Physiotherapy Ottawa

The pelvic floor is a system of muscles and tissues that have several essential functions. Some of its functions are to be a sphincter for your urinary system, a support system for your organs, and a stabilizer for your core. When the pelvic floor is not functioning as it should, several life-altering conditions can arise, such as:

• Pelvic organ prolapses
• Stress incontinence (urine leakage with running, jumping, sneezing, coughing, etc.)
• Urge incontinence (inability to make it to the washroom without leaking, or an extreme urgency to void)
• Constipation
• Low back, groin, and hip pain
• Internal pain (such as with intercourse, endometriosis, insertion of feminine hygiene products, etc.)

The conditions listed above are common, but they are in no way “normal” or something a person should life with on a day-to-day basis. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is supported by an immense backing of scientific evidence. Consultation and care with a specially trained pelvic health physiotherapist can help you enjoy life to the fullest and get you back to the activities you love.

What to Expect During Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

For pelvic floor rehabilitation, you can expect the following process:

1. Consultation – A physio assessment for the Pelvic Floor begins much like any other visit to a healthcare provider. The first several minutes are spent discussing your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle. We might touch on some subjects which are more sensitive, such as your bowel and bladder habits, pain in the pelvic region, and history of childbirth if applicable. Our discussion always ends with an education session about the pelvic floor and what is to come.Your consultation will last anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes, depending on the complexity of your case and any questions you may have.
2. Examination – If patients are comfortable, we will proceed with a physical examination. We start by looking at the hips, back, posture, and breathing pattern. In the physical exam, we would also perform an internal and external pelvic exam assessment, which includes an internal vaginal exam, and if applicable, a rectal exam.This is much like an exam from a physician, except there are no stirrups or speculums. You will be lying comfortably and be covered by a sheet or gown. You will be walked you through the entire assessment, from muscle strength and tone, to tissue integrity and organ positioning.
3. Ongoing Care – After the assessment, all of the clinical findings will be explained to you. You will likely be sent home with a simple set of home exercises to work on, and a follow-up date with your physiotherapist. The exercises are different for everyone depending on your specific symptom triggers and lifestyle. Subsequent treatments could include but are not limited to soft-tissue work, reassessment of strength and tone, and assessment of movements.

The TMJ, or the jaw, is a part of the body often overlooked by people. Many say, “I grind my teeth” or, “my jaw clicks, there is nothing I can do about it”. This would be wrong – physiotherapy can help! The jaw is like any other joint in the body. It can be taught to move better and be less painful with the right care. Some conditions of the TMJ that can be treated with physiotherapy are as follows:

• Bruxism or grinding of the teeth
• Lack of opening
• Pain with eating or opening the mouth
• Clicking and/or clunking sounds with or without pain

Dancers are without question skilled athletes who push their bodies to the limit for their art and their athleticism. Between throwing their bodies around doing floor work and grand-jetes, to squeezing their feet into pointe shoes, dancers’ bodies are torqued and twisted day in and day out. Some common conditions in dancers include:

• Ankle sprain or instability
• Spondylosis (micro-fracturing of the spine)
• Muscular spasm in the back or neck
• Groin or hip muscle strain