With a Post Graduate qualification in Women’s Health and Continence, Esthesis Physiotherapy specialises in treating pelvic floor dysfunction across the life stages.
It is astounding that 1 in 3 Australian women experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic floor issues can greatly impact on quality of life and can arise as a result of pregnancy and childbirth but also can be a result of menopause, constipation, gynaecological surgery, ageing, obesity, inactivity, lifting, chronic coughing, lower back or pelvic pain or postural dysfunction.
Pelvic Floor First offers a useful guide to pelvic floor safe exercise including working your pelvic floor, signs of a pelvic floor problem and pelvic floor muscle exercises for women.
Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction:
- Leaking from the bladder or bowel
- Urgency to empty bladder and/or bowel
- A “dragging” or “heavy” sensation in the vagina or a bulge/lump (Prolapse of uterus, bladder and/or bowel)
- Overactive pelvic floor (tight and painful muscles)
- Vaginal pain or spasm
- Painful sexual intercourse
Physiotherapy Treatment:
- Specific and individualised exercise programs for the pelvic floor muscles.
- The use of Real Time Ultrasound for the assessment and training of the pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles.
- Review and monitor personalised pelvic floor programs
- Education, rehabilitation and re-education about pelvic floor
- Lifestyle advice on how to incorporate a strong pelvic floor into daily tasks
- Recommendations on how to return safely to exercise
Evidence strongly supports the use of physiotherapy in the treatment of incontinence and prolapse issues.
