Non-invasive pelvic floor physiotherapy has been provided by Amy Riddick for many years, so it is perfectly suited for Virtual Visits. Come in to the clinic or cut out travel time and master your muscles from the comfort of your own home!
UPDATE: Have your breathing pattern assessed and learn how to correct it. Proper breathing can help with many things, including headaches, digestion, GERD/acid reflux, low back and pelvic pain, and incontinence at all ages.
Would you like to cure incontinence without surgery? Are you considering getting pregnant? Did you know that athletes are likely to have a weaker pelvic floor than non-athletes? And that strengthening your pelvic floor can shorten your second stage of labour? Three to six visits and a couple of home exercises are all that it usually takes to strengthen your pelvic floor. You can prevent incontinence and reduce or even eliminate pelvic pain during and after pregnancy. Do you experience any of the following? Back pain or sciatica (leg pain) Symphysis pubic pain/dysfunction Urinary incontinence Pelvic floor prolapse OR are you pregnant and want to learn how you could potentially shorten your second stage of labour? These issues are a result of an imbalance and/or weakness of the lumbopelvic muscles - your FOUR CORE MUSCLES. Your Four Core Muscles are similar to a house: transversus abdominis (sometimes called lower abdominal muscle) forms the front and side walls,pelvic floor muscles form the floor, thediaphragm (lung muscle) forms the ceiling, and lumbar multifidus muscles form the back wall. Also, the gluteus medius muscle (posterior fibres) can provide stability from beneath, like the foundation of a house. Proper training of these muscles with the help of a physiotherapist with special training in pelvic and abdominal issues can help you resolve or fully correct the problems listed above. Physiotherapy treatment is effective and results are noticed quickly.
What causes an imbalance of the Four Core Muscles? Too many Kegel exercises without co-ordinating the inner abdominal muscles, or overuse of the diaphragm muscle, or weak pelvic floor due to the pounding associated with running, or pre-pregnancy weakness of core muscles, or weak pelvic floor due to the weight of the fetus pushing down. Release of hormones of pregnancy, such as relaxin and oxytocin, causes your ligaments to loosen. This allows excessive joint mobility, which can lead to inflammation if your core muscles are not strong and balanced.
Case history of a 23 year old pregnant woman with pain of her groin and pubic bone:The patient presented with groin and symphysis pubis pain during the fifth month of her second pregnancy. She had suffered through her first pregnancy with the same pain, and said that near the end it took her an hour to get out of bed in the morning. She now reported sharp pain, which was worse with using stairs and while putting on pants. Chiropractic adjustments provided temporary relief. She started with Kegel exercises and gentle inner/lower abdominal muscle strengthening at her first physiotherapy visit. She did these as a home program, twice daily, taking less than five minutes each time. At her next visit, her home exercises were combined to co-ordinate her pelvic floor muscles with her abdominal muscles. By her fourth visit, she reported that it took her less than one minute to get out of bed in the morning and she was pain-free except if she forgot to tighten her core muscles before rolling in bed. Hip stability exercises were added last and by her sixth and final visit she was able to hike for hours without any pain! Case of a 52 year old woman with urinary incontinence: The patient explained that after two pregnancies, her pelvic floor had weakened and she became mildly incontinent. She was sent for surgery to lift her bladder, which failed and had to be re-done. Then the ‘tape’ that was used for the surgery fell out. When she came for physiotherapy, she was considering wearing Depends for the urinary leakage that she experienced when she would climb a staircase. She started to do Kegel’s exercises and mastered them fairly quickly, but she was still having the urgency. She was taught how to position her pelvis while urinating in order to empty her bladder completely. Then she was taught ‘muscle control’ of the pelvic floor muscle combined with her transversus abdominis exercise. She did the exercises once or twice per day, taking less than five minutes to complete them. Within four visits over six weeks, she reported that she no longer experienced urgency and definitely did not need Depends! To work on your back, pelvic, and abdominal issues, book with Amy Riddick PT today!