Pelvic Health Physiotherapy

Pelvic health physiotherapy is a specialized form of physiotherapy focused on the muscles, joints, and connective tissues of the pelvic floor, core, pelvis, low back and hips. It helps treat pelvic, bladder and bowel pain, incontinence, sexual function and related conditions so you can regain control, improve function, and return to daily activities and exercise with confidence.

Pelvic health physiotherapy can help with:

• Urinary or bowel incontinence (leaking during exercise, coughing, sneezing, or running).
• Pelvic pain, including pain with sexual activity or deep pelvic discomfort.
• Weak or overly tight pelvic floor muscles, leading to urgency, frequency, or pelvic instability.
• Recovery after pregnancy, childbirth, abdominal or pelvic surgery, or for active people returning to sport after pelvic-related issues.
• Endometriosis-related pain and post-surgical pelvic or abdominal issues.

No. Pelvic health physiotherapy is for everyone; men and women, athletes and non-athletes, pre and post-natal, and people of all ages. Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect bladder, bowel, and sexual function, and it can impact performance and daily life at any stage.

A pelvic health physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your symptoms, activities, and goals, then assess your pelvic floor and surrounding muscles. This may include both external and, when appropriate and only with your consent, internal assessment to better understand muscle strength, tension, and coordination. Based on the assessment, they will create a personalized treatment plan that may include education, exercises, manual therapy, and strategies you can use at home.

Internal vaginal or rectal assessment is considered the gold standard for fully evaluating the pelvic floor muscles, but it is only done with your informed consent. An internal examination is never mandatory. If you are not comfortable with an internal assessment, treatment can still focus on external manual therapy, education, breathing strategies, and exercise prescription. Your pelvic health physio will always respect your comfort level and obtain clear consent before any internal technique. If you are not comfortable with an internal exam, your physiotherapist can begin with external techniques and progress at your pace.

No. You do not need a doctor’s referral to book a pelvic health physiotherapy appointment at Athlete’s Care. Registered pelvic health physiotherapists are primary-care providers for these concerns and can refer you to a physician or specialist if further medical evaluation is needed.

Yes. Sessions are billed under physiotherapy and are typically covered by extended health insurance plans, subject to your individual policy limits. Direct billing is available for many insurance providers. We recommend that you confirm these details with your provider either through your online account or by phone. You will also receive a receipt from Athlete’s Care that you can submit to your insurer.

Kegels are only helpful when pelvic floor weakness is the main problem. For some people the pelvic floor is already too tight (hypertonic), and Kegels can make symptoms worse or be done incorrectly. A pelvic health physio can assess whether your muscles are weak, tight, or both, and teach you the right exercises and strategies for your body.

Pelvic health physiotherapists at Athlete’s Care have a special interest in helping active individuals. They work with runners, lifters, and athletes to manage incontinence, pelvic pain, or pelvic-related injuries, and create safe, individualized plans so you can return to training and sport without leakage or pain.

No. While many postpartum patients benefit from pelvic health physiotherapy, it is also very helpful for people who have never been pregnant, men with pelvic or post-prostate surgery issues, and children with certain pelvic floor concerns.

If needed, your pelvic health physiotherapist can coordinate care with other Athlete’s Care providers, such as physiotherapy, sports medicine physicians, or naturopathic medicine, to support your overall recovery and performance plan.

A pelvic health physiotherapist has the same physiotherapy degree as any other physiotherapist, plus extra post-graduate training specifically in pelvic floor and pelvic-health conditions. Key areas of additional training often include:

• Pelvic floor-focused courses
• Specialized content: In-depth study of pelvic anatomy and physiology, urinary and bowel incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, perinatal care (pregnancy and postpartum), and male pelvic health.
• Hands-on skills and safety standards
• Ongoing education: Many pelvic health physios keep taking courses in pelvic pain, pre- and post-natal care, trauma-informed practice, and other pelvic health topics to stay up to date and expand their expertise.

You can book an appointment online or contact any of our clinics directly. Athlete’s Care offers pelvic health physiotherapy services at several downtown Toronto locations, in Mississauga, Etobicoke, Scarborough, Vaughan and Whitby. Use the link https://athletescare.janeapp.com/ to book an appointment directly into a pelvic health physiotherapists schedule.