Pelvic Health Physiotherapy in Etobicoke
What is Pelvic Health Physiotherapy?
Pelvic health physiotherapy is the management of health conditions and impairments related to the pelvis and its surrounding structures. These include the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and ligaments of the low back, pelvic girdle, and hips. The pelvic floor muscles are those that sit within our pelvic girdle, attaching from our pubic bone to our tailbone and our sits bones. They provide important functions, including bowel and bladder control, internal organ support, and child birth. These muscles also act as an integral part of our core musculature, providing stability and strength to our low backs.
Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when these structures become overactive or underactive. Hyperactivity of the pelvic floor can contribute to common issues such as chronic pelvic pain, constipation, and painful intercourse, while underactivity can lead to conditions such as incontinence and a frequent need to urinate. The root cause of such dysfunctions varies greatly, and can affect both women and men.
Who should see a pelvic health physiotherapist?
Women and men who have any of the following symptoms or conditions:
- Incontinence, urgency or frequency of the bowel and/or bladder
- Constipation
- Chronic pelvic pain
- A feeling of pressure or heaviness in the pelvis
- Burning, stinging, itching
- Sexual pain and dysfunction
- Dysmenorrhea: menstrual pain
- Pre- and post-partum pelvic pain or dysfunction
- Diactasis recti
- Organ prolapse
- Endometriosis
- Post hysterectomy
- Vulvodynia and Vestibulodynia
- Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder
- Vaginismus
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Bladder Pain Syndrome
- Lichens sclerosis
- Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
- Post prostatectomy, Prostatitis, Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) or Chronic Non-Bacterial Prostatitis
- Low back, sacroiliac joint pain, or sciatic pain that has not responded to previous treatments
If you are unsure of whether seeing a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist will help with your symptoms and condition, we highly encourage you to contact us. Our Physiotherapist will talk to you about your current difficulties, and help you determine whether this is the best course of treatment for you.
What does the initial appointment consist of?
A Pelvic Health Physiotherapist has been specifically trained in the assessment and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunctions. The initial assessment will involve completing a detailed questionnaire, which will enable your physiotherapist to better understand your condition, symptoms, and the difficulties you are experiencing. The physical exam will include assessment of the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues of your pelvis and surrounding joints, including your low back, sacro-iliac joints, and hip joints. With your consent, an internal examination of your pelvis will be performed, as this is the gold standard for assessing many of the muscles which could be key contributors to your symptoms. However, if an internal approach is not initially tolerated, many educational and external manual therapy techniques can be performed to help with your condition.
What does a treatment consist of?
Depending on the assessment findings, your treatment may include:
- Education specific to your assessment findings and condition
- Connective tissue mobilization
- Pelvic floor muscle training
- Myofascial trigger point release
- A home exercise program
- Bowel or bladder diary
- Guided relaxation techniques
- Biofeedback to help strengthen or relax the pelvic floor
- Electrical muscle stimulation
- Mobilization/manual therapy of the lumbar spine, hips, coccyx, sacroiliac joints