be associated with pelvic organ prolapse)
pelvic pain
painful sexual intercourse
These conditions are very common but not normal, knowing this is a first step and then to talking to your GP about them or directly contacting a pelvic health physiotherapist for an evaluation.
Pelvic health physiotherapy is highly beneficial for women who are pregnant as well as during the postnatal phase and beyond. Many women experience pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain that may present as pain in the groin, hips or low back. Your physiotherapist is trained to assess these problems, they can be treated effectively with hands on manual therapy as well as exercise, advice and appropriate provision of a suitable support belt.
Following the birth of your child, your body has undergone many changes, including to your tummy muscles and your pelvic floor.
Following the birth of your child, your body has undergone many changes including to your tummy muscles and your pelvic floor. This is an ideal time to see a physiotherapist who can assess your pelvic floor, posture and tummy muscles in order to build you a bespoke recovery programme to address any problems you may have or to prevent any from occurring in the future. A physiotherapist trained in pelvic health will be able to provide you with a personal program to get back to your pre-pregnancy activities in a safe and balanced way to ensure optimal recovery.
Can pelvic health physiotherapy help me to avoid problems in the future?
Yes, absolutely. By seeing a pelvic health physiotherapist you are identifying any potential problems with your pelvic health. This could be a history of unaddressed constipation, an underlying imbalance in your pelvic floor muscles or an unresolved tummy muscle separation after the birth of a child. By addressing these problems and restoring balance to the pelvis, you are taking control and investing in your future pelvic health, hopefully preventing any problems such as incontinence or pelvic floor related disorders from developing.
By addressing these problems and restoring balance to the pelvis, you are taking control and investing in your future pelvic health.
What will happen at my appointment?
This depends on the problems you are seeking help for. For all assessments a thorough history will be taken asking you lots of questions about your pelvic health and individual symptoms. A physical examination will be offered, this can include evaluation of your posture, joint movement, muscle length and strength. If your issues are related to your pelvic floor, your physiotherapist may offer to perform an internal vaginal assessment of the pelvic floor muscles with your full, informed consent in order to establish the cause of your symptoms and develop an individual treatment plan.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Bethany offers pelvic health physiotherapy appointments in Little River, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury at The Midwife Rooms on Mondays and Tuesdays. You can book online via this link: Bethany Ford Physiotherapy (gensolve.com) or call 021 7333 78.
You can contact Bethany directly on info@bethanyford.com and see her website to find out more at www.bethanyford.com