Are you experiencing symptoms of incontinence (leakage, urgency, frequency, nocturia (waking during the night to urinate))? Low back pain, pelvic pain, acid reflux/GERD, headaches, poor digestion or bloating? When you come in or visit online for a pelvic health assessment at Amy Riddick Physiotherapy, you will be asked about these symptoms as they may all be related. The pelvic floor muscles form just one part of your core, along with the transversus abdominis muscle and the diaphragm. All of these muscles must be assessed and strengthened in a balanced fashion, which depends on the state of your muscles at your initial visit. Some people have a tight pelvic floor (from tension or from doing too many Kegel exercises), which causes urgency and frequency, while others have a weak pelvic floor, which causes the same symptoms.
Here is an overview of what to expect:
Non-invasive self-test of your pelvic floor strength in the washroom in the clinic or at home, along with assessment of low back flexibility, sciatic nerve tension and transversus abdominis and diaphragm strength. Start strengthening the appropriate muscles. Learn strategies that can help to reduce urgency, frequency and nocturia immediately, and which exercises to avoid. Continue to practise your exercises at home (with exercise video links to remind you of the details), then return for feedback and to progress your exercises. All of your core muscles are monitored at each visit to make sure the transversus abdominis co-contracts with the pelvic floor muscles and that the diaphragm is strong but not dominating over the transversus abdominis. When possible, the diaphragm is synchronized with the pelvic floor muscles. And IFF the pelvic floor muscles need strengthening, you start with Kegel exercises but switch as soon as possible to an exercise and then a strategy to train your pelvic floor muscles in the way they are mostly meant to function (as stabilizers). Acuhealth treatments may be recommended, but not if you are pregnant.
Most people need 3-6 visits and then can continue on their own with their exercises as needed.
Are you a health or fitness professional and would like to learn how to do this? Take my Low Back Active Treatment Online Course today, and sign up for the newsletter (bottom of home page) to be notified when the Pelvic Floor & Core Active Treatment Course is released.
Amy Riddick Physiotherapy, where mechanical injuries get mechanical treatment.....
Here is an overview of what to expect:
Non-invasive self-test of your pelvic floor strength in the washroom in the clinic or at home, along with assessment of low back flexibility, sciatic nerve tension and transversus abdominis and diaphragm strength. Start strengthening the appropriate muscles. Learn strategies that can help to reduce urgency, frequency and nocturia immediately, and which exercises to avoid. Continue to practise your exercises at home (with exercise video links to remind you of the details), then return for feedback and to progress your exercises. All of your core muscles are monitored at each visit to make sure the transversus abdominis co-contracts with the pelvic floor muscles and that the diaphragm is strong but not dominating over the transversus abdominis. When possible, the diaphragm is synchronized with the pelvic floor muscles. And IFF the pelvic floor muscles need strengthening, you start with Kegel exercises but switch as soon as possible to an exercise and then a strategy to train your pelvic floor muscles in the way they are mostly meant to function (as stabilizers). Acuhealth treatments may be recommended, but not if you are pregnant.
Most people need 3-6 visits and then can continue on their own with their exercises as needed.
Are you a health or fitness professional and would like to learn how to do this? Take my Low Back Active Treatment Online Course today, and sign up for the newsletter (bottom of home page) to be notified when the Pelvic Floor & Core Active Treatment Course is released.
Amy Riddick Physiotherapy, where mechanical injuries get mechanical treatment.....
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