Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

Pelvic floor physiotherapists have special training and experience in assessing and retraining the pelvic floor and core muscle systems. Research has proven that simply trying to tighten the pelvic floor muscles without specific physiotherapist instruction yields poor results.

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and ligaments that support the bladder, bowel and uterus (womb) in women. The outlets from these organs, the urethra from the bladder, the vagina from the uterus and the anus from the bowel pass through the pelvic floor. If the pelvic floor is not functioning well some very common problems result. The pelvic floor forms the base of the very important Core Muscle System. Dysfunction in the system is often associated with low back and pelvic pains as well as “plumbing” symptoms.

Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

• Stress Incontinence: Leaking urine when sneezing, coughing, running, laughing or other sudden actions. Physiotherapy is effective in treating stress incontinence in about 80 per cent of cases,
• Urgency & Frequency: rushing to the toilet often to pass small amounts of urine.
• Urge Incontinence: Not getting to the toilet in time.
• Mixed Stress & Urge incontinence
• Overflow Incontinence: slow leak of urine without a sensation of needing to void.
• Post surgical Incontinence: Common in men post prostate surgery
• Feacal Incontinence: loss of bowel control.
• Prolapse and/or weakness: Sensations of bulging. Tampons don’t stay in place.
• Laxity: Vaginal or anal wind (flatus) when bending and lifting.
• Prolapse: Bulging felt at the vaginal opening.
• Constipation: Difficulty emptying the bowel completely.

Who Needs Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation?

• Anyone who experiences the above symptoms on a regular basis!!
• Pregnant women – benefit from knowing the correct muscle use
• New Mothers
• Older women – peri and post menopausal
• Post urological or gynaecological surgery
• Men post prostate surgery- especially radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer
• Low back , hip or pelvic pain sufferer
• Manual laborers- lifting heavy objects frequently
• Constipation sufferers- strains the pelvic floor structures regularly
• Overweight.
  
• chronic cough
  
• Those who rush to the toilet often to pass small amounts of urine.