Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

How can pelvic floor physiotherapy help you?

Up to 30% of women can have issues with bladder function and 10% of all Australians suffer from issues of bowel control. Unfortunately, only 25% of people seek help for conditions that can be managed with the right support. If you are experiencing any of the above, please make an appointment.

Physiotherapy is an integral part of the management of pelvic floor disorders, and is part of our offering to ensure patients have the best rehabilitation after medical and sometimes surgical procedures.

The group of muscles that make up the pelvic floor can become weak over time due to factors such as heavy lifting, being overweight, constipation, childbirth, menopause and surgery. Accidental weeing is one of the common signs of a weak pelvic floor.

Some people have a pelvic floor that’s too tight, and won’t relax, which also causes pain and discomfort. Examples are lower back pain, feeling like there’s still something left in the bladder and bowel, and uncomfortable sex.

How to keep the pelvic floor strong isn’t exactly taught from a young age. Unfortunately, you usually find out when there’s an issue.

Thankfully pelvic floor physios, like our team, exist and can provide the right types of exercises to get that very important sling of muscles on the rehabilitation road to a healthy state.

What’s the difference between physiotherapy and pelvic floor physiotherapy?

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a speciality. Our physiotherapists have advanced skills in pelvic floor muscle assessment, and can provide guided pelvic floor muscle re-training using ultrasound, electromyography and pressure devices.

There are many conditions that can be significantly improved with physiotherapy:

• Urinary incontinence

• Faecal (bowel) incontinence

• Poor wind control

• Urgency (urinary or bowel)

• Post-natal pelvic floor muscle and anal sphincter injuries (OASI)

• Pelvic organ prolapse

• Constipation

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Bladder pain/interstitial cystitis

• Anorectal pain disorders

• Persistent pelvic pain

• Post-operative recovery from colorectal or gynaecological surgery

• Post-prostactectomy recovery

• Sexual dysfunction and pain conditions

Will Medicare or my Private Health Insurance cover this?

Depending on your level of cover, your private health insurance may pay for part of the physiotherapy costs. We can claim for this on the day of your appointment using our HICAPS machine.

Or if you wish to access Medicare rebates for Physiotherapy, speak to your General Practitioner to see if you are eligible to apply for a Team Care Arrangement or Chronic Disease Management Plan