Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
The Pelvic Floor
The pelvic floor muscles are a small group of muscles which act like a muscular trampoline to support your bladder, uterus, bowel and abdominal contents when exercising, lifting, coughing or sneezing. They are located underneath your pelvis attaching from the pubic bone to the tailbone (coccyx).
Healthy strong pelvic floor muscles help:
- Prevent leaks from the bladder and bowel
- Provide support during pregnancy as the uterus and baby grow
- Prevent prolapse (descent of pelvic organs)
- Support spine by working with abdominal muscles
- Enhance sexual sensation.
Pelvic Floor dysfunction can be due to:
- Childbirth and pregnancy
- Regular straining to empty the bowel
- Constant coughing
- Heavy lifting
- Excess weight
- Pelvic surgery
- Menopause
- Pain
Signs of pelvic floor dysfunction include:
- Leaking urine (i.e. when running, lifting, coughing, laughing, during sex)
- Urgency (a sudden strong urge to empty your bladder which is difficult to control)
- Increased frequency of urination (more than 8x during the day or more than 1x at night)
- Inability to control your wind or stool
- Prolapse (heaviness, dragging or pain around the vagina; bulge or lump in the vagina)
- Pain (in the pelvic region, during/after sex)
If you have any of these symptoms don’t wait, we can help you!
Physiotherapy is widely recognised as the first line of treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction, with an abundance of clinical research to support this.
For urinary incontinence and prolapse, pelvic floor rehabilitation with a physiotherapist has long been the gold standard for management. It is heavily favoured over surgery for the first-line of management due to the low to no risk, lower cost and high success rate.
For pregnancy & post-partum rehabilitation, research indicates that early guidance from a pelvic floor physiotherapist helps to prevent long-term pelvic floor dysfunction.
For chronic pelvic pain & endometriosis, more recent research indicates that physiotherapy is effective for persistent pelvic pain and endometriosis-related symptoms.
So, is it just Kegel exercises?
While Kegel exercises will be a component of physiotherapy guided management of pelvic floor dysfunction, the research clearly indicates that these exercises should be tailored to each individual for best result – meaning that the exercises will vary based on individual issues and how the pelvic floor in actually functioning. Not a one size fits all!
Sometimes pelvic floor muscles are weak and under-supportive, sometimes they’re stiff, painful and/or overactive - or anywhere in between. A physiotherapist will assess where you are at and tailor a program for you.
Also, most importantly, the physiotherapist can ensure that you are doing the exercises correctly. Research has indicated that being handed a brochure with a description of pelvic floor exercises is often not enough to achieve optimal technique. Direct instruction, assessment and feedback is much more effective.
Aside from enhancing your results through individually taught & tailored exercises, a physiotherapist can also assist through advice regarding your lifestyle and behavioural changes, as well as provide an array of manual therapies and electrotherapies where indicated.
Don’t suffer in silence, let us help you.
