“There is Physiotherapy for my lady parts???!”
“I hear this sentence at least once during my work day. Yes! There is pelvic floor physiotherapy” Lucia Mathieson- Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist
As much as I think women are paying more attention to their issues of the pelvic floor region, there is still a huge number of people who think leaking, pain with intercourse, heaviness in the vagina,etc. is something they have to put up with for rest of their life.
These problems don’t apply to postpartum moms only. Pelvic floor dysfunction can sneak up at any age.
I treat patients as young 12 years to 80-90 years old.
Notes to all the women out there:
- Young women should know that painful menstruation cycles could be caused by tight pelvic floor muscles and seeing a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist can provide helpful tips how to manage and alleviate these symptoms.
- Women should know that intercourse should never be painful and Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy can provide education, exercises, stretches and strategies to eliminate this problem.
- Every pregnant woman should see a Pelvic Floor physiotherapist if she is experiencing:
–lower back pain affecting her sitting, standing or walking tolerance
-pelvic pain and uncomfortable pressure
- Every postpartum woman should see a Pelvic Floor physiotherapist to address the following:
-strength: exercises to properly strengthen the pelvic floor muscles but also to learn how to relax these muscles to prevent
incontinence and prolapse issues in the future
-Scars: either vaginal/ perineum tears or C- section scars to make sure scar tissue won’t cause any pain in future
-abdomen: to ensure your abdominal muscles are not suffering from separation (diastasis recti) possibly causing chronic lower back pain. Physiotherapists can provide you with a gradual strengthening program that is safe
- Physically active women should see a Pelvic Floor physiotherapist if they ever experience:
-leaking during exercise
-strong urge to void as soon they start to run or walk (even though you peed minutes before exercising)
-feeling of pressure or bulge during or after exercise
Maybe if women start to seek help for their “lady parts problem” we can avoid these horrific statistics:
- 53% of women age 65 and older reported symptoms of urinary incontinence on a regular basis ( www.statcan.gc.ca)
- 4 out of 10 women still report painful sex 18 months after childbirth ( www.webmd.com)
- 44% of women have some degree of uterine prolapse according to Tye Women’s Health Initiative in the US
by Lucia Mathieson- Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist
Please don’t hesitate to contact your Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist at Brentwood Physiotherapy Clinic. Call now to book your appointment
403-282-8050