Regaining Control with Pelvic Floor Therapy

Regaining Control with Pelvic Floor Therapy

Do you ever find yourself avoiding a big belly laugh because you’re worried about leakage? Have you ever had to drop what you’re doing and run to the bathroom right now?

At Ability Physiotherapy, we know how embarrassing these symptoms can be. But we also know that they often stem from problems with your pelvic floor, and for that, we offer a simple, effective solution: pelvic floor physiotherapy.

The Problem: Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

If you’re dealing with incontinence or pelvic pain, there’s a good chance you’re experiencing dysfunction in the pelvic floor, a group of muscles that support the bladder, bowel, and sexual organs (in women). 

When these muscles are too weak, too tight, or not working in coordination, everyday life can quickly become uncomfortable and limiting.

Common Problems Caused by Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic Pain

• Ongoing discomfort in the pelvic region can have wide-ranging effects, making it difficult to walk, sit, or engage in other daily activities.

Urinary Stress Incontinence

• Stress incontinence causes leaking when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising. It’s particularly common in women.

Urinary Urge Incontinence

• This type of incontinence can affect both men and women. It causes an urgent need to urinate that can be immensely disruptive to your daily routine.

Decreased Hydration

• Another unfortunate side effect of pelvic floor dysfunction? You may begin drinking less water to avoid accidents or discomfort! This can cause dehydration, fatigue, and other health issues, including worsening pelvic floor symptoms.

Sexual Dysfunction 

• Tense or uncoordinated pelvic muscles can also affect intimacy, causing pain or reduced sensation.

The Solution: Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy 

There is good news, though: You don’t have to live with these symptoms! Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a specialized treatment that restores proper strength, mobility, and coordination to the pelvic floor muscles. 

What To Expect

Comprehensive Assessment

We’ll evaluate your muscle strength, coordination, breathing patterns, and posture, and identify whether your muscles are overactive (too tight) or underactive (too weak). This allows us to craft a truly personalized care plan tailored to your needs.

Education and Awareness

We’ll explain how the pelvic floor works and ensure you engage these muscles correctly during exercises so you don’t worsen your symptoms. This step is crucial, as the pelvic floor is entirely internal, which can make activating those muscles a challenge.

One key way we do this is through biofeedback training, in which sensors placed over the skin show muscle activity on a screen. This gives you real-time feedback as you learn to contract or relax the right muscles.

Manual therapy

We may utilize hands-on techniques to reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, or ease discomfort in the pelvic region.

Targeted Exercise Programs

We’ll show you exercises to strengthen or relax the pelvic floor muscles. These may involve Kegel exercises (muscle squeezes), breathing techniques, or relaxation methods.

Bladder Retraining

We’ll guide you through practical strategies to improve bladder control. This is especially helpful for urge incontinence, as we can help you train your bladder to go longer between bathroom visits.

Lifestyle and Posture Advice

You’ll receive tips for safe lifting, core support, and modifications to daily habits that protect the pelvic floor.