Pelvic health physiotherapy services offered at the Maven Centre are tailored to each person and their specific goals. The Maven Centre team treats all types of pelvic health concerns, including prolapse, incontinence, pelvic pain, pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, and bowel concerns.
Benefits of pelvic floor physiotherapy at Maven Centre
Our physiotherapists have worked in a variety of settings including public continence clinics, pessary clinics, maternity wards, and gynaecological wards, and also in private practice. Our pelvic physiotherapists are involved in education and clinical mentoring in their field.
Our physiotherapists are pleased to help you manage:
- Pregnancy and post-natal issues
- Pelvic girdle pain
- Pelvic pain of any origin
- Complex birth trauma
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Vaginal pessary fittings
- Complex bowel disorders
- Management of constipation, straining, fissures and haemorrhoids
- Bladder incontinence / leakage
- Bowel incontinence / leakage
- Children’s bladder and bowel issues
Our therapeutic approach
Therapy may include:
- Pelvic floor exercises (strengthening or relaxation)
- Massage and soft tissue techniques
- Dry needling (including pelvic floor dry needling)
- Relaxation techniques and exercises
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Biofeedback techniques
- Rectal balloon biofeedback
- Vaginal dilator / trainer therapy
- Management of sexual pain
- Advice and education on good bladder and bowel habits
- Pessaries for prolapse
What is pelvic physiotherapy?
Pelvic physiotherapy addresses the issues of the pelvis and internal organ function. Therapy is comprehensive and tailored to you. Specifically, physiotherapists treat issues of pain, leakage, prolapse and muscle function. They are practical in their approach to your issues.
Conditions we treat
Pelvic floor dysfunction
Pelvic floor dysfunction is related to the muscle and behavioural function of bladder and bowel issues, including leakage, pain, difficulty with passing urine or bowel motions, pelvic organ prolapse at any stage of life, pain or tightness related to sex and intimacy.
Fecal incontinence
Bowel issues include constipation, straining, difficulty emptying, pain with emptying, urgency, haemorrhoids, fissures, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD), and proctalgia fugax (buttock and / or rectal cramping).
Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia is pain in the vulva (a woman’s external genitals). This is a complex condition: the vulval and vaginal organs, nerves and muscles are hypersensitive to touch and pressure. Pain may be burning, stinging, ripping or rough. Therapy for this is comprehensive.
Pelvic organ prolapse
Pelvic organ prolapse is descent of pelvic organs through the vagina. This can be felt as heaviness, aching, or bulging through the vagina or pelvis. Our physiotherapists manage this conservatively with:
- Pelvic floor muscle exercises
- Advice to get you back to activity
- General exercise
Our physios can prescribe and fit pessaries which act to support the vagina and organs.
Urinary incontinence
Bladder issues include urinary leakage, difficulty emptying, pain, slowed voiding, recurrent infections, urgency, frequency, and stress incontinence with coughing, sneezing and exercise.
Persistent (or chronic) pelvic pain
Physiotherapists help with pelvic pain related to muscle dysfunction, endometriosis, adenomyosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), bladder pain syndrome, and painful periods. They aim to improve bladder and bowel function, reduce pain, and to improve physical fitness and health.
Vaginismus
Vaginismus is described as closure of the vagina related to the unwanted and strong contraction of the muscles of the pelvic floor. This can be distressing to both partners in a relationship. Using tampons or menstrual cups, or having a vaginal examination, may be difficult.
What causes pelvic floor dysfunction?
Pelvic floor dysfunction is when the organs in the pelvis do not work at their best. This particularly relates to function of the bladder and the bowel. There may be tightness or weakness in the outlet (pelvic floor) muscles. Daily habits may contribute to this.
Physical triggers for pelvic floor dysfunction include tight or weak pelvic floor muscles, as well as childbirth, pregnancy, chronic constipation, straining with bowels, and jobs involving heavy lifting.
When should I see a physio?
Our physios are happy to see you with any pelvic symptoms that you find bothersome: urinary leakage, bladder and / or bowel problems, heaviness, aching, bulging related to prolapse, and pain with sex and intimacy, using tampons, and / or pelvic examination.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does pelvic physiotherapy work?
Our pelvic physiotherapists take a thorough history and assessment. Together, you and your physiotherapist will come up with a plan for therapy, both in the clinic, and at home.
How many pelvic physiotherapy sessions will I need?
This varies depending on your issues and needs. Typically, therapy is several sessions over weeks or months. At Maven Centre, our pelvic physiotherapists will re-assess your progress and adjust your treatment plan accordingly.
How do I tell if my pelvic floor muscles are tight or weak?
You may have a sense of incomplete emptying of bladder or bowel, difficulty with inserting tampons, or menstrual cups, or with penetrative sex. There may be associated pain or discomfort.
Can pelvic physiotherapy be done during pregnancy?
Yes! Pelvic physiotherapy is safe and encouraged during pregnancy to address physical issues which arise during pregnancy, and to help you prepare for birth and the recovery period in hospital and at home.
Do I need a referral from a doctor to receive pelvic physiotherapy?
No: you can make your own appointment to see Cara by clicking on this link. Please select Maven Centre as your preferred location.
What should I expect during a pelvic physio session?
Our physiotherapists will talk to you about factors contributing to your issue. Physical assessment looks at posture, joint and muscle movement, abdominal and pelvic floor examination. Pelvic floor assessment is external and internal (with your consent).
During your first appointment, our therapists take a detailed history of your main concerns, provide a thorough physical assessment to understand your goals, and develop a plan for therapy.
With your consent, physical assessment may include:
- Assessing abdominal muscles for separation
- An external and internal pelvic examination
- Real time ultrasound to view the bowels, abdominal muscles, pelvic floor muscles
- Assessing the muscles and joints of your back, abdomen, pelvis and legs
What are pelvic floor exercises?
Pelvic floor exercises are often thought of as strengthening. Our physiotherapists focus on all aspects of muscle function: force and speed of contraction, endurance, the ability to use muscles functionally (that means for coughing, sneezing and during exercise). Importantly, we also focus on exercises for relaxation of the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles for bladder and bowel function, and intimacy.
Is pelvic physiotherapy painful?
Our physiotherapists are considerate of your physical and emotional comfort during every appointment. Their aim is to identify sources of pain and discomfort – not to cause pain. They will check with you to ensure comfort during the appointment.
How long does it take to see results from pelvic physiotherapy
You should leave your first appointment with a good idea of goals and a plan, and with advice that you can use immediately. You should experience improvement within a few appointments.
