Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy at The Local Physio Clinic Doreen
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a specialised branch of physiotherapy that treat problems related to the pelvic floor. An assessment could include external and internal assessments, treatments of the pelvic floor muscles and exercise therapy with the aim to help individuals, particularly women, who are experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, such as urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction and pelvic pain.
The pelvic floor muscles are located between the sacrum and hip bone. They are a group of muscles that support the pelvic organs like the colon, bladder and uterus.
Who Would Need Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy?
Most people who have pelvic floor dysfunction will benefit from therapy. When you have pelvic floor issues, often it is when your muscles are too tight, or it could be a problem caused by weak muscles.
When the pelvic floor is too tight and have difficulty relaxing, it may lead to frequent urgent urination and, in some cases, can lead to pain during sex in women or erectile dysfunction in men. Individuals will often need to wake up in the middle of the night to urinate.
It can also be the cause of urinary inconsistency. Tightness of the pelvic floor can lead to straining during bowel movement, constipation, and other related problems.
Weakness of the pelvic floor leads to stress incontinence, which is unintentional loss of stool or urine during movement or physical activity. This means you may leak when playing sports or even sneezing.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a highly effective treatment that is safe and non-invasive. This includes a series of exercises, massage techniques that can help improve the strength, flexibility and coordination of the muscles of the pelvic floor. When the muscles work in synergy, this will reduce and eliminate symptoms. Pelvic floor physiotherapy successfully treats weak pelvic floor muscles, usually within half a dozen sessions.
Exercise Prescription
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is often tailored to the individual. Usually, there is a component of external examination where the abdominal muscles, lower back, pelvic floor and diaphragm are examined.
There is also an internal assessment component done using a digital finger or examination of the rectum. It is worth stating that an internal exam may not always be needed, yet it is encouraged to fully gauge the issue. It may also offer valuable insights that help better understand and enhance your treatment. This may mean being able to heal sooner rather than later.
Furthermore, Pelvic floor physiotherapy can improve one’s quality of life as it can reduce the need of medications, surgeries and other more invasive treatments. If you are experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, physiotherapy is a safe and effective treatment option to help you regain control of your symptoms and improve your quality of life. It is seen as a low risk, high reward option and is well worth considering.
If you are experiencing pelvic floor symptoms, feel free to book an appointment here or call us to see our physiotherapist at Doreen.