Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation: Physiotherapist specialists in Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation & Pelvic floor exercises in London
Why Is It Important to Do your Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation ?
While giving birth is a wonderful experience, the changes to your body during pregnancy and the labour put a lot of strain on your body and especially your pelvic floor muscles. The change in hormones, the extra weight and the stress of labour will stretch and weaken your pelvic floor muscles. This can lead to conditions such as incontinence, prolapse, back pain and reduced sexual sensation. Although these issues are unpleasant and hard to talk about, they are not irreversible. You might have been told that they are normal “side effects” of giving birth, but you don’t have to suffer for the rest of your life. All these conditions can be treated through physiotherapy, with pelvic floor rehabilitation. Even if you are not a new mother and it has been a while since you gave birth, you can still benefit from pelvic floor rehabilitation and improve your quality of life. It is never too late for pelvic floor rehabilitation, as any issues are likely to get worse with time, due to the weakening ageing muscles.
What is Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation?
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation is a set of physiotherapy techniques and exercises created to increase or decrease the tone of your pelvic floor muscles depending of your condition. Initially developed in France for more than 20 years, new efficient and safe pelvic floor rehabilitation techniques has been developed such as Hypopressive Abdominal Gymnastic (created in Spain), Manual assessment etc.
The Pelvic floor physiotherapist will first assess the tone of each part of your pelvic muscles to precisely determine which exercises, which intensity and in which positions your pelvic muscles need to be retrained. Once your treatment plan is done, you will do your pelvic floor exercises guided by your pelvic physio along with some pelvic floor rehabilitation exercises that you will have to do at home between the sessions.
After only few sessions with our pelvic floor physiotherapist, you will feel the healing power of a good pelvic floor rehabilitation.
If you are an Axa or Bupa patient, you cannot book online. Please call our office with your authorisation number.
If you cannot find an appointment that suits you or would like a home visit, call us or send us a message: we will do our best to find you a slot.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation with our Pelvic physio
At Excellence Physiotherapy London, we have a female physiotherapist specialising in pelvic floor rehabilitation. She has years of experience working in the field and can create a tailored programme especially for your needs. She can use different techniques depending on your goals and what methods you feel more comfortable with. These techniques include manual, electrotherapy, bio feedback and hypopressive method. Our London based pelvic floor physiotherapist will also teach you a number of exercises that you can perform in between sessions, to speed up your progress, but also after treatment has been completed, so you can enjoy the long term benefits of pelvic floor re-education.
For electro stimulation and bio feedback we are using the Phenix , one of the most advanced devices for pelvic floor rehabilitation, and we are proud to be the only physiotherapy practice in London to use it.
Home Visit: Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation at Home in London
Some patients don’t feel comfortable coming to the clinic for pelvic floor treatment or might have difficulty finding a childminder, so our pelvic floor physio offer our patients the possibility to be treated at their home in London. Our pelvic floor physiotherapist as a lot of experience treating patients at home (she sees about 100 patients a month) and will be able to put you at ease.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation in our Pelvic floor rehabilitation clinic in London at Our Practices in Monument Moorgate EC3, Belgravia SW1 or Clapham SW4.
Our Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation specialist can treat you at:
- Our clinic in Monument near Bank, Moorgate and London Bridge
- Our clinic in Belgravia Westminster near Victoria, Knightsbridge and Sloane Square
- Our clinics in Clapham near Battersea and Balham
Our clinics are located within walking distance to the main Central London stations and are easy to reach from anywhere in London. If you cannot find a suitable appointment in your clinic of preference, you can choose any of the others as our clinics are located just 10-15 minutes` travel from each other.
