Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Women’s Health should be celebrated, not hidden.

For far too long, we’ve been told that certain pelvic floor symptoms, such as urinary leakage, painful periods and constipation (to name a few) are normal and a part of being a women. This has resulted in many women not seeking out appropriate treatment and gaining the tools they need to leave a free and comfortable life. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a specialized branch of physiotherapy that treats pelvic floor dysfunction through internal and external assessment and treatment.

The pelvic floor has 5 main functions:

  • Support

    our pelvic floor muscles are like a hammock that supports our bladder, uterus and rectum from increased downward pressure.

  • Sphincteric

    the muscles of the pelvic floor control the opening and closing of our urethra and rectum, allowing urine, gas and feces to be controlled and released as we desire.

  • Stability

    our pelvic floor is one of the group of muscles that make-up our “inner core” and works together with our core, diaphragm and low back muscles.

  • Sexual

    our pelvic floor muscles play a role in comfortable intercourse and achieving orgasm.

  • Sump-Pump

    our pelvic floor muscles control our circulation by encouraging blood back up to the hear.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can be beneficial in treating a variety of pelvic conditions, such as:

Bladder dysfunction, such as urinary incontinence, urgency or frequency

Bowel dysfunction, such as incontinence, urgency or constipation

Diastasis Recti (abdominal separation)

Pelvic organ prolapse

Persistent Pelvic Pain

Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain (including hip and low back)

Dyspareunia (pain with sexual intercourse)

Dysmenorrhea (pain before or during menstrual periods)

Interstitial Cystitis (painful bladder syndrome)

Vulvodynia (pain within the superficial tissues of the vulva)

Vaginismus (inability to have vaginal penetration)

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)

And more!

The process:

1- Initial Assessment

During your initial 60-minute appointment, you and your therapist will spend some time talking and discussing your current and previous life events. Your therapist will ask questions related to your pregnancy and delivery, menstruation, sexual intercourse, diet, sleeping habits and premedical history to get a bigger picture on the root cause of your symptoms. Your physical assessment will involve both an external (movement) and internal pelvic floor examination. This is not absolutely necessary but it does give the therapist a better picture of how your pelvic floor muscles and organs are presenting. Internal examinations also help you to learn and understand your exercises to the best of your ability.

2- Follow-up Treatments

Follow-up treatments are approximately 30-mins in length (45- and 60-minutes also available) and gives you and your therapist the opportunity to discuss progress and treatment. Treatment involves a combination of hands-on manual therapy, exercise prescription and education. These follow-up treatments are essential to ensure progression or modification of your treatment plan to further you towards your goals.

3- Discharge

This is both an exciting and sad day for our therapists - it is the day when you and your therapist agree that you have reached your goals and no longer require active treatment. No concerns - your therapist will give you adequate education on how to continue managing your health to avoid return of symptoms. Should your symptoms return, a new issue arrises or you simply want to check in for maintenance treatments, we are always happy to see you again!

  • STEP ONE


    1- Initial Assessment

    During your initial 60-minute appointment, you and your therapist will spend some time talking and discussing your current and previous life events. Your therapist will ask questions related to your pregnancy and delivery, menstruation, sexual intercourse, diet, sleeping habits and premedical history to get a bigger picture on the root cause of your symptoms. Your physical assessment will involve both an external (movement) and internal pelvic floor examination. This is not absolutely necessary but it does give the therapist a better picture of how your pelvic floor muscles and organs are presenting. Internal examinations also help you to learn and understand your exercises to the best of your ability.
  • STEP TWO


    2- Follow-up Treatments

    Follow-up treatments are approximately 30-mins in length (45- and 60-minutes also available) and gives you and your therapist the opportunity to discuss progress and treatment. Treatment involves a combination of hands-on manual therapy, exercise prescription and education. These follow-up treatments are essential to ensure progression or modification of your treatment plan to further you towards your goals.
  • STEP THREE


    3- Discharge

    This is both an exciting and sad day for our therapists - it is the day when you and your therapist agree that you have reached your goals and no longer require active treatment. No concerns - your therapist will give you adequate education on how to continue managing your health to avoid return of symptoms. Should your symptoms return, a new issue arrises or you simply want to check in for maintenance treatments, we are always happy to see you again!

Ready to get started?

start working with us today

Book your free 15 minute consultation.