Pelvic floor physiotherapy isn’t always about strengthening your pelvic floor muscles. A pelvic floor that holds too much tension can also be a cause of significant problems. Sometimes we need to work on relaxing, lengthening and releasing tightness in the pelvic floor muscles, as is often the case with the conditions outlined below
Bladder Pain Syndrome
Formally known as Interstitial Cystitis, BPS is a complex spectrum of disorder with some commonalities – chronic pelvic pain, urinary urgency and frequency. Often all the symptoms of a chronic urinary tract infection, with no infection being present.
- Nervous system changes (the brain perceiving the bladder to be under threat, and paying too much attention to the bladder)
- Changes to how “on edge” or “wound up” the nerves in the bladder are
- Elevated tension and guarding of the pelvic floor muscles and surrounding fascia that perpetuates the vicious cycle.
Endometriosis
A debilitatingly painful condition, that can have a significant impact on so many aspects of your life (fatigue, stress and anxiety, infertility, relationship issues).
We will sit and listen to your whole story. There is hope. And there is treatment that can help. This could include: exercise and movement, modulating the nervous system with breathwork, releasing tension/guarding in the diaphragm, pelvic floor as well as the muscles and fascia of the abdomen and pelvis, and providing support to help maximise your self-care, nutrition and general wellbeing.
Vaginismus/Vulvodynia
Vaginismus:
Vaginismus presents as tightness and spasm in the pelvic floor muscles that makes inserting a tampon or having sex painful or impossible.
It’s completely treatable.
It may take a number of appointments before you feel comfortable to have any form of internal examination, but that’s ok. There are so many other areas we can work on to begin influencing the pelvic floor, such as the diaphragm and deep hip musculature, not to mention the brain! And a lot you can do from the comfort of your own home. The ultimate aim is to normalise the pelvic floor response, to allow penetration without pain, anxiety or fear.
Vulvodynia (vulval pain)
A persistent and unexplained pain condition, often described as a burning, throbbing, stabbing type pain in the vulval area that can make prolonged sitting or sexual intercourse unthinkable. Vulvodynia is best treated with a multidisciplinary approach, including pelvic floor physiotherapy.
