Pelvic health physiotherapy

What we do

Pelvic health physiotherapy is a specialist type of physiotherapy which focuses on the pelvic area, including the pelvic floor muscles, and its associated conditions. From incontinence to prolapse, pelvic pain or constipation, physiotherapy can help manage the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. Our pelvic health physiotherapists are experienced in treating individuals experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction at all stages of life.

We treat the following conditions:

• pelvic floor muscle weakness and overactivity
• pelvic organ prolapse
• persistent (or chronic) pelvic pain
• bladder and bowel incontinence
• constipation
• urinary frequency and urgency – including overactive bladder syndrome
• pudendal nerve injury
• interstitial cystitis
• vaginal pain including vaginismus and vulvodynia
• perineal, episiotomy

The role of physiotherapy treatment is to help you maintain and return to normal pelvic floor function. Treatment may include some of the following:

• pelvic floor muscle strengthening
• core strengthening
• functional exercise programmes to help return to your normal level of physical activity
• diaphragmatic breathing techniques to assist pelvic floor muscle function
• bladder re-training
• bowel re-training (defaecation dynamics)
• fluid, dietary and lifestyle advice
• manual release techniques for muscle tightness and pain
• relaxation and mindfulness techniques for bladder and bowel urgency and pelvic pain
• teaching of trans-anal irrigation

Preparing for your appointment

Please come to the session ready to answer questions about your bladder and bowel habits. In the lead up to the session, please take notice of how often you visit the toilet each day and how much fluid you drink.

Your assessment and treatment will be tailored to your symptoms. At your first appointment your physiotherapist will take a detailed history which helps to build an accurate picture of your symptoms and how they appear.

You will be asked questions like:

• how many times a day do you go to the toilet?
• how much fluid do you drink each day?

The answers to these questions will help the therapist assess what may be contributing to your symptoms and how they can help you to manage them.

If appropriate, you will be offered an internal examination. This is an important part of the assessment, it helps to examine your pelvic floor muscles, tone, strength and function. It also allows us to identify any scar tissue, pelvic organ prolapse and areas of pain or sensitivity. A treatment and exercise plan will be designed for you to help resolve your symptoms.

Locations

• King’s College Hospital – Suite 8, Third Floor, Golden Jubilee Wing, King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 9RS
• Tessa Jowell Health Centre – Physiotherapy Outpatient Department, 72 East Dulwich Grove, SE22 8EY
• Beckenham Beacon – Physiotherapy Outpatients Department, Beckenham Beacon, 395 Croydon Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3QL

Contact details

• Outpatient appointments (King’s College Hospital and Tessa Jowell) tel: 020 3299 8220
• Outpatient appointments (King’s College Hospital and Tessa Jowell) email: [email protected]
• Outpatient appointments (Beckenham Beacon) tel: 01689 866660
• Outpatient appointments (Beckenham Beacon) email: [email protected]
• Treatment queries: [email protected]

 

 

Patient information leaflets