Pelvic Health Physiotherapy

BIHC Belleville - Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

About Pelvic Health Physiotherapy

A specialized area of physiotherapy that involves:

Assessing, treating, and preventing pelvic floor dysfunction, of both women and men. The Pelvic Floor is a group of muscles, nerves, ligaments and tissues found at the bottom of your pelvis. They rest like a hammock from your pubic bone to your tailbone. These structures hold and support your internal organs and contribute to bladder, bowel, and sexual function. They also contribute significantly to our core strength which is important for optimal back function.

What can affect the pelvic floor?

  • Pregnancy/birthing process - can stretch or damage pelvic floor structures.
  • Constipation - increased strain on the pelvic floor.
  • Menopause changes - Bladder control.
  • Aging process – weakens pelvic floor
  • Heavy lifting or being overweight--increases weight/pressure to your pelvic floor
  • Surgery involving the pelvic floor

An individualized treatment plan will be developed and may include:

  • Education
  • Manual therapy: soft tissue release and/or muscle facilitation
  • Muscle Re-education
  • Bladder and Bowel Re-training
  • Pelvic Floor and Core Strengthening
  • Electrical Stimulation

Pelvic physiotherapy involves a detailed history, an external assessment of the back, abdomen, buttocks and thighs as well as an internal exam to assess tone, strength, and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles. Because these muscles silently do their job inside the pelvis, an internal exam is an integral part of treating the pelvic floor and is recognized as the gold standard.