When to refer to a physiotherapist for Pelvic Health

When to refer to a Physiotherapist for Pelvic Health 

For healthcare professionals, managing women's health, especially pelvic health, can be challenging within the daily demands of a clinic. Ensuring patients receive the right guidance and care is essential for their long-term well-being. Continue reading for a comprehensive guide on optimising pelvic health care in your clinic and providing your patients with the best possible advice. 

Stress Urinary Incontinence  

Female patients should be encouraged to see a pelvic health physiotherapist for first line of treatment for stress urinary incontinence or mixed urinary incontinence. 

Overactive Bladder 

Nice guidance encourages a minimum of 6 weeks bladder training for any female patients with U.U.I. Pelvic Health Physiotherapists provide bladder training, fluid advice and will assess if the patient is doing their pelvic floor exercises correctly. 

Bladder training does involve correct activation of pelvic floor muscles, therefore patients who are experiencing symptoms of U.U.I., S.U.I. or MUI should all be offered Pelvic Health Physiotherapy as part of their treatment.  

Drinks to avoid to help reduce symptoms: 

Caffeinated drinks aren’t the only drinks that can irritate your bladder.   

• Fizzy drinks 

• Alcohol 

• Acidic juices (orange juice)  

These can cause bladder irritation and increase bladder symptoms: urgency, urge incontinence and stress incontinence. 

Caffeine VS Falls risk:   

Caffeine VS Falls risk are the most common cause of injury-related deaths in people over the age of 75. Why is this, you may ask? Drinking caffeine irritates the bladder and can increase the number of times people have to go to the toilet during the day or night. It also increases urgency which can cause more people to have to rush to the toilet. This can increase the risk of falls in people, putting them at a greater risk of falling - especially older people or people with reduced mobility.  

Following the introduction of decaffeinated drinks into some hospital wards there was a 30% reduction in falls over a three-month period. 

Can you just give a leaflet for pelvic floor exercises? 

Studies have found that less than 50% of people perform their Pelvic floor exercises correctly.  Therefore, a leaflet will not be enough for most patients. 

A Pelvic Health Physiotherapist can provide feedback and guidance with pelvic floor exercises, ensuring the person is utilising their pelvic floor muscles efficiently. 

Pelvic health physiotherapy can improve the functional use of the pelvic floor muscles in everyday life and make sure the exercise programmes are achievable and appropriate to the individual. 

Did you know men can benefit from pelvic health physiotherapy too?   

Men who have had a prostatectomy will benefit greatly from seeing a pelvic health physiotherapist, to guide their recovery and improve their pelvic floor function. Pelvic floor exercises should be encouraged and supervised following this surgery to gain maximum bladder control.  

Physiotherapists go beyond treating musculoskeletal (MSK) issues - they play a vital role in managing and addressing a wide range of health conditions.  

Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Service:  What do we help manage and treat?  

• Pelvic organ prolapse 

• Pelvic pain of musculoskeletal origin 

• Sexual dysfunction – may include dyspareunia, vestibulodynia and vulvodynia. 

• Erectile dysfunction post surgery 

• Bowel incontinence/dysfunction – after excluding serious pathology 

• Post surgery – gynaecological , urological or colorectal. 

• Post cancer treatment – breast cancer, gynaecological, urological or colorectal cancers. 

• Neurological problems affecting the bladder eg  Cauda equina consequences, MS, Parkinson’s  and spinal cord injury 

• Post prostatectomy urinary incontinence. 

• Women’s and men’s musculoskeletal pelvic health conditions 

• Pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain and back pain. 

• Postnatal diastasis rectus abdominus 

• Stress urinary incontinence 

• Bladder Urgency/frequency/urge incontinence  (Over Active Bladder) 

So, the next time you see a patient experiencing any of these concerns, consider referring them to physiotherapy - we’re here to help!