Pelvic floor physiotherapy (PFPT) is a specialised branch of physiotherapy involving internal and external assessment and treatment of the pelvic floor muscles. Those muscles are located between the hip bones and the sacrum, and they serve as a bowl to support the pelvic organs including the bladder, colon and uterus.
Pelvic floor dysfunction can be classified into two problems: your muscles are too tight or they are too weak.
A tight pelvic floor can contribute to urinary frequency and urgency. It can also make urination painful or incomplete and can be responsible for you waking up during the night with a need to pee.
Moreover, it can contribute to urinary incontinence (when you just can’t make it to the washroom). A tight pelvic floor also contributes to constipation, straining during bowel movements and painful bowel movements.
Most people find success with treatment for a weak pelvic floor after five to seven sessions. If you’re really worried, pre-delivery assessment and strengthening can help you achieve a strong, supportive pelvic floor while still pregnant!
Every treatment is tailored to your individual needs as a client. There is an external examination component where the skin, fascia, and muscles of the abdomen, lower back, and inner thighs are assessed. There is also an internal component to the exam which is done via a digital (finger) vaginal and/or rectal exam.
An internal exam is not always necessary, but it is encouraged to get a full picture of the issues you may have. It also adds valuable insight to better enhance your treatment plan and reach the best outcomes possible, in the shortest amount of time.