Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a branch of orthopedic manual therapy that focuses on the muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves and fascia of the pelvic girdle, low back and hips. It is available for both Men and Women.
During assessment and treatment, the therapist uses both internal and external techniques to properly assess and treat the pelvic floor, and associated structures.
Treatment involves a combination of:
- Manual Therapy
- Exercise
- Acupuncture
- Modalities
- Behaviour Modification
- Education
Pelvic floor physiotherapy can be used as a non-invasive form of treatment for pelvic pain and incontinence. Recent literature has supported pelvic floor physiotherapy as the first line of defence in the treatment of incontinence*, and along with diet modification, is the first choice for treatment of interstitial cystisis/painful bladder syndrome.**
*2010 Cochrane Collaboration
**The American Urological Association 2010
Men and women who suffer the following are advised to see a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist:
- Stress, urge and/or mixed incontinence associated with pregnancy, prostatectomies, menopause and hormonal changes
- Urinary frequency associated with pregnancy, prostatectomies, menopause and hormonal changes
- Persistent pelvic pain
- Generalized and localized vulvar pain
- Painful intercourse
- Vaginismus
- Diastasis Recti
- Painful bladder syndrome
- Chronic prostatitis (class 3B)
- Pain associated with endometriosis and dysmenhorea
- Hip, low back and sacroiliac joint pain that has not responded to traditional care techniques