Month: May 2025

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for Postpartum Recovery

Childbirth is one of the most powerful and transformative experiences in a woman’s life and so is postpartum. While the journey into motherhood brings immense joy, it can also leave lasting effects on the body especially on the pelvic floor. Unfortunately, many women are led to believe that bladder leakage, a heavy feeling in the pelvic region, or persistent discomfort are just the new normal after giving birth. The truth is, you do not have to live with these symptoms. They are common, but they are not inevitable. With the right support, healing is not only possible, but expected.

Understanding What Happens to the Pelvic Floor After Childbirth

Throughout pregnancy, your pelvic floor muscles carry a growing amount of weight and pressure. These muscles stretch to support the uterus, bladder, and rectum, and prepare for delivery. During vaginal birth, these muscles often experience further strain, especially if the delivery involves tearing, an episiotomy, or the use of instruments such as forceps or vacuum. Even if a cesarean section is performed, the body does not escape unscathed. The abdominal muscles are still affected, and the pelvic floor can remain weakened due to the pressure from the pregnancy itself and from changes in posture and muscle coordination.

After childbirth, you may notice symptoms such as involuntary urine leakage when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exercise. You may feel a sensation of heaviness or pressure in your pelvic area, sometimes described as a bulge. Discomfort during intercourse, lower back pain, and difficulty fully emptying your bladder or bowels can also occur. These signs are all indicators that the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles are not functioning as they should.

How Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Supports Recovery

Pelvic floor physiotherapy offers a safe, personalized, and effective approach to postpartum healing. It focuses on retraining the pelvic floor muscles, improving coordination, and rebuilding the strength and support needed for everyday function. At the heart of this therapy is a deep understanding of how the pelvic floor works in harmony with the rest of your body, including your breath, posture, and core muscles.

Your physiotherapist will begin with a thorough and respectful assessment to understand the state of your muscles, tissues, and overall alignment. This might involve checking how well you can engage and release the pelvic floor, as well as how your breathing and abdominal muscles contribute to stability and movement.

Based on this assessment, your physiotherapist will guide you through specific exercises that go beyond the typical “do your Kegels” advice. In fact, not all women benefit from Kegels alone. For some, the pelvic floor is not weak but overly tense and unable to relax properly. In such cases, relaxation techniques, breathwork, and gentle release exercises are essential before any strengthening begins.

Your treatment plan may include hands-on manual therapy to release scar tissue or tight muscles, biofeedback tools to help you learn how to properly engage your pelvic floor, and guidance on posture and movement that supports healing. You’ll also learn how to coordinate your breath with core engagement, which plays a key role in rebuilding stability, especially during lifting, bending, or carrying your baby.

Early Support Matters

There is a common misconception that postpartum physiotherapy must wait until months or even years after delivery. The reality is that early intervention, once your healthcare provider gives the green light can make a significant difference in how quickly and effectively you recover. Starting sooner rather than later helps prevent symptoms from becoming long-term problems. It also gives you the opportunity to reconnect with your body, build confidence, and return to your normal activities with greater ease.

Whether you want to run again, feel comfortable during intimacy, or simply sneeze without worrying about leakage, pelvic floor physiotherapy is designed to support your goals. You are not being overcautious or self-indulgent by seeking help you are taking an active step toward reclaiming your strength and well-being.

You Deserve to Feel Like Yourself Again

Every woman’s postpartum journey is different, and healing does not follow a one-size-fits-all timeline. What matters is that you receive the right guidance, at the right time, in a space that honors your experience and listens to your needs. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is not just about muscles. It’s about restoring function, reducing discomfort, and helping you feel like yourself again—strong, supported, and empowered.

If you are experiencing postpartum symptoms or simply want to give your body the care it deserves after birth, pelvic floor physiotherapy offers the guidance and support to get there. You do not have to wait until things get worse or feel like something is “wrong enough.” Recovery is not just about bouncing back. It’s about moving forward with the strength and confidence your body deserves. Reach out today and take that first step toward healing.

Chronic Pelvic Pain and Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Chronic pelvic pain affects daily life in ways that many people struggle to explain. It can be persistent, deeply uncomfortable, and emotionally draining. Even when medical scans and tests come back normal, the pain remains real and overwhelming. Many people spend months or even years searching for answers, unaware that their pelvic floor muscles could be a major contributor to their discomfort.

Understanding the Role of the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles located at the base of the pelvis. These muscles support the bladder, uterus or prostate, and rectum. They also help control urination and bowel movements, play a role in sexual function, and provide core stability. When these muscles become too tight, weak, or uncoordinated, they can create a cycle of pain and dysfunction that affects your ability to sit, walk, have sex, or even rest comfortably.

Chronic pelvic pain often stems from overactive or tense pelvic floor muscles. This muscle tension can result from stress, past trauma, surgery, posture issues, or long-standing inflammation. As the muscles tighten and stay contracted, they can compress nearby nerves, limit blood flow, and create ongoing discomfort. Over time, the pain can spread and become more intense, even when the original cause is no longer present.

