Pelvic Health Physiotherapy is the assessment and treatment of various conditions that involve the pelvic floor. This includes the muscles, ligaments, connective tissue and nerves of the pelvic region. The pelvic floor muscles assist with bladder, bowel and sexual function. With dysfunction of the pelvic floor, symptoms can include:
- Incontinence Issues
- Constipation/ Bowel issues
- Pelvic Pain
- Prolapse
- Pain with intercourse
- Diastasis Recti
Amanda Mallette (Pelvic Health Physiotherapist) has extensive post graduate training in assessing and treating the pelvic floor to assist with the above issues and also on exercise rehabilitation following abdominal surgery, labour or trauma, as well as pediatric concerns.
Pediatric Pelvic Health Physiotherapy (new clients welcome! All consultations are virtual)
Common concerns include:
-Bedwetting (enuresis)
-Involuntary release of urine while the child is asleep at an age when staying dry at night can be reasonably expected.
-Urge Incontinence: This occurs when a child has a significant urgency to pee and may have leakage as a result.
-Voiding Postponement: This is when a child has a habit of holding their urine.
– Overactive Bladder
-Constipation: infrequent or difficult to pass stool
– Underactive Bladder
-Dysfunctional Voiding: “intermittent stream”
-Stress Incontinence: urinary leakage with activities like jumping, running, coughing, sneezing and laughing. (increased abdominal pressure).
-Encopresis: also known as fecal incontinence
-Giggle Incontinence
-Bladder Outlet Obstruction
-Pelvic Pain
Pelvic Physiotherapy can help!
Pre-Natal Pelvic Health Physiotherapy (currently not accepting new clients)
Pelvic floor muscles are intimately involved in carrying and labouring baby. They should be prepared during pregnancy and for labour so that they can be in optimal function during and post delivery.
An assessment would determine if the pelvic floor tissues are hypotonic (weak)and need to be strengthened versus hypertonic (tight) and need to be relaxed prior to strengthening.
As a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, Amanda can also customize an appropriate exercise program to manage any symptoms during pregnancy and to prepare for post partum recovery.
Amanda can also perform and teach perineal massage to help decrease or prevent the risk of tearing during delivery.
Post- Partum Pelvic Health Physiotherapy (currently not accepting new clients)
Pregnancy and labour can cause significant changes to your body and pelvic floor. As a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, Amanda can help assess the tissues post partum and treat accordingly. She determines if diastasis recti and/or prolapse is present and works to decrease the severity. Amanda ensures that the pelvic floor is working appropriately to reduce or eliminate potential incontinence, constipation or pelvic pain issues. With regards to a cesarian birth, pelvic health physiotherapy can assess and treat scar tissue and ensure there are no adhesions causing undue tension or prevention of core activation.
Amanda can also guide you in your return to exercise/sport and help you progress appropriately during your post partum journey.
