urinary incontinence and bladder dysfunction

Many women experience an involuntary loss of urine from the bladder, and for most women treatment can be very effective for the reduction of your symptoms. Some of the most common bladder issues we treat are:

You may experience an involuntary loss of urine from the bladder. Hence, for most women treatment can be very effective for reducing symptoms. Some of the most common bladder issues we treat are:

• Stress Urinary incontinence – Does the thought of jumping on a trampoline make you cross your legs? Stress incontinence involves leaking urine when pressure is exerted on the bladder; like when you cough, sneeze, jump or run.
• Urinary urgency and urge incontinence – Very sudden urges to pass urine. This is when you have very little time or no warning to get to the toilet. Therefore, sometimes, there might be some loss of urine on the way to the bathroom.

pregnancy care

During your pregnancy, learn how to exercise safely and get help with managing some common pregnancy-related issues such as pelvic/lower back pain and carpal tunnel.

We also provide you with an introduction to your pelvic floor and guide you on how it functions, to prepare you for birth.

Pelvic organ prolapse

Pelvic organs include your bladder, womb (uterus) and rectum. Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when one or more of these organs bulges against, or sags down into the vagin. Thus, the muscles and ligaments in the pelvic floor become stretched, or too weak to hold the organs in the correct place.

Some of the symptoms you may feel include:

• heaviness or pressure in your vagina. This is often worse with physical activity or towards the end of the day.
• Urinary problems emptying your bladder fully, or repeated urinary tract infections.
• Less control over your bladder and bowels.
• Painful intercourse, or less sensation with intercourse.
  
  Your Women’s health physiotherapist will work with you to determine the best management of your prolapse. They will advise you on a safe return to exercising to improve emptying of your bladder.

Bowel dysfunction

We can help manage many different concerns with your bowels, like:

• constipation,
• fecal incontinence (involuntary loss of feces),
• difficulty evacuating your bowels (this may be due to issues like constipation, pelvic, organ prolapse, and uncontrollable passing of wind).

Postpartum care

Childbirth is such a massive event for your body, and the recovery from there can be a confusing and difficult time for a lot of women. Just as everyone’s birth story is different, so is each individual’s timeline to recovery.

The symptoms that you may experience postpartum are often new and frightening. These include bladder or bowel incontinence, or heaviness or pain in your vagina. According to the Continence Foundation of Australia, one in three women who have had a baby experience bladder leakage and up to 50% of women suffer from some level of prolapse. During your post-natal period, our experienced pelvic floor physiotherapist will help and advise you with the following:

• pelvic floor muscle weakness,
• recovery from birth injuries like tears and
• prolapse.
  
  Often, women are also unsure how to return to exercise in a way that will be safe for their postpartum body. We recommend a postpartum assessment for all mothers, especially before returning to exercise. This assessment can take place from 6 weeks postpartum. We can also assist with other common postpartum issues like:

• abdominal muscle weakness, abdominal separation and caesarean section.
• Neck, shoulder and upper back pain
• painful sex.