Let’s talk about what no one ever talks about. Pelvic health issues in both men and women are very common and not often talked about. You are not alone. Many people suffer without realizing that there are effective treatment solutions.
Common Pelvic Health Issues We Can Treat
Here are some of the most common pelvic health issues that can be treated by a physiotherapist with specialized training in pelvic health physiotherapy:
- Incontinence: leaking of urine or feces
- Urgency: a strong urge to urinate or defecate
- Urinary Frequency: having to urinate often through the day or night so that it disrupts your routine
- Pelvic- area pain: pain, burning, pressure or pins and needles in the pelvic region
- Painful intercourse (Dyspareunia)
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse: a descent of pelvic organ(s) into the vaginal area that can create heaviness or pressure
- Nocturia: awakening frequently at night to urinate
- Pain in the vaginal area (Vulvodynia, Vestibulodynia)
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD)
- Endometriosis
- Pain in the tailbone (coccydynia)
- Lower back pain
- Sacroiliac Pain (SI Joint)
- Male pelvic health issues: post-prostatectomy incontinence, chronic prostatitis)
- Pre-Natal care
- Post-partum care: assessment for a diastasis recti, incontinence, prolapse, scar tissue assessment, proper use of Kegel exercises, proper return to activity
Physiotherapists must take advanced training to work in this area and be rostered by the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. A Cochrane Review in 2010 concluded that Physiotherapists who have advanced training in pelvic floor rehabilitation (using internal examination to teach the exercises) should be the first line of defense for stress, urge and mixed incontinence in women.