Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
for men, women, and gender diverse individuals
The Pelvic Floor
Is a group of muscular layers that run from the tail bone to the pubic bone and sit bones
The 3 Functions of the Pelvic Floor are :
1. Support structures above
2. Sphincteric - close the openings
3. Sexual
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist can treat:
Incontinence
Urinary Frequency & Urgency
Diastasis Recti
Pelvic organ prolapse
Constipation
Low back pain
Tailbone pain
Pelvic girdle pain
Musculoskeletal Pain
Pregnancy related pain
Internal pelvic pain, including:
Vaginismus - involuntary contraction of muscles around the opening of the vagina
Endometriosis - the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus and/or other organs
Interstitial Cystitis - chronic bladder pain
We also treat and educate those that are preparing for pregnancy, delivery and postpartum recovery.
For men with prostate cancer we we assess and educate them pre surgery and rehab them post-operatively.
Frequently Asked Questions
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WHAT IS A PELVIC HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPIST?
To become a pelvic health physiotherapist, one must earn an under graduate degree and a Masters degree in Physiotherapy from an accredited university. From there, they must obtain additional post-graduate training in assessing and treating the pelvic floor and its interactions with the rest of the body. Finally, they need to be approved by their provincial college of physiotherapy to work in this specialized field.
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WHAT DOES AN INTERNAL EXAM CONSIST OF?
After receiving consent for an internal exam, the physiotherapist will leave the room. You will disrobe from the waist down and place a towel over your knees. When the PT re-enters the room they will begin the exam using a clean technique (single use gloves and lubricant).
First they will assess the external structures, and then the internal structures by inserting one or two fingers (gloved) into the vaginal opening. Often times, the pelvic health Physiotherapist will do an internal rectal exam as well, again, with your consent.
Your Physiotherapist is assessing strength, endurance, tone, laxity, coordination, and integrity of the tissue.
You are allowed to withdraw your consent and stop the exam at any time.
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DO I HAVE TO HAVE AN INTERNAL EXAM?
An internal exam is not mandatory.
If you do choose to have an internal exam your pelvic health physiotherapist will first take a very detailed history and will ask for your consent. You can revoke your consent at any time.
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CAN I BRING MY BABY TO MY APPOINTMENTS?
YES! Many patients choose to leave their child(ren) in the care of others during appointments because it allows them to focus on the treatment. However, we realize that daytime childcare is not always accessible. Therefore, you are more than welcome to bring your baby with you.
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CAN I HAVE SOMEONE WITH ME DURING AN ASSESSMENT OR TREATMENT?
YES! Having a person of your choosing attend an appointment is completely up to you. Our goal is to make all of our patients feel safe and heard. If bringing a trusted person to your appointments helps you achieve this, we fully support that decision.
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CAN I COME TO MY APPOINTMENT WHILE ON MY PERIOD?
YES!
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WHY DOES PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIOTHERAPY COST MORE?
Pelvic floor physiotherapy has a higher cost than typical orthopaedic physiotherapy due to the length of the one-on-one sessions, the detailed charting done after a patient leaves, and the amount of training required.