Recognising the Symptoms

Chronic pelvic pain presents in many ways. Some people describe it as a dull ache, while others feel sharp, burning, or throbbing pain. You may notice pressure or heaviness in your pelvis, pain during or after sex, difficulty sitting for long periods, or discomfort when using the bathroom. The symptoms can mirror other conditions such as endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, or prostatitis. This overlap often delays the correct diagnosis and adds to the emotional stress.

What makes pelvic floor physiotherapy so valuable is its ability to look beyond the symptoms and focus on the root cause. Rather than offering a quick fix, this approach aims to restore the body’s natural balance and function through movement, awareness, and hands-on care.

How Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Works

Your journey begins with a detailed assessment. A pelvic floor physiotherapist will take time to understand your symptoms, your medical history, and how your body moves. The assessment often includes examining your posture, breathing patterns, core strength, and the tone of your pelvic floor muscles. If needed, and with your consent, the therapist may conduct an internal examination to check for tightness, sensitivity, or trigger points within the pelvic floor.

Once the assessment is complete, the treatment focuses on reducing tension, improving coordination, and relieving pain. If your pelvic muscles are tight or overactive, your therapist will use gentle manual techniques to help them release. These techniques may involve both internal and external work, depending on what is most effective and comfortable for you.

You will also learn how to use your breath to calm your nervous system and support muscle relaxation. Diaphragmatic breathing helps the body shift from a state of tension into one of healing. Gentle stretching and mobility exercises further support the process, allowing your hips, spine, and pelvic region to move more freely.

Education and Long-Term Support

Education forms a crucial part of pelvic floor physiotherapy. Your physiotherapist will help you understand the factors that contribute to your pain and teach you how to manage them in daily life. You may learn new ways to sit, stand, move, and breathe that reduce strain on your pelvic muscles. Your therapist will also help you identify and avoid triggers, pace your activities, and use techniques to manage flare-ups when they occur.

This approach puts you in control of your recovery. Instead of avoiding movement out of fear, you will learn how to support your body through it. Over time, you will build confidence, reduce pain, and regain a sense of control over your body.

Recovery Is Possible

Living with chronic pelvic pain can feel isolating, but you are not alone. With the right guidance and care, your body can begin to heal. Pelvic floor physiotherapy does not offer a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, it provides a personalized path toward recovery that respects your experience and supports your goals.

You do not need to accept pain as a permanent part of life. By addressing the root causes and giving your body the support it needs, you can move forward with less discomfort, more strength, and renewed hope. Pelvic floor physiotherapy gives you the tools to reclaim your comfort and improve your quality of life, one step at a time.

Physiotherapy Month: Why Your Health Deserves the Spotlight

May arrives with more sunlight, longer days, and a natural invitation to move more and feel better. At TheraTouch, May also carries a deeper meaning. It is Physiotherapy Month, and we are taking this time to celebrate the power of movement, healing, and health awareness.

Physiotherapy is often misunderstood. Some people think it is just exercise. Others believe it is only for injuries. But physiotherapy is one of the most effective and empowering ways to improve your health. It supports your physical, mental, and emotional well-being

What Is Physiotherapy Month About?

Physiotherapy Month is a chance to celebrate everything that physiotherapy brings into our lives. It brings pain relief, yes, but it also brings freedom, helps people recover and rebuild and strengthens not just bodies, but confidence.

This month, we are starting conversations. We are sharing stories. Most importantly, we are reminding you that your body deserves attention before pain forces you to stop.

Let’s Talk About Health Awareness

May also brings a spotlight on health issues that often go unnoticed or undiscussed. At TheraTouch, we believe that understanding your health is the first step to protecting it.

Pelvic Health Is Important

Incontinence, and postpartum discomfort are common, but often kept quiet. We offer relief, strength, and control. You do not have to suffer in silence. We are here to help you reconnect with your body and feel more confident in it.

Injury Prevention Matters

You do not have to wait for an injury to see a physiotherapist. We help you prevent problems before they start. Whether you play sports, love the gym, or simply want to move better in your everyday life, we assess your movement patterns and help you build long-term strength and flexibility.

Posture, Breathing, and Chronic Pain Are Connected

Poor posture and shallow breathing are common in today’s fast-paced world. These habits often lead to tension and chronic pain. With the right support, you can learn better ways to move, stand, sit, and breathe. These small changes can lead to big results.

Mental Health Starts with Physical Care

Stress lives in the body. You can feel it in your neck, shoulders, and back. When you take care of your body, your mind begins to feel lighter too. Physiotherapy creates space for your body to relax and heal, and that can make a real difference in your emotional well-being.

A Personal Invitation

If you have been living with discomfort, if you have been waiting for the right moment, let this be it. Your body is speaking. We are here to listen.

This May, do something kind for yourself. Book a session. Learn something new about your health. Talk to a physiotherapist. Encourage a loved one to do the same.

Physiotherapy is not just about getting you back to where you were. It is about helping you become your strongest, most confident self.

This month be a fresh start.
Let it be the beginning of a better relationship with your body.
It should remind you that healing is possible, and that you deserve it.

We are here for you.

Contact TheraTouch Physiotherapy to begin your journey.
We can’t wait to walk with you toward better health.