How Do You Know If You Need Pelvic Floor Physio?

The pelvic floor, while often overlooked, plays a pivotal role in our overall well-being. These hidden muscles inside the pelvis are responsible for various functions such as continence - wees and poos, supporting our pelvic organs, sexual function, and forming part of our core stability system. However, when issues arise, they can lead to disappointment, frustration, and a reduced quality of life. Jess Teegeer, an expert pelvic floor physio and women's health physiotherapist elaborates on when to consult a health professional about these concerns.

Here are the top 5 reasons to see a Pelvic Physiotherapist:

1. Prior to pregnancy

Get to know your pelvic floor BEFORE things inevitably change

Knowing your pelvic floor blueprint is helpful as you can understand whether the muscles are weak, tight, and co-ordinating well, or whether you are lacking in the connection from the brain to these muscles. Sometimes you might not realise that leaking a bit of urine when you cough, or waking up more than once per night to empty your bladder is not considered normal. Getting your pelvic floor assessed helps to identify problems before they progress and get more problematic. 

2. Pelvic Pain

If you have pelvic pain and health conditions related to Endometriosis, dyspareunia, constipation, bladder pain syndrome, SIJ, or Pubic bone pain

Pain in the pelvis can affect many aspects of life. Pain generally get’s us down and restricts what we can do, but the pain in the pelvis has an added layer of complexity as it’s usually a taboo area that we often don’t feel comfortable asking for help. Most of us have complained to family and friends about having a sore back, and we might even ask for a recommendation as to who to see to help, but not many of us would voice that we have pain with intercourse, or that period pain is causing us to take time off work… pain that interrupts our day to day life and enjoyment of life requires attention. Seeing a Pelvic floor Physiotherapist can help diagnose and treat whatever is causing pain in your pelvis.

3. During pregnancy

If you start Pelvic floor pre-hab while you're pregnant, you reduce the chances of incontinence after pregnancy by 50%. We can also perform perineal massage and teach you to PUSH before the big event!

Our pelvic floor muscles are under more strain than usual when pregnant. Imagine a baby elephant sitting on a trampoline. As the baby elephant gets heavier, the trampoline sinks a little lower. We need to ensure our trampoline has the strength and flexibility to manage to hold our baby elephant as well as birth it! That’s a huge demand! When you see a pelvic physiotherapist, we can assess your pelvic floor and help you prevent weakening or injury. We can get you started on your pelvic floor “prehab” to prevent postpartum incontinence and also prepare the muscles for birth, increasing their stretch and flexibility and harnessing you with the knowledge you need to move through pregnancy and birth with ease.

4. Postnatal Check

6-week postnatal check to ensure your Pelvic floor and Abdominals are on the way to the right kind of healing post-birth and to guide you on return to exercise, including when it's ok to run or perform higher intensity exercise

As explained, there are lots of changes across the pregnancy and birth journey for your pelvic floor. It’s essential that we acknowledge this and thoroughly assess the pelvic floor and abdomen following pregnancy and birth. You’ll have your Blue Book check for your baby at six weeks, and your doctor or Obstetrician will usually see you at this point, too. Make sure you ALSO book your Pelvic Physio 6-week check! We perform a detailed examination of your pelvic floor or c-section healing, check for weakness, pain, prolapse, and rectus abdominis separation, and educate you about what exercise is appropriate at what stage. We can also treat mastitis should that occur, and we can assess your readiness to return to running, heavy lifting, or higher-intensity exercise. 

5. Incontinence

Anytime you suffer incontinence, as while common, this is NOT normal and should not just be managed with pads. most forms of incontinence can be cured with pelvic physio alone so don't delay!

It is reported that 1 in 4 adults suffer incontinence, and 80% of those are women. You might be surprised to know that over half of women living with incontinence are under the age of 50. While incontinence might be common, it's crucial to remember that men's pelvic health is equally essential, and issues like these aren’t exclusive to women. It is especially important to recognise that pelvic floor Physiotherapy alone is an effective treatment in 80% of stress urinary incontinence cases. This highlights the importance of seeking help from a Pelvic Physio without suffering in silence.

So, if you're relying solely on pads for bladder or bowels issues, consider seeking out physiotherapy as a more permanent solution.

If you're experiencing any of these issues, ensure you get them addressed. Medicare rebate options might be available, making treatments more accessible. Consult a chronic disease management professional if your symptoms persist. Remember, it's never too early or too late to consult a Pelvic Physio!