Pelvic Health is a specialized area of physiotherapy that assesses and treats a variety of pelvic health concerns and pelvic floor dysfunctions. Populations that may benefit from this type of therapy are: prenatal, postnatal, or menopausal women, as well as post-surgical patients.
The following conditions are treatable through pelvic health physiotherapy:
- Pelvic pain (may be presented as lower back, buttock, or abdominal pain)
- Stress incontinence (leakage of urine when coughing, sneezing, or laughing)
- Overactive bladder (feeling of urgency related to urination, may also include leakage)
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Pelvic pain or pain with sexual activity
- Pubic symphysis dysfunction
- Diastasis rectus (separation of the abdominals perinatal or post-natal)
- Endometriosis (abnormal tissue growth outside the uterus)
- Post-surgical patients, including after a hysterectomy or bladder repair
- SI joint or coccyx dysfunction
Although pelvic floor dysfunction, pain, and leakage are extremely common amongst women, it is NOT normal. There is excellent evidence-based research that supports conservative treatment, like physiotherapy, to significantly reduce or alleviate symptoms for those suffering from pelvic health concerns. Physiotherapy treatments can assist to decrease pain in the pelvic area, increase strength and function of the pelvic floor muscles and core, and decrease fear to allow you to resume day to day activities.
