Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

FAQ

What should I do before my first appointment?

Please fill out the intake form online before your appointment as that will assist your therapist in preparing for your appointment. Then follow the pre-appointment instructions which are as follows: void urine 1 hour before the appointment then do not void again until your appointment. In the hour leading up to your appointment please drink at least 16 ounces (2 cups) of water.

Can I come if I have my period?

Yes.

I am currently pregnant, should I wait until after I give birth to see a pelvic floor physiotherapist?

You can absolutely begin pelvic floor physiotherapy during your pregnancy as a preventative measure, or to address pelvic floor symptoms arising during the pregnancy (note: internal examinations are not done during the first trimester). Research has shown that strengthening the pelvic floor is associated with a shorter second (pushing) stage of labour. In addition, learning to effectively strengthen and relax the pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy may give you an advantage in the recovery process postpartum.

How soon after delivery can I come?

If you are waiting until after giving birth to get started, we typically recommend booking your first visit 6-8 weeks postpartum.

I have pain with intercourse. How can you help me?

Pain with intercourse can be related to several different components. We can assess if your pelvic floor muscles are tight and teach you how to relax them. We can also provide education regarding other factors that play a role in painful intercourse.

I think I may have pelvic floor dysfunction, does this mean my Pelvic floor is weak?

Not necessarily. In many cases an overactive (rather than underactive) pelvic floor is the cause of pain and dysfunction. In these cases, strengthening the pelvic floor before learning to relax it properly first may be counter-productive. Your pelvic floor therapist will assess whether your pelvic floor is underactive or overactive, and develop a treatment plan focused on addressing any deficits.

I delivered my child 2 month ago. I have no pain or incontinence. Is is worthwhile to make an appointment regardless to check it out?

Yes! Pregnancy and delivery can put a large stress and stretch on your core and pelvic floor. Most women can benefit from learning how to safely and properly train their core and pelvic floor muscles.

What happens during a pelvic exam?

The therapist will do an internal pelvic exam and assess the tone or tightness of your muscles as well as the strength of your pelvic floor muscles.

Is the treatment painful?

The therapist will take time before the examination to outline what the assessment will involve, what the goals of the assessment are, if there are any risks to the assessment, if there are any alternative methods to assess and ask for your consent to proceed. The therapist will also describe the recommended treatment, any risks and any alternative treatments following the assessment. The therapist will make every effort to describe what is about to happen or what may be felt during the assessment and treatment. As with any physical therapy assessment or treatment you may ask for clarification and ask the therapist to stop (withdraw your consent) at any time.

Can I bring my kids/newborn?

Yes. Our room is large and we have some toys at the clinic. Unfortunately, being a busy health clinic, we cannot watch your children for you. It is up to you to determine the suitability and whether your child will be okay during your treatment session. From our experience, it is best to arrange childcare for the first visit as it is quite long and involves lots of education and explanation. You will feel more relaxed and likely gain more from your visit if you are able to attend without children present.  Subsequent visits are generally shorter with less need for detailed discussions, and as such may be more suitable if you need to bring your child. Please feel free to discuss this with your therapist if needed.

Can I bring somebody else to be present during my visit?

Absolutely. We want you to feel comfortable and are happy to support you in any way we can to make your comfort a priority.

I know you are using Real-Time UltraSound. Can you tell me anything about my fetus, pregnancy or other medical conditions (hernia, kidney stones etc)?

No. We use Ultrasound within the scope of Physical Therapy practice, which means that we cannot and do not provide diagnosis like MDs or Sonographers. We can certainly tell and show you, how your muscles work and give a detailed assessment of function quality of your core, abdominal, back and pelvic floor muscles.

After my pregnancy I have a Diastasis Rectis (abdominal separation). Can you fix this?

Separation of the abdominals occurs in all pregnancies that reach full term and are noticeable for at least 6-8 weeks after delivery.  The degree of separation does not necessarily correlate to the degree of function &/or pain.  Many women do not have persistent concerns about the separation and return to their previous activities without intervention.  However, if you do have concerns about abdominal separation or your core stability/strength following the first 6-8 weeks after delivery, or have related pain, we can assess this and check the function of your muscles. We can teach you how to use your core properly during every day activities (lifting, exercising, caring for baby) and create a specific exercise program that will improve the function and aesthetic appearance of your abdominal wall.  We can also help to assess the condition and provide valuable opinion to help your doctor or specialist determine whether further intervention is required or not.

I am a male who has a recurrent hip/low back/SIJ pain. Can I benefit from Pelvic Floor Physio?

Absolutely! In fact, research shows that weak and dysfunctional pelvic floor muscles are often present in chronic pain conditions. It may very well be the missing link that other rehab treatments are not addressing. Using RTUS we can easily tell if there is some dysfunction involving your core or pelvic floor. Most importantly, we can teach you using RTUS how to use those muscles correctly.

Is pelvic floor therapy only effective for new moms?

No, pelvic floor physio may help at any stage.  While it is easier to retrain the pelvic floor muscles sooner rather than later, progress can be made at any age, whether you’ve had a baby or not!