Incontinence / leaking

Many women leak. In fact, it is estimated that up to 1:3 women who have had a child will have an element of urinary leakage when they cough, sneeze, laugh, run, jump etc. This makes it a common complaint but it does not make it normal! Leaking during any of these activities is a sign that something is wrong and that the pelvic floor needs some help to manage the forces coming through it.

Prostate

If a man decides to undergo surgery for his prostate he will be infinitely better off if he works with a pelvic health physiotherapist first. On average he will require 4 sessions post operatively to learn enough to regain function and continence. The man left without specialist help can often feel lost, isolated and scared of how to proceed so seek help now to avoid later problems.

Prolapse

Does something down below feel as though its "coming down" inside, like a tampon is falling out? Up to 50% of women will have some form of prolapse in their life whether it be the bladder, the uterus or bowel.

​Pelvic floor exercises can be useful to strengthen the muscle supporting the organs but so is understanding effective bowel evacuation techniques, good lifting techniques and understanding what kind of exercise is suitable.

​Surgery is often suggested as a sole course of treatment but women's health physiotherapy has been proven to be beneficial in improving many women's symptoms and avoiding the need for such a drastic course of action​

Bladder Urgency

If a woman feels her bladder is taking over then she needs to start training it, to understand what she should be drinking and to learn techniques required to regain control. The pelvic floor has to learn how to work appropriately again, i.e. how to relax when necessary whilst still being strong. A woman will be asked to fill out a bladder diary for 3 days that can then be looked at with the therapist to discuss what is normal and what might be addressed.

Bowel Leakage

1:5 women over the age of 40 will have an element of bowel leakage / faecal incontinence. Most of these women don't seek help, despite there being so much that can be done about it.

Bowel leakage / faecal incontinence can be one of the most stressful complaints a woman has to deal with in her life, leaking uncontrollably or without warning from her back passage. Pelvic health physiotherapy can be vital to make changes to help.

Constipation

Spending hours stuck on the loo or going back time and time again is uncomfortable, a waste of time and will likely do a woman's pelvic floor harm in the long run. A physiotherapist can teach a woman how she can empty her bowels more effectively, in addition to discussing what medication they are on and examining diet in order to understand better how to make their body work for them.

Chronic Pelvic Pain

People can often suffer from pelvic pain for many years. They see a wealth of consultants and therapists who can make little difference. After a host of scans and invasive appointments it can get incredibly dispiriting to keep searching for the right person to help or believe in you.

Pelvic health physiotherapy is instrumental in finally helping release the agony of chronic pelvic pain. I can help you explore your body and ultimately teach you to self manage your symptoms. You shouldn't ever have to suffer with this kind of pain.

Painful sex

Too many women accept that sex is painful or uncomfortable without realising there is anything that can be done about it. Learning about why your pelvic floor is behaving the way it is will be the start to exploring how this happened. A pelvic floor can be gently re-educated how to be able to participate in enjoyable sex again, it just needs to be given the opportunity. There are many different ways to do this, all of them gentle and pain free solutions.

Using or choosing the right vaginal or rectal device

Women have often tried working the pelvic floor for a while and feel they are making little or no progress. As well as participating in a personalised exercise regime some women like to use an internal device to help stimulate the pelvic floor or to use weights. I can advise you on what may be useful or appropriate and what is likely to be just a waste of time and money.

Advice pre and post gynaecological surgery

Some women make the difficult decision that gynaecological surgery is the solution for their symptoms down below but they wish to make sure that they are in the best possible pelvic health before embarking on this. This can be taught pre or post surgery. A women's health physiotherapist can teach you what kind of exercise is appropriate, what to avoid and how to strengthen yourself in order to remain symptom free in the future.

Pelvic Girdle Pain

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) or "symphisis pubic dysfunction" (SPD) is common in the pregnant woman but this does not it should be tolerated by anyone. Identifying how a woman can move better and with pain-free restriction can be the difference between having a dreadful pregnancy and one where a woman can continue to enjoy her quality of life as well as an active birth. Pelvic health physiotherapy can help by using manual therapy and appropriate exercise.

Diastasis Recti - Divarication - Mummy Tummy

Call it what you will but many women who have had a baby will look at their abdomen at some point after their baby has been born and wonder why everything has changed so much. It is vital that you start a progressive exercise routine that incorporates good breathing techniques with postural alignment and active pelvic floor strengthening as well as pushing you hard enough to make the difference you want to see in yourself.

Returning to exercise postnatally

Women who have been fit prior to pregnancy will want to return to fitness when they are mentally and physically ready. Women's bodies change after a baby and they need to learn to adapt to exercises accordingly. Pelvic health physio can help tailor a specific exercise programme for each woman to take into account changes to her abdominal and pelvic floor muscles down below.

Endometriosis

Women who suffer with endo know how long it takes to receive a diagnosis and how few medical professionals appear to know how to help with its symptoms. Pelvic Health Physiotherapy can help by addressing the body as a whole to liberate a woman back to full pain free function.