What Is Pelvic Health Physiotherapy?
What Types of Treatment Are Included in a Follow Up Session?
What Do Our Pelvic Health Physiotherapists Treat?
What Is The Cost For Pelvic Physiotherapy?
What Is Pelvic Health Physiotherapy?
Pelvic Health Physio is covered under “physiotherapy” with most extended health insurance plans. It provides therapy for both men and women experiencing pain or dysfunction in and around the pelvic region (see list of issues it can help). Pelvic Physiotherapists have taken specialized courses that allow them to do an internal evaluation (although not always needed) to properly assess the pelvic floor muscles, nerves, ligaments and connective tissue.
Doing Kegels is not always advisable! If you have been told to do Kegels and find you are getting worse, or are not sure if you are doing them correctly, book an appointment to make sure you are doing the right thing! We will consider you as a whole person and customize treatments to address your issues unique to you.
Pelvic physio treatments are different than physio for a sprain or strain. Most clients will be advised to book the first two (1 hour) appointments one week apart in order to get you started. Subsequent treatments will be 30 minutes (unless coming from out of town, or advised otherwise) and booked approximately 2-3 weeks apart.
Treatment
There is a lot of high level research to show that pelvic physiotherapy is a great conservative treatment option for many different pelvic floor disorders. Did you know that in France every woman is offered 10 - 20 sessions (covered by the government) with a pelvic physio after vaginal delivery? In Britain, patients are not even considered for surgery for incontinence unless they have seen a pelvic physio for 6 weeks. As Canadian Pelvic Physios we hope to make some of these practices standard forms of care as well. Treatment may include:
- Education
- Manual Therapy
- Visceral / Fascial Techniques
- Personalized Exercises / Stretches
- Biofeedback / Muscle Stim
What Do Our Pelvic Health Physiotherapists Treat?
Proven techniques (Alternative Therapies, May-June 2015), including the combination of gentle visceral mobilization, myofascial release and pelvic therapy, are used to help provide the best physical environment for pregnancy. This will help enhance blood flow and function to reproductive organs vital to conception. When there is a restriction in the organs’ connective tissue, function will be compromised. This is most obvious in those who have had a previous c-section, any abdominal surgeries, endometriosis, any digestive disorders (ie. celiac disease), or trauma (ie. car accidents or falls). However, if you have been trying to conceive and are having difficulty, we can check to see if there are any physical restrictions that may be contributing. You will also be asked about your diet and screened for stress levels, so alternative therapy may be recommended.
Female & Male Pelvic Pain:
- Pudendal Neuralgia (genital nerve pain)
- Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Post Abdominal Surgeries
- Chronic/persistent low back/ Si joint/tailbone pain
Male Pelvic Pain:
- Chronic Non-Bacterial Prostatitis
- Pain anywhere in the pelvis/back/groin/testicles/penis/lower abdomen
- Post ejaculatory/urination/defecation pain
Female Pelvic Pain:
- Vulvodynia (generalized vulvar pain)
- Vestibulodynia (inner labia pain)
- Vaginismus (painful penetration)
- Clitorodynia (pain over/around the clitoris)
- Lichen Sclerosis
STRESS / URGENCY / FREQUENCY / MIXED / URINARY / FECAL
Research shows that before a surgical consultation for incontinence, patients (male and female) should see a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist (who uses internal examination to assess the pelvic floor and teach appropriate exercises). In Britain, clients with these issues will not even be considered for surgery until they have tried 6 weeks of Pelvic Physiotherapy. Ontario, and most of Canada, has not yet adopted this practice. Talk to your doctor about pelvic floor Physiotherapy before considering surgery.
Both men and women can experience pain with intercourse. Pelvic pain can be experienced during sex, initial or deep penetration and orgasm. This is a common problem with many different causes. Treatments focus on the underlying cause, and can help eliminate or reduce symptoms.
There are many contributing factors to dysmenorrhea (painful periods), including vascular congestion, stress/anxiety, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis. Endometriosis has been shown to contribute to fertility issues due to adhesions and restriction in mobility of reproductive organs. Pelvic Health Physiotherapy, especially including visceral (organ) mobilization, can help restore function and blood circulation to organs important to conceiving and reducing pain. Book now to see what you can do to help manage your symptoms.
Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are other common pelvic disorders with many different causes. During your assessment your Pelvic Health Physiotherapist will ask you pertinent medical and personal information to help discover what is contributing to your symptoms. Your diet, bathroom habits, medications, stress levels, and health history will all be considered. A customized treatment plan will be developed based on individual findings.
Pelvic Physiotherapy should be the first line of defence before surgery for pelvic organ prolapse, a condition caused by weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles or support system. Some factors that may contribute to prolapse include: vaginal childbirth, menopause, chronic constipation and heavy lifting, and previous abdominal surgeries. Your Pelvic Health Physiotherapist will do an internal exam to accurately evaluate the strength of the pelvic floor and assess for other contributing factors. Specific exercises will be prescribed based on findings, and electrical stimulation or biofeedback may be utilized in cases of extreme weakness.
Do you dribble after you urinate, or have a weak stream? Do you have pain “down there” and the doctors are telling you “everything looks good”? Doctors are looking for pathology (disease), not how things are moving and how strong they are; that is our job as Pelvic Health Physiotherapists! A thorough evaluation, using a whole-person approach, will help determine the contributors to your symptoms. You will be educated along the way and feel more empowered about why you are experiencing the symptoms you are. A customized treatment plan will be developed based on individual findings. Pelvic Health Physiotherapy can help treat symptoms related to:
- Pelvic / Groin Pain
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- Pudendal Neuralgia
- Chronic Recurring Urinary Tract Infections / Painful Bladder Syndrome
- Chronic / Persistent Low Back / Si Joint / Tailbone pain
- Chronic Non-Bacterial Prostatitis
- Pre / Post Prostatectomy
- Digestive Issues: Chronic Bloating, Constipation, IBS
- Diastasis Recti Abdominus (abdominal separation / bulging) - Yep, this can happen to men too
- Erectile Dysfunction / Premature Ejaculation
What Is The Cost For Pelvic Physiotherapy?
| Treatment | Rate |
|---|---|
| Initial Assessment 60 - 75 mins | 175.00 |
| 90 Minute Follow Up | 230.00 |
| 45 Minute Follow Up | 140.00 |
| 30 Minute Follow Up | 99.00 |
