Pelvic floor symptoms are common, but they can still feel difficult to discuss. Pelvic floor physiotherapy provides individualized assessment, education, and rehabilitation for concerns involving bladder or bowel control, pelvic support, pain, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and movement.
What does the pelvic floor do?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissues that supports pelvic organs and contributes to bladder and bowel control, sexual function, breathing, and pressure management. Symptoms may occur when these muscles are weak, overactive, painful, poorly coordinated, or affected by pregnancy, surgery, injury, menopause, or other health conditions.
Reasons people seek pelvic floor physiotherapy
- Urine leakage with coughing, sneezing, lifting, or exercise
- Urgency or difficulty controlling the bladder or bowel
- Pelvic heaviness or prolapse-related symptoms
- Pelvic pain or pain with sexual activity
- Pregnancy-related pelvic or lower-back symptoms
- Postpartum or post-surgical rehabilitation
- Difficulty relaxing or coordinating the pelvic floor
What happens at the first appointment?
The physiotherapist begins with a private conversation about symptoms, medical history, goals, pregnancy or surgical history, and activities. An external movement and breathing assessment may be helpful. An internal pelvic examination is never automatic. The clinician must explain what it involves, why it may be useful, alternatives, and risks, and obtain your informed consent. You may decline or stop any part of the assessment.
Treatment is not always about strengthening
Kegel exercises can help some people, but they are not right for every symptom. Some people need to improve relaxation, coordination, breathing, or gradual tolerance before adding strength work. A plan may include education, bladder or bowel strategies, breathing and pressure-management practice, mobility work, progressive pelvic floor exercise, and whole-body strengthening.
When to speak with a medical provider
Seek medical advice for unexplained bleeding, fever, new severe pelvic pain, inability to urinate, new loss of bladder or bowel control, or symptoms that are rapidly worsening. Routine screening and medical assessment remain important even when you are receiving physiotherapy.
Pelvic health care in Abbotsford
Read more about our
pelvic floor physiotherapy service and pelvic floor and postnatal recovery support. To ask about privacy, clinician availability, or appointment options,
contact Townline Physiotherapy.
This article is general education and does not replace individualized medical care.
