A pelvic health physiotherapist is a physiotherapist with additional training and extra skills in assessing and managing bladder, bowel and pelvic floor conditions. Their role is to provide goal-oriented strategies and an individualised management plan tailored to your specific concerns. Treatment is always guided by what is important to you and designed to support your symptoms.
Your assessment begins with a thorough discussion of your symptoms, medical history, bladder or bowel habits, and any contributing physical or emotional factors using different assessment tools.
Pelvic floor dysfunction is often influenced by both local factors (such as muscle weakness, tension, scar tissue, or tissue changes) and central factors (including stress, nervous system sensitivity, or past experiences). Identifying these contributors helps ensure that treatment addresses the underlying causes rather than just the symptoms.
With your consent, a physical assessment of the pelvic floor muscles may be recommended. This commonly involves an internal vaginal examination, which allows the physiotherapist to assess muscle strength, endurance, coordination, relaxation ability, and any muscle or fascial tension. However, your comfort and autonomy are always prioritised. If you prefer not to proceed with an internal assessment, alternative options are available. These may include external assessment techniques, and in some clinics, transabdominal or transperineal ultrasound may be used to evaluate pelvic floor function.
Following a comprehensive assessment your physiotherapist will work collaboratively with you to develop a personalised management plan. This may include pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation (either strengthening or relaxation), lifestyle modifications, improving bladder habits, bladder retraining programs, urge suppression strategies, and techniques to calm bladder sensitivity. In some cases, neuromodulation approaches such as TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) may be incorporated. Education is an essential part of treatment, ensuring you understand your symptoms and feel confident in managing them. The physio’s at Fundamental Health are very colloborative and will often work with our osteopaths, or massage therapist, and your specialist and GP for whole - person management.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It is a supportive, evidence-informed process that help you restore function, improve confidence, and achieve meaningful, long-term improvement in your symptoms.