The Benefits of Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Discover Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy: an overview on strengthening, treatment techniques, and benefits for overall pelvic health.
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Have you ever wondered about your pelvic floor’s role in health and well-being? Are you struggling with pelvic pain, discomfort, or functional issues related to your pelvic region? If so, you might be surprised that Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy could solve your problems.

This article will provide an easy-to-understand overview of pelvic floor physiotherapy, its importance, and how it can benefit many individuals. Let’s dive in!

What is the Pelvic Floor?

Before we discuss the benefits of this physiotherapy, it’s essential to understand what the pelvic floor is and why it is crucial to your overall health. A pelvic floor is a group of muscles spanning the base of the pelvis, supporting the bladder, bowel, and uterus (or prostate) in men.

These muscles play a critical role in various functions, such as:

  • Supporting pelvic organs by maintaining their position and preventing prolapse
  • Controlling bladder and bowel movements by allowing you to start and stop the flow of urine and feces voluntarily
  • Facilitating sexual function by assisting in arousal, orgasm, and ejaculation

Common Issues

Unfortunately, many people experience problems with their muscles here, which can lead to a range of issues, including:

Dysfunction

Dysfunction in the pelvic area occurs when the pelvic floor muscles are either too weak or too tight, resulting in difficulty controlling the bladder or bowels. Causes of dysfunction include pregnancy, childbirth, surgery, aging, and obesity. Some common symptoms include:

  • Chronic pelvic pain or discomfort in the region
  • Urinary or fecal incontinence
  • Constipation or difficulty emptying the bowels
  • Painful intercourse
Intercourse Should Be a Pleasurable Experience but Having Pelvic Issues Makes It Difficult if Not Outright Painful
<em>Intercourse should be a pleasurable experience but having pelvic issues makes it difficult if not outright painful<em>

Incontinence

Incontinence is the involuntary loss of bladder or bowel control. There are two main types:

  • Stress incontinence: Leakage of urine during activities that pressure the bladder, such as coughing, sneezing, or exercising.
  • Urge incontinence: The urge to urinate, followed by an involuntary loss of urine.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Prolapse occurs when the muscles weaken, causing one or more pelvic organs to descend and bulge into the vagina. It can result in discomfort, pain, and bladder or bowel function difficulty.

Sexual Dysfunction

A weak or tight pelvic floor can lead to sexual dysfunction in both men and women, including erectile dysfunction, painful intercourse, and difficulty achieving orgasm.

How This Physiotherapy Helps

It is a specialized form of physical therapy that focuses on assessing, diagnosing, and treating issues related to the pelvic floor muscles. Here’s how it can help:

Assessment and Diagnosis

A skilled physiotherapist will begin by conducting a thorough assessment of your pelvic floor muscles, including a physical examination, an internal exam, a review of your medical history, and diagnostic tools such as ultrasound or biofeedback.

Treatment Techniques

After diagnosis, your physiotherapist will develop a personalized pelvic floor health treatment plan that may include one or more of the following techniques:

  • Pelvic floor exercises: Specific exercises designed to strengthen or relax the pelvic floor muscles, depending on the individual’s needs. These exercises may include Kegels, deep squats, or other targeted movements.
  • Biofeedback: A non-invasive technique that uses sensors to monitor the activity of the muscles, allowing both the patient and the therapist to visualize the muscle contractions and better understand how to improve their function.
<em>Depending on the need a pelvic floor physio may decide on a particular personalized technique<em>
  • Manual therapy: It is a hands-on technique, concentrating on soft tissue mobilization, trigger point release, or joint mobilization to address muscle imbalances, tightness, or pain in the pelvic region.

Benefits of The Therapy

It can offer a wide range of benefits, including:

  • Improved bladder and bowel control: Strengthening and relaxing the muscles can help prevent and manage incontinence, allowing individuals to regain control over their bladder and bowel function, improving bowel health.
  • Prevention and treatment of prolapse: By strengthening the muscles, physiotherapy can help prevent pelvic organ prolapse and reduce the severity of existing prolapses.
  • Enhanced sexual function: Addressing pelvic floor dysfunction can lead to improved sexual performance, increased pleasure, and reduced pain during intercourse.
  • Reduction of pelvic pain and discomfort: This physiotherapy can help alleviate acute pain and discomfort associated with pelvic floor dysfunction or other related conditions.

