Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
What is pelvic floor physiotherapy?
I am asked this question a lot, and usually the response is “wow, I had no idea that existed!”
The short answer: we help people with common issues that nobody likes to talk about but have a huge impact on our day to day lives.
Want to know the long answer? Keep reading!
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy is a specialized area of treatment that focuses on how the pelvis works and feels. It requires extra training in above and beyond the Master’s degree required to work as a Physiotherapist in Canada. We treat things like incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic pain in people of all ages. If you have a pelvis, you can have pelvic floor dysfunction!
Pelvic floor exercises are considered first-line treatment for urinary incontinence and this is supported by the highest level of evidence (Level 1, Grade A). This level of support for a treatment is rare, which demonstrates just how powerful pelvic floor exercises can be when done correctly and under the supervision of a pelvic floor trained physiotherapist.
Where are the pelvic floor muscles?
The pelvic floor muscles are at the bottom of the pelvis, right where you sit on a bicycle seat. The have 5 main functions:
Bladder and bowel control (how you pee and poop)
Sexual arousal and pleasure
Supporting pelvic organs (like the uterus, bladder, and rectum)
Helping the bones of the pelvis transfer weight from one leg to the other
Helping blood vessels and the lymphatic system pump blood back up to the heart
Pelvic floor dysfunction can occur when these muscles aren’t working well together. Weak pelvic floor muscles are usually blamed for dysfunction, but more often than not the pelvic floor muscles are working too hard and they are too tense. The goal of pelvic floor physiotherapy is to make sure that these muscles are strong, able to relax properly, and well controlled.
Pelvic floor physiotherapists are passionate about the work that we do because addressing these issues can significantly improve our patients’ quality of life. Interested in learning more? Get in touch!
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