So often I am treating people and all they say is “I wish I knew about this sooner, I did not know pelvic floor physio existed.”
Well I’m here to tell you that it does exist and below I have answered some of the most common questions I get asked about pelvic floor physio. I hope it can help shed some light on this often-overlooked topic. If you have any questions about your own pelvic floor function I would be more than happy to meet with you and answer your questions.
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy is a thing??
Yes! It’s a thing! And I am here to help! Pelvic floor dysfunction is COMMON. Significantly more common than you could imagine. You just don’t know that because no one likes to talk about it. “Hey, I can’t go swimming with my grandchildren anymore because I’m afraid I might have an accident in the pool” or “I sometimes get skid marks in my underwear, do you?” is not a common topic of conversation for most people. But it happens to a lot of people, and if you would prefer it stop happening to you please be brave and have that conversation with your family doctor or come in for an appointment.
What can Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy help with?
Glad you asked! Here is a list of some of the conditions I can help with:
Do you treat men?
Yes! Men have a pelvic floor as well. I commonly treat stress incontinence (eg. after prostatectomy or a TURP procedure) among other things such as pelvic pain.
What does a typical assessment look like?
On your first visit, you will arrive at the clinic and be shown to one of our private treatment rooms. I will then take a detailed history (ask you a bunch of questions about your bowels, bladder, sexual health, general health, exercise habits, etc.) to get a clear picture of who you are and what you are dealing with.
I will then educate you EXTENSIVELY on the condition you are dealing with, why it happens and what we can do about it! Next comes the objective part of the assessment. This generally involves observing your pelvic floor while you contract and relax your muscles to ensure you are doing so correctly. I also, when needed and with your consent, will complete an internal exam that allows me to assess for pain, prolapse, and the strength of your muscles.
I’m not comfortable with an internal exam. Can I still come?
Absolutely, please do! Although the internal exam adds valuable information to the assessment I can provide treatment based on pelvic floor observation and the history you provide. If you would prefer no observation and just discussion I am more than happy to do that as well. Whatever makes you the most comfortable is what works best for me.
I am also able to minimize internal work because I have an external EMG biofeedback machine which can help tell how strong you are and how well you are contracting your muscles, which can be extremely helpful.
What is a biofeedback machine and why is it helpful?
One of the biggest things about doing pelvic floor exercises is that most women believe they are doing their Kegel contractions correctly when in fact they are not. The biofeedback machine works by attaching stickers to your pelvic floor (kind of like a heart monitor) and then we get direct and immediate feedback visually on the screen when your muscles are contracting and relaxing. This is extremely helpful for people to confirm that their muscles are doing what they think they are doing. (Or maybe it’s a wake-up call that the muscles are not contracting nearly as strongly or being held for nearly as long as thought, and that person was completely unaware that the exercise they were doing was ineffective). The machine helps to ensure you are getting the maximum benefit from the home exercise program by increasing your awareness of what your muscles are doing and how to control the contractions. That way you can be confident that you are doing the exercises correctly!
When should I come for pelvic floor physio?
Anytime you like! You may have been having issues for a few months or a few decades, it doesn’t matter, you can still make a ton of progress! If you have just had a baby I recommend waiting until 6 weeks after the birth in order to give things time to settle. If you are looking for a pessary (I’ll save more explanations on those for another post) you must be minimum 12 weeks postpartum.
Can I bring my baby in?
Please please please pleeeeease bring your adorable tiny humans! I LOVE BABIES. I don’t want the lack of a babysitter to be the reason you don’t come in. So if you need to come with your child please do so. We can make it happen.
If you’re interested in booking an assessment with Nicole, book online or give us a call at (778) 630-8800.