The problem is that people do not really know what a pelvic health physiotherapist does. When you see your GP or gynaecologist, it is usually a set routine of talking about your symptoms, having an examination and then being given treatment options. It is very much the same during a pelvic health physiotherapy consultation!
One big difference at Positive Pelvic Health is the amount of time you get to explore what is happening in your body. An initial consultation is 75 minutes long, simply because there is often so much to discuss. It is important to complete a full screening of your bladder, bowel and vaginal health alongside a more ‘whole body’ approach which considers fluid intake, diet, sleep, exercise, stress and much more.
When completing a physical assessment, it is vital to look at what is happening at the pelvic level, whilst also considering the body above and below this central area. Vaginal examinations can be a useful way of assessing how the internal pelvic floor muscles are working. However, if someone has a lot of pelvic pain or just does not feel comfortable, there are other ways of still developing a diagnosis and treatment plan.Quite often women believe that they are seeing a pelvic health physiotherapist for one set reason and with one set solution (kegels)! When women get talking and thinking about how they move and live day to day, more concerns, symptoms and goals can come up, which means a more holistic approach is needed.
Physiotherapy is a hands-on profession, so my goal is that every woman leaves the Positive Pelvic Health clinic feeling better than when she walked in. Treatments such a massage and myofascial release work, acupuncture or dry needling and joint mobilisations can really help symptoms whilst in clinic. Advice and education, breathing, alongside stability and more global exercises then lead to a complete, personalised rehabilitation plan that can be completed at home.
Having an ability to heal yourself is incredibly empowering! When a woman understands why her body is doing what it is doing and has strategies to help herself get better, the outcomes can be life changing. So many people find improvements in symptoms can be much quicker than they expected, they just need to have the tools to be able to do it.
So, if you aren’t sure if pelvic health physiotherapy is able to help you, chat to your doctor or give me a call. I am always happy to talk through any concerns or questions, to ensure sure you know how to feel absolutely Positive about your Pelvic Health!
Jennifer runs an in-home clinic in Maungaraki, Lower Hutt. She helps women from the Wellington region, including Porirua, Upper Hutt, the Kāpiti Coast and the Wairarapa, with their pelvic health physiotherapy needs, at all stages of life.