Video Consultation via ZOOM for pelvic floor rehabilitation
We now also offer pelvic floor treatment through video call. Our Pelvic physio will assess you and give you an exercises program through online video. Sessions from £49
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Covered by Health insurances and BUPA, CIGNA, AXA registered
Our physiotherapy and osteopathy treatments are covered by most health insurances and are Bupa registered & recognised (BUPA Global and BUPA UK), Axa registered & recognised (AXA International, AXA ppp), Cigna registered & recognised and WPA registered & recognised
For Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation in London call : 0207 125 0262 – 07824 553765
Which conditions can be treated with Pelvic floor rehabilitation
- Incontinence due to weak pelvic floor
- Urinary urgency
- Overactive bladder
- Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles
- Tight Pelvic Floor Muscles
- Prolapse
- Pelvic pain
- Vaginal pain
- Vaginismus
- Vulvodynia
Pelvic floor Treatments with our pelvic physio
- Pelvic floor manual assessment (internal and external)
- Pelvic floor treatment after delivery (avoid incontinence and go back to sports)
- Pelvic floor muscle relaxation using pelvic floor massages
- Pelvic Floor Exercises to do between session
- Pelvic floor muscle toning to increase pelvic strength
- Lack of sexual dysfunction
- Prenatal pelvic floor rehabilitation for an easiest delivery
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation, Pelvic Floor Muscles and Exercises
What are the pelvic floor muscles?
Pelvic floor muscles are in the core of women’s health, being the muscles that support your organs and are related to your back health and core muscles. Pelvic floor re-education will allow you to regain muscle strength and get rid of the unpleasant conditions described above.
When shall I start pelvic floor exercises?
There is growing support in favour or starting the pelvic floor exercises before childbirth (ante-natal), as the awareness of these muscles will facilitate labour. After childbirth (post-natal) you have to wait at least six to eight weeks before you starting re-education or sports. Starting earlier might have an adverse effect and stretch the perineum further, worsening any symptoms of incontinence etc. that you might experience.
More information about Pelvic Floor rehabilitation & physiotherapy
Pelvic floor rehabilitation: Am I doing my pelvic floor exercises correctly?
Pelvic floor rehabilitation exercises end up not being done correctly by at least 25 to 30% of women. Pelvic floor muscles might end up not being contracted the right way, or you may be pushing instead of contracting them. This is why seeing our pelvic floor physiotherapist has a huge importance. During your pelvic floor rehabilitation, the pelvic physio will be able to assess and let you know if you are doing the right pelvic floor contractions, and guide you through the process to be sure you do not get injured or worsen your pelvic floor condition. Once you are aware of the correct feeling while doing you pelvic floor rehabilitation exercises, you will be able to do them yourself, increase the intensity and do your pelvic floor rehabilitation exercises in different positions and for longer contractions.
Are pelvic floor conditions (incontinence, prolapse…) caused by pregnancy?
Pelvic floor conditions are often caused by pregnancy as the growing weight of the baby and childbirth weakens the pelvic floor muscles. But pelvic conditions can also happen without pregnancy being involved: changes in the body during menopause can affect the pelvic muscles, as well as psychological traumas, or surgery… Whatever the cause, pelvic floor rehabilitation will be able to give your pelvic floor muscles their tonus back, and bring back continence and a strong pelvic floor.
How do I know if I need pelvic floor rehabilitation?
Many women don’t know when they should do their pelvic floor rehabilitation. We usually advise to start 6 weeks post delivery after each birth. If you haven’t done your pelvic floor rehabilitation and wonder if you should do it, see below the symptoms that will indicate that you should start.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation may be needed if you show one or some of the following symptoms or conditions:
- Frequent trips to the bathroom
- Constipation, or difficulty to pass stool
- Painful sensation when passing stool or urinating
- Urinary or stool leaks
- Lower back pain
- Pain in the genital, rectum and pelvic area
- Pain or lack of sensation during sexual intercourse
- Feeling of pressure, dragging or bulging sensation in the vagina
Can pelvic floor rehabilitation physio help with sex and sexual sensations?
Pelvic floor muscles that are properly trained and strengthened can help increase sexual sensations and therefore pleasure during sexual intercourses for you and your partner. If you feel that you have lost sexual sensation after giving birth or at any time of your life, it is strongly advised to seek advice from a pelvic floor physiotherapist and start your pelvic floor rehabilitation to learn the right pelvic exercises to do to tone your pelvic floor and recover good sexual sensations.
