Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy in Kanata

What is Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy?

Pelvic health Physiotherapy is a specialized branch of Physiotherapy involving the assessment and treatment of various conditions involving the pelvic floor. Pelvic health Physiotherapists have advanced, specialized training to perform external and internal assessments of the pelvic floor and must be rostered within their college.

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What is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor is a hammock-shaped network of muscles, fascia, and nerves that runs from your pubic bone in the front to your tailbone in the back. There are 5 main functions of the pelvic floor: support, stability, sexual, sphincteric, and sump-pump. When the pelvic floor is either too weak, has too much tension, or is uncoordinated it can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction which can affect one or more of its functions. The pelvic floor is an integral part of your “deep core” and works closely with your deep abdominal and back muscles and diaphragm to maintain proper function.

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Pelvic Floor Facts

• 3.3 million Canadians suffer from incontinence
• 1 in 4 women have incontinence
• 10-20% of women report painful intercourse
• 25-50% of women experience pelvic organ prolapse
• Pelvic floor dysfunction can be the cause of low back or hip pain
• Only 1 in 12 (8%) people seek out treatment for their pelvic health

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What Types of Conditions Does Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Treat?

• Pregnancy, birth prep, and postpartum health and fitness
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse
• Urinary incontinence (stress, urge, mixed)
• Urinary urgency, retention, hesitation, frequency
• Nocturia (urination at nighttime)
• Constipation
• Fecal incontinence
• Pain with bowel movements or urination
• Pain with intercourse (dyspareunia)
• Pain in areas of the vagina (vestibulodynia, vulvodynia or clitorodynia)
• Vaginismus
• Pelvic girdle pain: coccyx, sacro-Iliac joint, symphysis pubis
• Diastasis rectus abdominus
• Post abdominal surgery rehab: cesarean delivery, hysterectomy, abdominoplasty, hernia repair
• Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome
• Endometriosis
• Pudendal neuralgia
• Persistent and/or unexplained pain not responding to treatment in the low back, hip, pelvis

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What Can I Expect?

During your initial visit, your Physiotherapist will conduct an assessment which includes a detailed history of your bladder, bowel, gynecological, and sexual health as well as a physical examination.

The physical examination typically has both an external and internal component. The external component can involve an assessment of posture, breathing, low back, hips, SI joints, abdomen, functional movements, gait/impact, and/or external pelvic floor. The internal component consists of an examination of your pelvic floor vaginally and/or rectally, which is the gold standard for assessing the pelvic floor. This assessment is looking at the tone, strength, endurance, coordination, and tenderness of your pelvic floor.

You do not need to choose to participate in an internal exam on the first visit or at all throughout your Physiotherapy treatment if it is not something you are comfortable with. Assessment and treatment is based around your comfort and consent and your Physiotherapist will work with you each step of the way. An effective treatment plan can still be provided through a whole-body approach centered around your goals.

An individualized treatment plan will then be developed based on the specific assessment findings tailored to help you reach your goals.

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Our Pelvic Health Physiotherapist:

• Alisha Oliver