The number one question we get asked is “How do I know if I should see a pelvic floor physiotherapist”. The short answer is that all pelvic floor dysfunction should be evaluated and if you are not sure, having an evaluation and the education that accompanies can be invaluable.
10 Reasons
Connect (or reconnect) with your pelvic floor
We find so many people are disconnected from their private parts. However we use this area everyday!
Having a connection with your pelvic floor is necessary for optimal health and wellness. If you are pregnant, connecting with your pelvic floor will prepare the body for delivery. During childbirth the pelvic floor goes through a beautiful change but can leave the body can feeling disconnected, this is a great time to reconnect.
Understanding and being educated on how your pelvic floor works is the first step to connecting with it.
Gain better bladder control
Running and exercising without leakage, decreasing the frequency of urination and sleeping though the night without waking to urinate are all concerns that a pelvic floor physiotherapist can help with.
Stop pelvic pain
Painful intercourse, pain with arousal, painful tampon use and tailbone pain are all concerns that can be treated by a pelvic floor physiotherapist.
Improve your sex-life
If painful intercourse (both women and men) is interfering with your sex-life, a pelvic floor physiotherapist can help.
Additionally, a healthy pelvic floor can lead to stronger and more pleasurable orgasms.
Manage the urgent need to urinate
Do you feel like you have to urinate the moment you get home or every time you are around running water? A pelvic floor physiotherapist will teach you to take control back over your bladder. You can read my story of an urgent bladder here.
Decrease the heavy feeling in your vagina
If you feel heaviness (I usually describe this as the feeling like a tampon isn’t quite in properly) this may be due to a pelvic organ prolapse (the bowel, bladder or reproductive organs falling into the vagina). A pelvic floor physiotherapist can help.
Relieve constipation
Constipation can come from many factors including diet and stress, but can also be related to a tense pelvic floor. Your physiotherapist will evaluate your muscles and can teach you to use them effectively. Toileting positions and education are necessary as well.
Improve your core strength
The pelvic floor is part of the deep core system. The pelvic floor is at the bottom, diaphragm on top (breathing muscle), transversus abdominis at the front (deep abs) and multifidus at the back (deep back muscle). Optimal core function means the pelvic floor must also be functioning optimally.
Decrease low back and pelvic girdle pain
The body is an interconnected system of bones, muscles and connective tissues. The pelvic floor has connections onto the bony pelvis, sacrum and tailbone meaning pain in the low back and pelvic girdle can have influencing factors from the pelvic floor itself.
Have your questions answered in a safe, comfortable, compassionate environment
A pelvic floor physiotherapist is a highly trained, compassionate professional who has undergone additional training to assess and treat pelvic floor dysfunction.
If you still aren’t sure if pelvic floor physiotherapy is right for you, make an appointment to speak to a pelvic floor physiotherapist in your area, your questions will be answered and together you can determine the appropriate course of treatment that is right for you.
Take care of your pelvic health, your body will thank you!
Written by Lisa Flanders, Physiotherapist. Lisa has a clinical focus on women’s health including pre and postnatal, gender diverse and applied pelvic health and high performance athletes. She currently lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Disclaimer – Everything shared is for informative purposes only. It is not intended for assessment, diagnosis or treatment purposes. If you feel there needs to be further investigation, please seek out a qualified health care professional for a proper assessment.