Women who experience:

• Weak pelvic floor muscles
• Incontinence
• Inability to relax their pelvic floor muscles
• Inability to "find" and activate their pelvic floor muscles correctly
• A need to urgently and frequently rush to the toilet
• Pain in the pelvic region due to childbirth, surgery, and sexual pain
• Preparation and recovery after continence surgery, hysterectomy, prolapse repair

Men can also benefit:

• Preparation and recovery after prostate surgery
• Osteitis pubis with associated pelvic floor dysfunction

SIGNS OF A WEAK PELVIC FLOOR

• Leaking urine when you cough, sneeze, walk, run or play sport
• Inability to control wind
• Internal heaviness or dragging sensation
• Difficulty deferring the urge to pass urine or bowel motions

If you experience any of these symptoms or conditions a Women's Health Physiotherapist can help you. As part of a thorough assessment and with your permission it may be necessary to check your pelvic floor muscles.

Pelvic floor health-check - what to expect?

In consultation with you and depending on your symptoms, Real-Time Ultrasound (RTUS) and/or an internal assessment may be required to assess your pelvic floor muscle health and function.

Assessment also includes evaluation of your abdominal muscles, bladder and bowel function, lifestyle and exercise factors.  You can expect a sensitive approach and individually tailored management.

Rehabilitation of your condition may also incorporate a Clinical Pilates program, your physiotherapist will be able determine if this is right for you.

Your physiotherapist will communicate and work in conjunction with your Obstetrician/Gynecologist, surgeon or other medical health-care provider throughout your treatment.

Referral from a medical practitioner is not essential.

FAST FACTS

• You are not alone
• 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men experience incontinence (CFA, 2011)
• Many athletes participating in high-impact sports experience incontinence (Bø & Borgen, 2001)
• Learning to activate your pelvic floor muscles can be tricky
• 51% of women can't exercise their pelvic floor muscles effectively when asked to verbally (Bump et al. 1991)
• Pelvic floor problems can be treated and cured with supervised physiotherapy

Give OPSMC a call, we'd love to help you get back on track to living with an active, healthy body.

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Session details at OPSMC:

Initial Pelvic floor health-check - 60 minutes

• Full assessment of your presenting problem including non-invasive Real Time Ultrasound Assessment or internal assessment. Your physiotherapist will discuss this with you. (Please drink 500 mls of fluid prior to your visit)
• See also Pelvic floor health-check - what to expect?

Initial musculoskeletal assessment – 30 minutes

Review - 30 minutes

Fees:

• All sessions are claimable if you have private health insurance EXTRAS. Fund claims are processed on the day of visit via the HICAPS system.
• Ask your GP if you are eligible for Chronic Disease Management (CDM) physiotherapy plan and rebate.

Referral from a medical practitioner is not essential.

Cancellation/change of appointment:

We require 24 hours notice of change of appointment / cancellation, otherwise a cancellation fee may apply.

Women's Health Physiotherapy is available with physiotherapist Elise Fraser at our Olympic Park Campus.

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References

1. Bø K, Borgen JS (2001) Prevalence of stress and urge urinary incontinence in elite athletes and controls.
   Medical Science Sports Exercise 33(11):1797
2. Bump RC, Hurt GW, Fantl JA, Wyman J F (1991) Assessment of Kegal pelvic muscle exercise performance after brief verbal instruction. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 165:322
3. Continence Foundation of Australia (2011) About bladder and bowel health. Accessed: http://www.continence.org.au
4. Stuge B, Lærum E, Kirkesola G, Vøllestad N (2004) The efficacy of a treatment program focusing on specific stabilizing exercises for pelvic girdle pain after pregnancy. Spine 29(4):351