pelvic health physiotherapy address
When most people think of Physiotherapy they think of back injuries, neck pain or shoulder problems. However, there is a whole other side of the profession that deals with muscles in your lower half. Pelvic health physiotherapy helps women who experience pelvic pain, urinary tract conditions and incontinence and men with prostate issues. It is an effective and well-researched treatment, which is why many women and men seek physiotherapy for pelvic floor issues.
In general, Pelvic Health Physiotherapy East Sheen is used for a wide range of conditions including, bladder and bowel dysfunctions (incontinence, uro-pelvic pain syndrome, constipation), spinal pain, hip and knee problems, pelvic muscle weakness and poor core stability. It is often used during pregnancy and after childbirth to help with recovery, improve posture and strengthen the pelvic muscles to prevent recurrent injury and promote normal function of the muscles. It is also widely used to assist with the healing process after a prolapsed rectum or prostate removal surgery.
Pelvic floor muscle retraining is the main form of treatment for these conditions. This involves teaching patients to contract and relax the muscles when doing certain activities and how to integrate this into their daily lives. Physiotherapists will often incorporate functional dry needling (insertion of thin needles along trigger points to reduce pain and restore normal muscle function), Myofascial release (manual stimulation of tight muscles to reduce pain and increase the mobility of muscles/fascia) and pelvic floor biofeedback with EMG, which enables a patient to observe how their pelvic floor muscle works.
What conditions does pelvic health physiotherapy address?
During the first assessment your physiotherapist will take a detailed medical history and do an external examination of the muscles – including the outside thigh and hip muscles, internal vaginal exam and a full orthopedic examination of the lumbar spine and pelvis. Depending on the condition, they may also perform an internal musculoskeletal examination including internal palpation of the pelvic floor muscles.
For some conditions such as urinary incontinence or faecal incontinence, a home based ‘knack technique’ can be very helpful. This involves discussing a patients day to day activity, pastimes and family and suggesting situations where the pelvic floor muscle or internal trampoline can be activated to stop urine leakage or avoid faecal incontinence.
Many women are hesitant to discuss their symptoms and feel they should just live with the problem. The good news is that pelvic health physiotherapy is very successful and it can make a big difference to your quality of life.
It is time to normalize the conversation around these conditions and encourage people to seek advice and support, rather than suffer in silence. At Pelvic Health Physiotherapy East Sheen we are on a mission to raise awareness about these conditions and let the public know that there is hope and that there are many effective treatments available. Contact us for more information or to book a consultation. We would love to hear from you!