How long is pelvic floor rehabilitation?
The length of pelvic floor rehabilitation will vary depending on each individual and condition. But in general, pelvic floor rehabilitation shows results as little as a few weeks – 4 to 6, but can also take months if the pelvic floor conditions are really complex or haven’t been treated in time. After your initial pelvic floor rehabilitation assessment, our pelvic physiotherapist in London will already be able to give you a time frame, assuming that you are doing your pelvic floor rehabilitation regularly. The more you are regular on your pelvic floor rehabilitation the faster your pelvic floor muscles will get their tone back.
How do I strengthen my pelvic floor muscles with pelvic floor rehabilitation?
There are many different ways to help you contract your pelvic floor, some pelvic exercises will be more efficient for some and a different set of pelvic floor exercises will be more efficient for others. The pelvic floor muscles can be weak in different way depending of each individual, some will have the posterior part too tight while the anterior part is strengthened, or the opposite. Once again, for an efficient and accurate pelvic floor rehabilitation, it is important to get your pelvic floor checked by a pelvic physiotherapist, to be sure you are doing the right contraction and that you start your pelvic floor rehabilitation with a set of exercises that suits you personally.
Does a correct breathing pattern in pelvic floor rehabilitation is important?
Yes, knowing the correct breathing pattern is extremely important for a good pelvic floor rehabilitation to be able to contract your pelvic floor muscles without putting pressure on your organs or on other muscles.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation involve a correct breathing pattern which can be described as follow.
You want to start by inhaling right down into your belly while your pelvic floor is relaxed and as you exhale, you want to imagine gently closing and lifting the anus up and towards your belly button.
You then want to release and inhale. Remember the let go is as important as the contraction.
What are the causes of a weak pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor can be weakened by a numerous of causes:
- The growing weight of the baby during pregnancy
- Overstretched muscles caused by childbirth
- Chronic constipation
- Weight issues such as obesity
- Surgery
- Hormonal reasons such as low levels of oestrogen during menopause
- Chronic cough
How to avoid pelvic floor weakness beside pelvic floor rehabilitation with a pelvic physio in London?
Besides pelvic floor rehabilitation, lifestyle changes can also help reduce the risk of pelvic floor weakness: activities to reduce excess weight, preventing constipation with a healthy diet (eating more fruits, vegetable and fibre) and lots of water, seeking medical help if needed (for example if you have any chronic cough).
Should I bring anything with me for my pelvic floor rehabilitation session with my physiotherapist?
There’s no need for big preparation for a pelvic floor rehabilitation with our pelvic floor physio in London. You can bring any information you have on current treatments, or history that might have affected your pelvic floor strength but this is not an obligation as the physio will do her own assessment of your pelvic floor. You also don’t need to wear special clothes for the appointment.
What pelvic floor tools can I use to strengthen my muscles?
Pelvic floor manual exercises are the best way to help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. But it can be combined with:
- Pelvic floor electro-stimulation: it is used to help stimulate the pelvic floor muscles. Electrodes are disposed on the skin near the pelvic region and a special probe can be inserted in the vagina. Electrical stimulation is mainly used if manual pelvic floor rehabilitation doesn’t seem enough and the pelvic muscles are significantly weak. Pelvic floor electro-stimulation is painless, you will only fell the gentle contraction of your muscles.
- Pelvic floor biofeedback: it is used to report how well you can control your pelvic muscles contraction on a computer (via image or sound) with the help of a probe that can sense your contractions. This machine gives feedback of your ability to control your pelvic floor muscles. You can even do some biofeedback exercises using a specific probe and your smartphone.
If you are an Axa or Bupa patient, you cannot book online. Please call our office with your authorisation number.
If you cannot find an appointment that suits you or would like a home visit, call us or send us a message: we will do our best to find you a slot.
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