What To Expect During A Pelvic Floor Assessment? How A 3-step Process Can Assist In Improving Your Quality Of Life

You realize that you need pelvic floor physiotherapy and have some anxiety around the pelvic floor assessment, as you don’t know what to expect.

First off, pelvic floor physiotherapy is very similar to regular physiotherapy; however, we concentrate on a very different part of the body. Pelvic floor physiotherapists have advanced training on the muscles, ligaments, and nerves, that affect the pelvic region.

Whether you have concerns about leakage of urine, are having pain with intercourse, are planning to conceive or have already had a baby, pelvic floor physiotherapy could be an option for you. This article describes what you can expect during a pelvic floor assessment.

The 3 Elements of a Pelvic Floor Assessment

Medical History

On your first day, during the initial pelvic floor assessment, we will begin with a subjective exam similar to what you have previously experienced with a “normal” physiotherapy appointment. During this portion, we will be talking about some different subjects however, like bladder and bowel habits, pelvic pain, daily physical activity routines, and much more. You can get an idea of what we will be talking about based on the Female Symptom Monitor that you will receive by email or once you arrive at the clinic.

Physical Assessment

Following the subjective exam, we will transition towards the objective exam portion of the pelvic floor assessment. This is where we will look at your posture, back and hip mechanics, analyzing breathing mechanics and then transition into the pelvic portion of the exam. In this portion we will perform an external as well as internal vaginal and rectal exam, similar to what you would experience in your doctor’s office. However, there are no stirrups. You will be lying comfortably on your back, discreetly covered by a sheet.

During this exam we will be looking at the strength and tone of muscles of the pelvic floor and find the contributors to your pelvic dysfunction. Don’t worry though, everyone always tells me it’s not as bad as they had originally expected.

Education and Plan

Just like any physiotherapy visit, we will finish our session by giving you some advice on do’s and don’ts for pelvic health, decide on a physiotherapy commitment plan, and your pelvic floor physiotherapist will probably give you some exercises to go home with as well.

Looking forward to seeing you for your pelvic floor assessment. If you have any further questions, you can leave them below in the comments section or you can call 613-424-7852. Congratulations on taking the first step towards improving your care, down there.

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Natasha Eddie

Natasha Eddie has worked as a physiotherapist in the orthopedic sector since graduating from the University of Ottawa in 2017. Before completing her Master's in Physiotherapy, she obtained a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Alberta in 2014. Natasha uses a client-centred approach to individualize her treatments and to help her patients reach their goals. She combines manual therapy, education and exercise to provide her patients with the necessary tools to achieve a successful recovery. She strongly believes in an active approach to care and encourages her patients to be involved in their rehab. Natasha is bilingual and offers services in both French and English. Natasha plans to continuously update her skills through continuing education and currently holds certificates in the following areas: