Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a specialised branch of physiotherapy focusing on the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues at the base of your pelvis. These essential muscles form a supportive sling stretching from the pubic bone at the front to the tailbone at the back. They play a vital role in bladder and bowel control, sexual health, and core stability, working alongside the deep abdominal and back muscles.

Treatment begins with a detailed assessment of muscle tone, coordination, strength, and endurance. Your physiotherapist uses this assessment to identify areas of dysfunction and develop a targeted treatment plan for concerns such as urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, persistent pelvic pain, and bowel dysfunction.

Pelvic floor issues can manifest in various ways, often causing frustration and interfering with daily life. We treat a comprehensive range of conditions, including:

• Stress Incontinence: Accidental urine leakage during activities that increase pressure on the bladder, such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, or exercising.
• Urge Incontinence: A sudden, strong urge to urinate that may be associated with changes in bladder function or pelvic muscle coordination.
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A feeling of heaviness, pressure, dragging, or a bulge in the vagina can occur when the pelvic organs descend and the supporting tissues are weakened. Physiotherapy can help manage symptoms and improve muscle function for some people with prolapse. If you have a more advanced prolapse, particularly if tissue is protruding outside the vagina, speak with your GP or gynaecologist for an appropriate assessment and treatment plan.
• Pelvic Girdle Pain: Pain around the pelvis, hips, pubic bone, or lower back, which may be influenced by changes in muscle function and movement.
• Sciatica: Pain that travels from the lower back or buttock into the leg, sometimes involving irritation or sensitivity of the nerves in the lower back and pelvis.
• Vaginismus: Involuntary tightening of the vaginal muscles that can make penetration painful, difficult, or sometimes impossible.
• Dyspareunia: Pain during or after sexual intercourse, which can be associated with muscle tension, sensitivity, or other pelvic health conditions.
• Painful Vaginal Penetration: Discomfort or pain during penetration, including with sex, tampons, or internal examinations, which may be linked to increased muscle tension or sensitivity.
• Chronic Pelvic Pain: Persistent pain in the pelvis that may involve the muscles, nerves, bladder, bowel, reproductive organs, or other surrounding structures.

Pelvic floor dysfunction happens when the muscles at the base of your pelvis are not working as they should. They may be too weak to provide enough support, or too tight and unable to relax properly. When these muscles cannot contract and relax effectively, it can affect bladder and bowel control, sexual function, and cause pelvic or lower back pain.

• Common Causes: Pelvic floor dysfunction can develop for a number of reasons, including pregnancy and childbirth, pelvic surgery, hormonal changes such as menopause, high-impact exercise, persistent coughing, being overweight, and chronic constipation.
• Recognising the Symptoms: Involuntary loss of urine, sudden urges, pain during sex, difficulty emptying the bladder, frequent urination, and pelvic organ prolapse are primary indicators of dysfunction.
• The Wider Impact: Untreated pelvic floor problems can extend beyond physical discomfort, triggering anxiety, reduce confidence, limit physical activity, and strain intimate relationships.

Addressing these issues with expert guidance allows you to regain control, stability, and peace of mind.

Your initial consultation at Recover Physio is designed to be supportive, discreet, and thorough. We begin with a detailed subjective assessment, taking time to understand your complete history including bladder and bowel habits, symptoms, past pregnancies or surgeries, and overall lifestyle goals.

The physical examination assesses muscle strength, tone, coordination, and endurance to understand how well the pelvic floor is functioning. If appropriate, your physiotherapist may offer an internal vaginal examination to assess muscle strength, tension, and sensitivity in more detail. This is entirely optional, and your physiotherapist will explain what is involved and discuss it with you before proceeding. The findings from your assessment help guide a personalised treatment plan tailored to your needs.