Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments and connective tissues that support your bladder, bowel and uterus. When these muscles are weak, overactive or poorly coordinated everyday activities can become uncomfortable or disruptive, but with the right treatment most women recover well.
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy is the gold standard first-line treatment for most types of pelvic floor dysfunction. Your physiotherapist will complete a thorough assessment to understand whether your muscles need strengthening, relaxing or better coordination – because the right approach depends entirely on what’s driving your symptoms.
Not sure what happens at a pelvic floor assessment? You're not alone here's what to expect so you can arrive feeling informed and at ease.
Your physiotherapist will start by asking you about your symptoms, health history, any pregnancies, births and how your symptoms are affecting your daily life. There's no rush, it's your time to share what's been going on.
Your physiotherapist may then assess your posture, breathing and abdominal muscles as well as perform an internal examination to evaluate strength, tone and coordination of your pelvic muscles. Everything is explained before it happens. Your consent is always obtained. An internal examination is never mandatory, your physiotherapist will work in whatever way you're comfortable with.
Treatment is tailored to the findings of your assessment and may include pelvic floor exercises, hands-on therapy, bladder and bowel retraining, and practical advice on posture, breathing and returning to exercise. Where appropriate, we may also recommend biofeedback devices to support your recovery, with many women experiencing significant improvements after just a short course of treatment.
You'll leave your first appointment with a clear explanation of your assessment, a diagnosis and a realistic plan for getting better. Many women find the assessment itself reassuring - finally having answers that make a real difference.
Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when the pelvic floor muscles aren’t working as they should. They may be too weak, too tight or poorly coordinated. This can affect bladder and bowel control, cause pelvic pain or contribute to prolapse.
Very common. Research suggests up to one in three women will experience some form of pelvic floor dysfunction in their lifetime. It affects women of all ages, not just those who have had children.
Symptoms vary depending on the type of dysfunction but can include:
There are many contributing factors including pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, chronic straining, high-impact exercise, obesity, previous pelvic surgery and simply the natural ageing process. Sometimes there is no single clear cause.
Not necessarily. Kegels are helpful for weak pelvic floor muscles but if your muscles are overactive or too tight, doing more strengthening exercises can actually make symptoms worse. A physiotherapy assessment will determine whether you need strengthening, relaxation or coordination work and then guide you through the right programme.
An internal assessment gives the most accurate picture of how the pelvic floor is functioning but it is never mandatory. Your physiotherapist will always discuss the assessment process with you first and will work in whatever way you are comfortable with.
For many women symptoms resolve completely or significantly improve with physiotherapy. Others learn to manage their condition very effectively with the right tools and strategies. Early treatment generally leads to better outcomes.
Sooner rather than later. Don’t wait until symptoms are severe. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s worth getting assessed. Many women are surprised at how much can be done.
