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What is Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy?

Pelvic floor physiotherapy provides treatment for various women's reproductive conditions caused by pelvic floor dysfunction.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy provides treatment for various conditions caused by pelvic floor dysfunction. The main reason for this dysfunction is that the pelvic floor musculature is either too weak or too tight. The pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that are attached to the front, back and sides of the pelvic bone and sacrum. They are like a hammock or a sling to support the bladder, uterus, prostate and rectum. They also wrap around your urethra, rectum (and vagina in women). These muscles must be able to contract to maintain continence and to relax to allow for urination, bowel movements, and for women to engage in sexual intercourse.

Abnormal muscle tone can contribute to different types of concerns, such as:

  • incontinence (urge, stress, mixed)
  • urinary and fecal urgency
  • pelvic organ prolapse
  • chronic pelvic pain
  • vaginismus
  • dyspareunia
  • vulvodynia
  • pudendal neuralgia
  • interstitial cystitis
  • chronic prostatitis

“€¹Physiotherapy treatment starts with an initial assessment when the physiotherapist asks questions about the current symptoms, examines the surrounding Healthy Body parts, such as the lower back, the sacroiliac joint and the pubic symphisis. The physiotherapist may also perform an internal examination (vaginal and/or rectal). Based on the findings and the patient goals, the physiotherapist creates an individual treatment plan.

Treatment plans may include:

  • biofeedback
  • manual treatment
  • breathing exercises
  • pelvic floor exercises, including Kegel exercises
  • patient education