By: Megan Ferrone, Physiotherapist BMR-PT
Certified in Dry Needling, Acupuncture, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
Elite Sports Injury: St. Vital Location
I have always specialized as a private practice orthopedic physiotherapist. It is the area of practice I knew I would spend my entire career, constantly learning and increasing knowledge in. It is outstanding how our life experiences can influence personal research, continuing education and future career goals. This past January one and half years after the birth of my beautiful little girl, I began my journey into the Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy world. I soon realized I had to hit the ground running as the information kept pouring in.
I was contacted by Mrs. Rhea Tomlinson at Zen Physiotherapy to help navigate where to begin to educate Zen Blog readers on Pelvic Health Education. Here are some of the questions that I noticed rather quickly I had to answer effectively with my clients!
What the heck is the ‘Pelvic Floor’?
The Pelvic Floor is busy! (no pun intended), it plays a role in:
– Sexual Function
– Bowel Function
– Bladder Function
– Organ Stabilization
– Circulation from Legs/Trunk
– Core Stability
– Respiratory Function
In short, it is a group of muscles that lie underneath the organs on the inside of our pelvis that plays a role in our deep core muscular system.
To Kegel or not to Kegel?
Unfortunately for women, there is no ‘one size fits all’ prescription we can give you! There is a small chance you may gain success on your own, without a thorough assessment, but there are many factors to consider. You may be over-activating this system, and further strengthening the pelvic floor may be feeding the dysfunction with these exercises. In fact, you may simply require education on how to relax the overworked system. Alternatively, you may have some asymmetry that requires guidance and education towards performing exercise in a very specific manner.
From personal experience with the women I meet, everyone knows what a Kegel is, but later report that they struggle to understand if they are doing them correctly. Pelvic floor physiotherapists can help you find the brain connection to the pelvic floor and coordination to that system. It is no different than learning any other type of exercise. Take a deadlift for example, everyone can recognize the movement and name; however rarely do we see it performed perfectly on first assessment.
Isn’t leaking normal as we have babies or as we age?
It is COMMON but do not let that be confused with the fact that this is NOT NORMAL. This is not something to settle and live with. Incontinence may be easily corrected with pelvic floor physiotherapy.
The Facts:
– Studies show ⅓or ¼ postpartum women will experience incontinence (leaking)
– ½ will end their life in diapers. (it is the 1st-2nd most common reason for admittance to nursing home)
– 55% of women 65+ live with urinary leakage
– Instrumental Delivery (forceps, vacuum) increased tearing of the pelvic floor
(Lee, 2017)
If you have any questions about how pelvic floor physiotherapy may benefit you or someone you know, please do not hesitate to contact me directly by email at megan@physiowinnipeg.com or by phone at Elite Sports Injury by calling (204) 888-3548. Your staff at Zen Physiotherapy will also be able to help advise you if a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment may be valuable for you. Do not be shy to share this information with your health care providers.
I am looking forward to sharing more information soon!
References:
Lee, Diane (2017). Diastasis Rectus Abdominis: A Clinical Guide for Those who are Split Down the Middle.