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What exactly is pelvic health physiotherapy?

Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019
 

How often does pelvic health come up in conversation? Amongst your friends or at a dinner party? My guess is… not very often.

As a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, whenever someone asks me what I do, they’re either curious to learn more or quick to change the subject. The treatment I provide can dramatically improve my patients' quality of life, but most people don't quite understand what I do. 

Ironically, a high percentage of individuals will likely experience pelvic floor symptoms in their lifetime. If that’s the case, why aren’t we talking more about our pelvic floors?

Well, we’re talking about an area of health that isn’t commonly understood and is centered around the pelvis. Many individuals may not feel comfortable talking about symptoms or are unsure of whom to speak to about these issues.

The first step is to start talking about pelvic health - let’s go over the basics!

What is the pelvic floor and how can it become dysfunctional?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that are situated like a hammock in the pelvis. They attach from the pubic bone, stretching from front-to-back, and attach to the tailbone. The pelvic floor supports our pelvic organs, including the bladder, rectum, and uterus in women/prostate in men.

The pelvic floor plays a key role in controlling the bladder and bowel function, sexual appreciation, core stability, and helping to pump out the lymphatic flow of the pelvis.

The pelvic floor can start to develop issues as a result of the muscles becoming overly tightened or lengthened. Either can result in a weak pelvic floor, or cause pain or discomfort.

Pelvic floor dysfunction can result in urinary symptoms (incontinence, increased frequency, bladder pain) or bowel symptoms (constipation, IBS, incontinence). It can also cause various forms of pain, from pain during intercourse or menstruation to hip/groin/back pain.

The most obvious cause of pelvic floor symptoms is pregnancy or childbirth, but this doesn’t account for all cases, and definitely not for men (because men have pelvic floors too!)

Pelvic Health Physiotherapists can help manage your pelvic challenges

These issues are common, but many people don’t know what to do about it. A visit to your doctor is always a good first step to clear other more serious causes of symptoms.

Once cleared, your next step would be an evaluation of your pelvic floor, performed by a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist. The evaluation typically includes an interview to discuss your symptoms and goals of therapy, followed by an external assessment, looking at posture, muscle strength, and function.

The final portion is an evaluation of the pelvic floor musculature, which, since these muscles are found inside the pelvis, involves an internal assessment. The physiotherapist will determine if the muscles are tightened, their strength, and if they can reproduce your symptoms.

The internal assessment is necessary to determine the state of the pelvic floor muscles. Exceptions can always be made if you’re uncomfortable or anxious, and your physiotherapist will do their best to assess as much as possible within your personal boundaries.

Once the assessment is completed the therapist will work with you to determine a plan of care to help you reach your goals and improve your symptoms.

This basic overview of pelvic health physiotherapy should give you a better understanding of this important area of healthcare. So, the next time pelvic health comes up in conversation, you will be well prepared to chime in!

If these symptoms sound familiar and you’d like to consult with a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, Lifemark can help at a location near you. You can also learn more about Lifemark's Pelvic Health services here.

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