Why Pelvic Health Physiotherapy?
Why Pelvic Health?
It can be difficult for people to talk openly about pelvic health issues, meaning they stay silent rather than seeking the help they need. I decided to move into pelvic health physiotherapy to help those who are suffering in silence.
Problems such as bladder, bowel or sexual dysfunction have a massive impact on people’s quality of life, and often they just put up with it because they feel too embarrassed to discuss it, or they think it is normal. I want to remove the stigma around incontinence, constipation, sexual dysfunction, period pain, and a whole lot of other issues around the pelvis that many assume they just have to live with. I have unfortunately had too many women say to me “yeah I leak when I cough and sneeze, or laugh really hard, but after having kids that’s normal right?”
Stress incontinence is common, but it is NOT normal!
Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation out there, and not many people have been educated about pelvic floor anatomy or pelvic floor muscle function. The part of my job I love the most is empowering my patients with knowledge, and giving them the education they need to make big changes in a short amount of time!
The pelvic floor muscles are the same in males and females. They are skeletal muscle, just like your biceps and quads – they can be trained too! For some people, their pelvic floor might be weak, suggesting that they need strengthening, just like you would for any other weak muscle. For others, the pelvic floor might be too tense (like those who have tight glutes as a protective mechanism for low back pain), and they will need a different approach. Either way, muscles can change, and given the right advice, pelvic floor dysfunction can get better too.
My main areas of interest
I have a particular interest in the pregnancy and postpartum population, as there is so much that can be done preventatively to optimise pelvic health pre- and postnatally, and I get to have amazing long term relationships with my clients – throughout their pregnancy, post-baby, and through subsequent pregnancies!
There is so much information about pregnancy, and unfortunately there is not enough time to go through it all during medical appointments or even after delivery in the hospital. So women turn to blogs and posts on the internet, where there can be a lot of negative or fear-inducing content, which leaves them going into their pregnancy and birth feeling anxious and worried.
As a pelvic health physiotherapist, I am lucky to have longer appointment times with patients, so I can really listen to their concerns and their story, undertake a proper assessment, provide them with education and advice, and a rehabilitation program.
As an aerialist, I am also interested in helping women return to high level performance such as aerial arts and pole dancing after pelvic floor dysfunction. These activities require high levels of core strength, and can also have a lot of impact on the pelvic floor! I have recently launched a Postpartum Return to Aerials Course, for women > 6 weeks postpartum who want to return to aerial/pole training or teaching – see “Aerials” tab for more info!
If you think you might have some pelvic health issues and are just “living with it”, book in with me at 18 Physio (Caulfield North), Performance Medicine (Southbank), or Clifton Hill Physiotherapy (Clifton Hill) and let's work together to improve your quality of life!