Epic Life Physio

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy in Mona Vale

Women's Health and Pelvic Floor Physio

Epic Life Physio’s Women’s Health at Mona Vale is our Physiotherapy service aimed at helping women of all ages achieve their health and lifestyle goals so that they can live an epic life!

 

The primary conditions that the team at Epic Life Physio can assist with include:

  • Pelvic floor weakness and Incontinence
  • Prolapse
  • Overactive bladder
  • Pelvic pain, sexual pain and dysfunction
  • Pregnancy and postnatal physio
  • Abdominal separation

 

The benefits of pelvic floor physio include:

  • Improved continence or bladder function
  • Stronger pelvic floor muscles
  • Decreased pain or pain free (and maybe even enhanced) sex
  • Freedom to go out and live your epic life!

 

Pelvic Floor Weakness & Incontinence

If your pelvic floor muscles are weakened, the internal organs will lack support and this leads to loss of control called incontinence.  Incontinence is a term that describes any accidental or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder (urinary incontinence).  Incontinence is a widespread condition that ranges in severity from “just a small leak” to complete loss of bladder (or bowel) control.  Over 5 million Australians suffer from incontinence for a variety of reasons but it can be treated and managed and in many cases resolved.  Urinary incontinence is a common condition that is commonly associated with pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and more but it can impact men as well as women.

Some of the key symptoms of a weakened pelvic floor include:

  • Sometimes leaking urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or playing sport
  • Leaking before actually engaging in urine evacuation
  • Sometimes leaking when changing position from lying or seated to a standing position
  • Reduced sensation in the vagina
  • Needing to go the toilet two or three times at night
  • Tampons that dislodge or fall out
  • A distinct bulge a the vagina opening
  • Feeling you have not completely emptied your bladder
  • Having to plan your activities around proximity to toilets

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you may have a pelvic floor muscle problem.

There are different types of incontinence with a number of possible causes with the most common types being:

  • Stress incontinence
  • Urge incontinence
  • Incontinence associated with chronic tension
  • Functional incontinence

There are a number of treatment options for incontinence that the team at Epic Life Physio utilise including the Pelvic Toner Chair but also many other options.

 

The team at Epic Life Physio are also used to seeing people pre and post operation and can work with your specialist to ensure that you get the best result possible.

 

Incontinence and Floor Pelvic Physiotherapy - Epic Life Physio - Mona Vale
Pelvic Toner Chair treatment for Pelvic Floor issues - Epic Life Physio - Mona Vale

At Epic Life Physio in Mona Vale we have a Pelvic Toner Chair that uses electromagnetic stimulation to give about 10,000 contractions of your pelvic floor in 20 minutes – all whilst being fully clothed!

These contractions strengthen the pelvic floor resulting in:

  • Incontinence improvement
  • Vaginal tightening
  • Organ support

The Pelvic Toner Chair treatment is:

  • Walk in / walk out while fully clothed
  • Non-invasive with no discomfort and avoiding surgical options
  • Convenient with no downtime or recovery period required
  • A solution designed for busy and active women who want to live their life to the fullest

The Pelvic Toner Chair uses the same technology as other brands such as Emsella.

Prolapse

A prolapse of your uterus can occur when the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments stretch and weaken until they do not provide enough support for the uterus.  The uterus then slips down or protrudes from the vagina.  Prolapses most often impact women after menopause who have had vaginal deliveries but can impact others and at other life stages as well.

Symptoms of prolapse include:

  • Seeing or feeling a bulge out of the vagina
  • Feeling like the bladder doesn’t fully empty when you go to the toilet
  • Incontinence
  • Trouble with bowel movements
  • Feeling like you are sitting on top of a small ball
  • Rubbing of vagina tissue on your clothing
  • Pelvic or back pressure / discomfort
  • Sexual concerns

The aim of physiotherapy treatment for prolapse is to improve the strength of the pelvic floor muscles and thereby reduce the prolapse.

Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder (aka OAB) causes a frequent and sudden urge to urinate which may be difficult to control.  This may mean that you feel like you need to urinate many times during the day and night and potentially have urgency incontinence.  This can result in embarrassment, isolation and a real limit to you leading the life you want to live.

 

The team at Epic Life Physio will work with you to manage your symptoms and assist you with treatment and advice so that you can lead your epic life!

Pelvic Pain, Sexual Pain and Dysfunction

Trish to add here…

Pregnancy and Postnatal Physio

Pregnancy is such an exciting time and the team at Epic Life Physio are there to help you prepare for the birth of your baby and guide you through any issues that come up along the way.  

Conditions that we regularly see in our pregnant ladies include:

  • Incontinence or urgency
  • Prolapse
  • Pelvic, hip or low back pain – including pubic symphysis, sacroiliac and coccyx pain
  • Advice and assistance on exercise whilst you are pregnant

To prepare you for birth the team at Epic Life Physio can:

  • Assess your pelvic floor for risk of injury or incontinence – and develop an exercise program for you if needed
  • Assess your low back and pelvis for the risk of any issues and provide an exercise program if needed
  • Discuss and work with you on any pain management techniques for labour (including breathing, positioning your body, TENS, and massage)
  • Assess and discuss with risk or perineal tearing, use of perineal massage and pelvic floor relaxation and pushing for the birth

Following the birth of your child we look at management of conditions such as: 

  • Weakened pelvic floor and incontinence
  • Abdominal separation
  • Perineal tears
  • Prolapse
  • Pelvic floor strengthening and rehabilitation
  • Assist with returning to exercise (in particular running or weights) and providing safe and effective exercise options both soon after birth and when you are ready to really get stuck back into exercise
Pilates in the gym - Epic Life Physio - Mona Vale

Abdominal Separation

Some women find that during and after pregnancy their stomach muscles weaken and separate in a condition called abdominal separation or technically “diastasis recti”.  This occurs when the growing uterus and pressure from your growing baby causes a separation between the 2 long, parallel muscles that run from your chest to your pelvis.  It is more common in women who have had more than one child, are aged over 35 or are having multiple babies (i.e. twins or triplets).  Abdominal separation usually resolves after the birth of your baby, however 1 in 3 women still report problems 12 months after birth.

 

Strengthening your core muscles before or during the early stages of pregnancy can assist in preventing abdominal separation.

 

The team at Epic Life Physio can help you in any abdominal separation prevention or issues.

Men's Pelvic Health

Trish to add content here

If you have any other questions about pelvic floor physiotherapy or if you would like to book in an appointment please give us a call at Epic Life Physio on (02) 9997 4587 or book in an appointment online

Scroll to Top