Pelvic Health - Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need pelvic health physiotherapy?
The easiest way to know if pelvic health physiotherapy is for you is to contact us for a free, confidential no-obligation chat. Some of the most common issues found in pelvic health are; stress and urge urinary incontinence, diastasis rectus abdominus, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse and constipation.
Is this service covered by ACC?
Pelvic health physiotherapy can be partly funded by ACC if a third or fourth degree perineal tear (Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury) was sustained during a vaginal delivery. Otherwise, treatment comes under 'private' physiotherapy.
What does an initial pelvic health physiotherapy session cover?
Depending on your symptoms, which may be relatively simple or quite complex, we will take the time to listen to your concerns and explore the factors that may have lead to this situation or be contributing to it.
The assessment of pelvic health dysfunction needs to be in-depth and thorough and as a result can involve asking some very personal questions. You may be asked to complete some assessment forms which will give us an idea of the extent of your concerns and provide a marker for pre-treatment status.
A physical assessment may then be performed which can include:
a biomechanical assessment (how you move and use your body)
an external and internal pelvic examination(an internal assessment of the pelvic floor muscles is the gold standard method for assessing the pelvic floor strength and function)..
Are pelvic health issues ‘normal’?
While pelvic health issues are these are common, they should not be considered 'normal'. We know that these issues can be very personal, and we’re here to make sure that we make you as comfortable as possible while supporting you to prevent a lifetime of distressing situations.
What other issues are covered by pelvic health physiotherapy?
Other issues or concerns that people could see a pelvic health physiotherapist for include; faecal incontinence (reduced control of bowels), urinary retention, overflow incontinence, daytime frequency, nocturia (having to wake from sleep to pass urine one or more times), enterocele (small intestine prolapse; and flatus incontinence (reduced control of passing wind).
What does a follow up pelvic health physiotherapy session involve?
This will depend on the findings of the initial assessment. You will usually be given a home exercise programme to complete and so correct technique will often be checked at a follow up session, as well as an assessment of the progress you have made. If you have had difficulty with activating or relaxing the pelvic floor muscles, some manual therapy techniques or biofeedback can be utilised to assist you with better performance of your exercises.
What happens if I have my period?
You needn't worry, there is no need to cancel your appointment. We can still work with you if your appointment occurs during "that time of the month". Gloves are worn for all internal pelvic examinations and protective pads placed under all pelvic clients. If you don't feel comfortable with an internal exam however, you have the right not to consent, and other external or observational techniques can be used.
What should I wear to my appointment?
For pelvic health assessments, you may need to have an internal pelvic examination. This will involve being asked to remove the clothing from your lower half including underwear. You will be covered with a towel or blanket throughout and should never feel exposed. For this reason, it is important to ensure you are wearing an outfit that leaves you with some cover for your upper half of your body.
For musculoskeletal assessments, it is necessary to be able to move freely and not be restricted by your clothing. For example jeans can often hinder the range of movement of your hips on assessment. It may also be necessary to ask you to remove some of either your top or bottom half clothing. For this reason, it is a good idea to have seperate clothing so that the parts of your body not being examined are covered. It will not be necessary to remove your underwear during this type of examination.
What sort of preparation should I do before my appointment?
No preparation is needed for your first appointment. Toilets are available for you to remove menstrual products or if you are feeling nervous, you may want to empty your bladder. Wipes will also be available for use at your discretion.
Once a management plan has been established for you, it may be necessary to ask you to shave a particular area for your follow up appointment, but this is not necessary for your initial appointment.