You may have heard of pelvic floor physiotherapy but aren't quite sure what it is or who needs it. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a variation of physical therapy that concentrates on the muscles, joints, and connective tissue in the pelvis.  

What Conditions Does Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Help?

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can be beneficial for many different conditions, including:

• Incontinence. Whether you're experiencing stress incontinence or urge incontinence, leaking urine is no fun. Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help you find relief.
• Pain with intercourse. If you experience pain during or after sex, you may benefit from pelvic floor physiotherapy.
• Pelvic organ prolapse. After pregnancy, some women experience their bladder, uterus, or even rectum falling out of position and pressing into the vagina. Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help you regain control of these organs and prevent them from prolapsing again.

If you're experiencing any type of pelvic pain, urinary or fecal incontinence, pain with intercourse, or pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor physiotherapy may be able to help.

How Does Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Work?

The goal of pelvic floor physiotherapy is to restore normal function to the muscles in the pelvis. This may be done through several different methods, including:

• Exercises. Part of pelvic floor physiotherapy includes performing certain exercises and stretches that target the pelvic floor muscles, like Kegels.
• Manual therapy. Your physical therapist may also use manual therapy techniques, such as joint mobilization and soft tissue massage, both internally and externally. This is often necessary to activate your muscles.
• Education. Learning how to properly care for the pelvic region is part of your path to recovery.

Who Needs Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy?

If you're dealing with any type of pelvic pain or dysfunction, you may benefit from pelvic floor physiotherapy. Common patients include:

• Pregnant women. Pregnancy can put a lot of strain on the pelvic floor, so many women seek out pelvic floor physiotherapy during their pregnancies to help gain strength before delivery.
• Post-partum women. Women who have recently given birth may find pelvic floor physiotherapy particularly helpful, as it can help you heal and regain strength in the pelvic floor muscles.
• Older adults. As you get older, you may start to experience changes in your pelvic muscles and organs, which can lead to pelvic pain and dysfunction, particularly incontinence. Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help you manage these changes while staying active and independent.

If you're not sure whether or not pelvic floor physiotherapy is right for you, please consult with your doctor or a qualified health professional to see if this type of therapy might be right for you.