In the United States, about 24% of women have at least one pelvic floor disorder. These types of disorders happen when the muscles and tissues in your pelvic cavity get injured or weakened. These pelvic floor disorders can be uncomfortable and can make it more difficult to complete your daily activities.
Luckily, there are ways that you can treat them. One of the best ways to treat issues with your pelvic floor is to find a local physiotherapist.
Do you want to learn more about pelvic floor physio appointments? Keep reading this guide for everything that you should expect from a pelvic floor physio appointment in Brampton and learn how to find physiotherapists!
Fill Out Paperwork
When you arrive at your first physiotherapy appointment for your pelvic floor, you should expect to come at least 10-15 minutes before your appointment starts. This will give you a chance to fill out some paperwork!
Some of the information you will need to include is your insurance information, some of the symptoms you experience with your pelvic floor, and a brief medical history.
For example, if you have given birth, this may be what is causing your issues with your pelvic floor. Including this information will help your physiotherapist accurately diagnose your problems so they can offer the best treatment.
Answer Questions About Your Pelvic Health
Next, you will meet with your pelvic floor physiotherapist. As you get to know your physiotherapist, they will take some time to discuss your medical history and your symptoms.
They may ask you questions about your pelvic health or will simply talk to you about the reasons you are seeking treatment for your pelvic floor. While these questions may seem embarrassing, your physiotherapist will listen to you without any judgment.
All of this information is essential for your physiotherapist to help you, so make sure you are open and honest when answering their questions.
Education on Pelvic Health
Your physiotherapist will often provide you with a brief education on the pelvic floor and your pelvic health. This way, you can learn more about the anatomy of your pelvic floor, what muscles and organs it includes, and why it is important to improve your pelvic health.
They can also discuss the common reasons why people experience issues with their pelvic floors and what can contribute to your symptoms.
Becoming more educated on pelvic health can help you find ways to improve your pelvic floor outside of physiotherapy. It will also help you feel more informed and educated about the treatment process to ease your discomfort or nerves.
Assess Other Functions
Before starting the physical exam, your pelvic floor physiotherapist will also assess other functions of your body. While events like giving birth may be the primary cause of your pelvic floor issues, there may be other things contributing as well.
Your physiotherapist will assess your breathing, posture, and other things that could potentially contribute to your symptoms.
Complete a Physical Exam
Next, you will complete a physical exam. First, your physiotherapist will do an external exam. This includes observation, palpation, and other types of manual therapy.
This exam can help your physiotherapist identify restrictions in your back, pelvis, hips, pelvic floor, and abdomen. It can also help identify the root cause of painful symptoms.
In many cases, you will also receive an internal exam. This is completely optional and will only be done with consent. While this may seem intimidating, it is an important part of the exam.
An internal exam can allow your physiotherapist to palpate the internal muscles of your pelvic floor to identify the cause of your symptoms. Your physiotherapist will do this with a gloved and lubricated finger as you lay on your back with your knees bent.
An internal exam can also help your physiotherapist assess the reflexes and strength of your pelvic floor muscles. If this is something that you are not comfortable with, make sure you discuss this with your physiotherapist.
Discuss the Findings
After the exam, your physiotherapist will discuss their findings. This will give you more insight into your condition, what caused it, and how you can treat your uncomfortable symptoms.
Your physiotherapist should explain their findings in clear and easy-to-understand terms. Then, they will create a custom treatment plan! Customized treatment will make it easier for you to achieve your goals and treat your unique pelvic floor issues.
Start Your Treatment
Finally, you can start pelvic floor treatment. This may include stretches, exercises, manual techniques, and more. Your doctor may even help you with some of these treatments in your first appointment.
They will also give you homework. Exercises and stretches at home can greatly help you improve your uncomfortable pelvic floor symptoms.
You may also need to make some changes to your daily habits. For example, things like poor posture can cause extra tightness in your pelvic floor. Making small changes can help you improve your pelvic health and reduce your symptoms!
Need Help With Pelvic Floor Physio? Find a Brampton Physiotherapy Clinic
When you are struggling with pelvic floor issues, it can greatly impact your quality of life. Learning more about pelvic floor physio appointments and how they can help is one of the best ways you can regain control of your health!
If you are looking for a local physiotherapy clinic in Brampton, Reform Physiotherapy can help! We specialize in pelvic health physiotherapy in Brampton and can help you restore function to your pelvic floor.
Contact us today to learn more about pelvic floor physio and to schedule an appointment!