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Taking Care of your Pelvic Heath: Tips from a Physiotherapist.

Looking after your pelvic health is really important for your overall health and wellbeing, but it’s not a topic people talk about openly.

You might associate pelvic health problems with pregnancy, but in fact they affect men and women across many different ages and stages.

Pelvic health problems can include pain, incontinence, sexual dysfunction and prolapse. These issues can be uncomfortable and have a big impact on your quality of life. But with the right exercises, advice and support you can take care of your pelvic health, and regain comfort and confidence.

What are some risk factors for developing a pelvic health problem?

Anyone can develop a pelvic health problem at different stages throughout their life, but certain types of factors can increase your risk, including:

  • Pregnancy and childbirth
  •  Increased age and menopause
  • Obesity
  • Chronic constipation
  • Chronic cough
  • Heavy lifting, i.e. weight-lifting or a physical job
  • Pelvic surgeries, i.e. hysterectomy or prostate surgery
  • Lifestyle factors such as smoking and being sedentary
  • Anxiety, stress and/or busy lifestyles

What are the signs of pelvic floor problems?

There are common signs that indicate you may have a pelvic floor problem. These include:

  • Bladder control issues, such as accidentally leaking urine, needing to rush to the toilet or difficulty emptying your bladder
  • Bowel control issues, such as difficulty holding in wind or accidentally soiling yourself, needing to rush to the toilet, or straining
  • Pelvic pain including pain with intimacy
  • Symptoms consistent with a prolapse such as vaginal bulging or dragging or pelvic pressure
  • Chronic constipation

If you are experiencing any of those symptoms, know that they’re common, and our physiotherapists can help you by educating you about the condition, teach you exercises and techniques to reduce your pain, improve bladder and bowel control, and support sexual function.

How can I improve my pelvic health?

Taking care of your pelvic health will help you feel more confident and comfortable in your body and improve your quality of life.

We offer a range of women’s and pelvic health services in-house at O-health including women’s health, men’s and women’s pelvic health services, and maternity classes.

Pelvic Health appointment

Supporting men and women with:

  • Bladder control issues, including urgency, incontinence, overactive bladder
  • Bowel control issues
  • Chronic constipation
  • Pelvic organ prolapse.
  • Pelvic pain, including coccyx pain or pain with sexual intercourse or using tampons
  • For men, prostatectomy rehabilitation

 

Pregnancy physio appointment

This can include:

  • Education and advice on pregnancy and childbirth
  • Hands-on treatment for pain relief for pregnancy injuries/ conditions:
  • Rib Pain
  • Pelvic Girdle
  • Carpal tunnel
  • Low back pain
  • Advice and education on exercises to complete during your pregnancy.
  • Birth preparation to optimise your delivery.
  • Assessment/referral for maternity-health classes

 

Post-natal physio appointment

  • Post-birth checks
  • Pelvic floor/perineal assessment
  • Stomach assessment (i.e., abdominal separation and c-section scar if required)
  • Postnatal advice/education
  • Hands-on treatment for pain relief of common postnatal injuries/conditions:
  • Pelvic girdle pain
  • Low back pain
  • Postural neck and upper back pain
  • Wrist and thumb pain
  • C-section rehabilitation

 

Maternity stream classes

  • Individualised programming based on your goals and stage of motherhood, including general strength training.

  • Optimising pelvic floor and/or c-section recovery
  • Suitable for both ante and postnatal.
  • Assessment required prior.
  • Machine and mat-based exercise including cables, cardio equipment, and reformer machine.
  • Mums and bubs classes or mum-only classes available.

Looking for more? Meet our Women’s Health Physiotherapist.

Physiotherapist Ellen Williams has a special interest in pelvic health and is currently doing her post-graduate training at the University of Melbourne.

Ready to make your pelvic health a priority? Call our friendly team for more information on 02 6021 2777 or book an appointment.