Women’s Health Physiotherapy: Improve Pelvic Floor and Bladder Health

Receive specialised treatment for pelvic floor complaints with our caring women’s physio.

Women’s Health Physiotherapy In Melbourne Cbd

Looking for a women’s health physiotherapy clinic? At the Alignment Studio, we’re a friendly team of health professionals dedicated to helping enhance your well-being – from top to toe. This includes optimising your pelvic health with the expertise of our skilled women’s health physiotherapist.

Whether you’re struggling with pelvic pain, bladder or bowel issues, sexual dysfunction or need support during or after pregnancy, our team can assist. Book a women’s health physiotherapy appointment today to identify the cause of your concerns, receive expert, embarrassment-free treatment, and improve your quality of life.

What Is Pelvic Health Physiotherapy?

Also known as women’s and men’s health physiotherapy, pelvic health physiotherapy deals with pelvic health concerns through the stages of early adulthood from pregnancy and childbirth through to menopause and beyond.

A highly specialised area requiring post graduate training, pelvic floor physiotherapy encompasses conditions including bladder and bowel incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction and pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain. It involves assessing, treating and retraining the muscles supporting the bladder, uterus and bowel, as well as other surrounding structures.

Conditions Women’s Health Physiotherapists Address

Our women’s health physiotherapists can assist with a variety of pelvic health concerns affecting women’s health conditions, including:

Pregnancy-related pelvic joint pain
Diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy or childbirth
Pelvic pain
Prolapse symptoms
Dyspareunia (sexual pain)
Loss of pleasure during intercourse
Overactive pelvic floor
Bladder symptoms (frequency, urgency, urgency incontinence, bladder leakage)
Stress incontinence
Pelvic organ prolapse
Faecal urgency, constipation and bowel evacuation issues

Additional services available to women at The Alignment Studio include Prenatal Physiotherapy Screening and Postnatal Physiotherapy Assessment.

Comprehensive Care For All

For many women, conditions such as prolapse and incontinence first occur during pregnancy, after childbirth, or with the onset of menopause. Highly trained pelvic health physiotherapists can assist with early prevention and management of pain and associated dysfunctions.

Patients suffering from a range of pelvic complaints can benefit from seeing pelvic health physiotherapists during various life stages – not just during pregnancy or for post natal care.

Improve Your Pelvic Health With Our Expert Team

A women’s health physiotherapist is a skilled physio with additional post graduate training in pelvic health. Previously running her own practice in Türkiye, TAS physio Nursah Katkak specialises in pelvic floor rehabilitation and sexual health therapy for women, as well as musculoskeletal injury and Clinical Pilates.

“I started focusing in this area because, while working with women with ongoing lower back pain and other chronic musculoskeletal issues, I felt like there was something important missing in their treatment,” says Nursah.

“Many women don’t realise how their pelvic health is connected to other health issues. They’re often shocked to discover problems they think are irrelevant are actually underlying pelvic floor dysfunctions.”

Techniques Used In Women’s Health Physiotherapy

Your women’s health physiotherapist may use techniques including:

Real-Time Ultrasound for visual biofeedback – ideal for those who prefer not to undergo internal treatments.
Pelvic floor muscle training or down-training (if overactive)
Bladder retraining
Prescription of abdominal support garments for the perinatal period, pelvic girdle belts and supports
Prolapse management
Biofeedback for bowel evacuation retraining
Exercise prescription
Core muscle training

Why Choose Us?

If you want to enhance your recovery from pregnancy and childbirth or suffer from pelvic health issues, our skilled and compassionate Melbourne physiotherapy team can help. Conveniently based in cutting-edge facilities in CBD, we offer a holistic approach to wellbeing with progressive physiotherapy treatment techniques and a level of care that sets us apart.

As well as traditional techniques, our women’s health physio Nursah utilises internal examinations and treatment to accelerate recovery, relieve pelvic pain and give patients a clearer understanding of pelvic floor muscle control.

Trained in visceral osteopathy, she also uses specialised manual therapy techniques that address constipation, menstrual/ endometriosis pain, bloating/ digestive discomfort/ tension in the stomach. These techniques are invaluable in addressing underlying tension and dysfunction.

FAQs

What will my consultation involve?

We’ll start with a history of your symptoms. You’ll be asked about your bowel and bladder habits and your gynaecological, obstetric and social history (work, exercise, mental health), as well as any prior treatment and your goals.

Next, we’ll explain how the pelvic floor muscles work, using an anatomical model if needed.

You’ll then be examined. Your women’s health physio will assess the positioning of your lumbar spine and tailbone and check for abdominal tension, tightness around the uterine and bladder ligaments, and muscle tension around the pelvic floor.

You’ll then be asked for consent for an internal examination. If granted, we proceed to internal assessment and treatment. For the assessment, you’ll be asked to perform pelvic floor exercises tailored to your situation. The internal treatment consists of two stages, starting with a rectal examination and proceeding to a vaginal exam. The treatment is NOT meant to be painful and can be stopped at any time.

We then develop a tailored treatment plan for each patient.

Do I have to have an internal examination?

If you are not keen on an internal check, your physio will discuss other options, such as real-time ultrasound.

Do I need a referral?

Prevention is better than cure, and there’s no need for a referral, or even a reason, to have a pelvic health check, especially for newly pregnant, postnatal or menopausal women.

Is women’s health physio covered by Medicare?

Women’s health physiotherapy coverage under Medicare depends on your specific Medicare plan and the reason for the physiotherapy. Generally, if the physiotherapy is deemed medically necessary and prescribed by a healthcare provider, Medicare Part B may cover a portion of the outpatient physiotherapy services. It’s important to consult with your Medicare advisor or plan provider to understand the specifics of your coverage

What is gynecological physiotherapy?

Gynecological physiotherapy focuses on the treatment and management of conditions related to the female reproductive system and pelvic floor. This specialty within physiotherapy aims to address issues such as pelvic pain, incontinence, prolapse, and recovery from gynecological surgery. Techniques may include pelvic floor exercises, manual therapy, and education on lifestyle changes to improve symptoms and enhance pelvic health.

What is men’s health physiotherapy?

Men’s health physiotherapy deals specifically with men’s health conditions, usually related to the pelvic floor. It can be beneficial pre and post-prostatectomy and in cases of chronic pelvic pain and bowel and bladder issues.

Book A Pelvic Health Consult Today

Don’t suffer in silence. Book an appointment with Nursah online or call 03 9650 2220 to enhance your pelvic health and improve your quality of life!

Visit our FAQ page for further information.