Alison 
specializes in Women’s Health and can assist with weak pelvic floor and incontinence problems.
Healthy, active and strong pelvic floor muscles are very important to women throughout life. Weak and poorly controlled muscles can lead to prolapse and loss of bladder or bowel control. Alison can assess your pelvic floor muscles and help strengthen and regain their control.
What do Pelvic Floor Muscles Do?
The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder, uterus, vagina and bowel. They form a muscular and elastic floor across the bottom of the pelvis. When tightened, the muscles lift the organs and constrict their openings. The muscles relax to empty the bladder and bowel.
Stretching of these muscles during childbirth and straining with constipation sometimes causes muscle weakening.
Signs of weak pelvic floor muscles
- Leaking urine when sneezing, coughing, running (or other sudden actions)
- Not getting to the toilet in time
- Tampons won’t stay in place
- Low pelvic dragging, vaginal heaviness, feeling everything might fall out
- Vaginal or anal flatus (wind) when bending and lifting
- Bulging felt at the vaginal opening (prolapse)
- Difficulty emptying the bowel completely
You need special attention if you
- Are pregnant or a new mother
- Are menopausal
- Lift heavy objects often
- Suffer from constipation
- Are overweight
- Cough frequently
- Have low backache
- Go to the toilet often to pass small amounts of urine
Physiotherapy teaches you how to:
- Exercises your pelvic floor muscles correctly
- Retrain weak pelvic floor muscles
- Regain pelvic floor control while sneezing, coughing, laughing and lifting
- Maintain pelvic floor control