The Role of Pelvic Health Physiotherapy in Pregnancy and Postpartum Care

This physiotherapy is especially beneficial for pregnant and postpartum women, as pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery can strain pelvic floor muscles significantly. Some pregnancy-related pelvic floor issues include incontinence, pelvic pain, and pelvic organ prolapse.

This type of physiotherapy during pregnancy can help prevent or alleviate these issues by strengthening the muscles and addressing any imbalances or tightness. After childbirth, pelvic floor physiotherapy can assist in the recovery process by helping to restore the strength and function of the muscles, reducing the risk of long-term complications.

Pregnant Women Due to Their Condition Are Prone to Pelvic Issues and Stand to Benefit from Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
<em>Pregnant women due to their condition are prone to pelvic issues and stand to benefit from pelvic floor rehabilitation<em>

Who Can Benefit from this kind of Physiotherapy?

While it is often associated with women’s health, it is essential to note that men can also benefit from this specialized treatment. In addition to pregnant and postpartum women, the following individuals may find pelvic floor physiotherapy helpful:

Women

Aging and menopause-related issues: As women age and go through menopause, hormonal changes can weaken the pelvic floor muscles, increasing the risk of incontinence and prolapse.

Men

  • Prostate health: Men with prostate surgery or experiencing prostate-related issues may benefit from it to help restore bladder control and improve sexual function.
  • Post-surgery rehabilitation: Men with abdominal or pelvic surgery, such as hernia repair, may find it helpful for regaining strength and function.

Athletes

  • Prevention of injury: Athletes, particularly those involved in high-impact sports, may benefit from this to help prevent injuries related to pelvic floor muscle imbalances or weakness.
  • Performance enhancement: A strong, well-functioning pelvic floor can contribute to overall athletic performance, particularly in sports that require core strength and stability.

Finding the Right Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist

When looking for an expert physiotherapist, choosing a practitioner specializing in this treatment is essential. Here are some qualifications to look for:

A degree in physiotherapy or physical therapy

  • Additional training or certification in pelvic floor physiotherapy
  • Experience in treating a wide range of pelvic floor issues
  • A good reputation and positive reviews from previous clients

During your first appointment, you can expect a thorough pelvic floor assessment, including a physical examination and a discussion of your medical history. Your physiotherapist will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs and goals.

the Patient's medical history may play a part in the type of treatment plan the physiotherapist will administer.
<em>The patients medical history may play a part in the type of treatment plan the physiotherapist will administer<em>

In Summary

This type of physiotherapy is an essential treatment option for individuals experiencing pain, discomfort, or functional issues related to their pelvic floor muscles.

By addressing the underlying causes of these problems, pelvic floor physiotherapy can help improve bladder and bowel control, prevent and treat prolapse, enhance sexual function, and reduce pain and discomfort.

Whether pregnant, postpartum, an athlete, or simply looking to improve your overall health and well-being, pelvic floor physiotherapy can provide many benefits. Feel free to consult a qualified pelvic floor physiotherapist to address your concerns and start your journey toward a healthier pelvic floor.

Is this your first time with us?

Existing patients

Office Location

591 Byron Avenue Ottawa, Ontario
K2A 4C4

Opening Hours

Monday – Friday:
07:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday:
07:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday:
Closed

Contact Details

Phone: (613) 288-2225
FAX: (613) 288-2226

Launching Your Care

In its heyday, the space shuttle would generate nearly 8 million pounds of thrust just to lift itself off the launch pad into the atmosphere.  Once beyond the earth’s gravitational pull, it didn’t require as much effort to stay in space and could effortlessly cruise at 17,500 mph with a fraction of that power.  The same can be said for your Chiropractic care plan.

The start of any healthy endeavor requires more effort – in Chiropractic that means more visits in the beginning to break free from the gravity of dis-ease and build forward momentum.  Once free from the ‘pull’ of poor habits and chronic illness, it requires less effort to keep you aloft. 

It takes more effort to get off the initial care launch pad than it does to stay in a healthy orbit.  If you want to get results, expect to put more work in at the beginning of your care.   Your chiropractic team is ready to help you along the way… just stick with the mission plan and you’ll reach your destination.

If this is your first time booking please use the form below:

Existing patients