Types of Pelvic Floor Therapy
Types of Pelvic Floor Therapy
Blog Article
Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect your daily life in ways that are hard to talk about — bladder leakage, pelvic pain, constipation, painful intimacy, and postpartum issues are just some examples. Fortunately, pelvic floor therapy offers a highly effective, non-surgical path to recovery.
At Achieve Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, our expert pelvic floor therapists in Mississauga offer specialized care tailored to your condition. In this blog, we’ll explore the various types of pelvic floor therapy and how they can help restore function, strength, and comfort.
What Does a Pelvic Floor Therapist Do?
A pelvic floor therapist is a licensed physiotherapist with advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction. These specialists assess both the internal and external muscles of your pelvic region to determine if they are too weak, too tight, or uncoordinated — and then create a personalized treatment plan to correct the imbalance.
If you're experiencing issues like urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, chronic pelvic pain, or postnatal recovery challenges, a skilled pelvic floor therapist can help you reclaim control over your health and quality of life.
Types of Pelvic Floor Therapy
Pelvic floor therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on your condition and goals, your pelvic floor therapist may recommend one or more of the following techniques:
1. Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (Kegels & Reverse Kegels)
This involves teaching you how to correctly contract and relax your pelvic floor muscles — not just squeeze and hold. It’s useful for conditions like:
Urinary and fecal incontinence
Pelvic organ prolapse
Postpartum weakness
Your pelvic floor therapist will guide you through progressive strengthening or relaxation exercises, ensuring you’re using the right muscles with proper technique.
2. Biofeedback Therapy
Biofeedback uses sensors and a monitor to show you how well your pelvic floor muscles are working. This real-time feedback helps you:
Identify when you're using the right muscles
Improve strength or control
Learn proper relaxation techniques
It’s an excellent tool for individuals who struggle to feel their pelvic floor activation or are unsure if they’re doing exercises correctly.
3. Manual Therapy (Internal & External)
This hands-on technique involves gentle mobilization and release of tight or painful tissues, either through external pressure (hips, abdomen, tailbone) or internal vaginal or rectal work (with consent). Manual therapy can relieve:
Pelvic pain
Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
Muscle spasms and trigger points
Scar tissue restriction (from surgery or childbirth)
Your pelvic floor therapist will use precise techniques to improve circulation, reduce tension, and restore mobility in the muscles and fascia.
4. Electrical Stimulation (E-Stim)
This therapy uses gentle electrical pulses to stimulate pelvic floor muscles, helping to:
Improve muscle tone in weak pelvic floors
Assist patients who can’t contract muscles voluntarily
Decrease muscle spasms in overactive pelvic floors
It’s often used for patients with neurological conditions or severe pelvic floor dysfunction.
5. Breathing & Core Coordination Therapy
Proper breathing (diaphragmatic breathing) plays a key role in pelvic floor health. Your therapist will teach you how to:
Coordinate your breath with core and pelvic muscle function
Reduce intra-abdominal pressure
Support pelvic organs and manage symptoms like prolapse
This type of training is especially valuable for postnatal clients, athletes, and people with posture-related pelvic issues.
6. Exercise-Based Therapy (Functional Rehab)
Your pelvic floor doesn’t work in isolation. That’s why your pelvic floor therapist may also include:
Postural correction
Glute, hip, and core strengthening
Mobility and balance training
Return-to-activity exercises for sports or daily life
This integrated rehab supports long-term recovery and injury prevention.
7. Education & Lifestyle Modifications
A key part of pelvic floor therapy is understanding your body and changing daily habits that may be contributing to dysfunction. This includes:
Bladder and bowel retraining
Fluid intake management
Optimal toileting positions
Safe lifting strategies
Ergonomic advice for work and home
Empowering you with knowledge is one of the most important things a pelvic floor therapist does.
Who Can Benefit from Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Pelvic floor therapy can help individuals of all ages and genders, including those dealing with:
✅ Urinary or fecal incontinence
✅ Pelvic organ prolapse
✅ Chronic pelvic or abdominal pain
✅ Painful intercourse
✅ Endometriosis-related pain
✅ Constipation or bowel dysfunction
✅ Postpartum recovery (vaginal or C-section birth)
✅ Post-prostatectomy recovery
✅ Diastasis recti
✅ Core weakness and back pain
Why Choose Achieve for a Pelvic Floor Therapist in Mississauga?
At Achieve Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, we offer private, compassionate care led by experienced pelvic floor physiotherapists. We understand that pelvic concerns can feel overwhelming — and we’re here to help you heal without judgment.
Why our clients trust us:
✔️ One-on-one sessions with trained pelvic floor therapists
✔️ Private, respectful treatment rooms
✔️ Gentle, evidence-based therapy techniques
✔️ Customized treatment plans for your needs
✔️ Coordination with your doctor or OB/GYN (if needed)
✔️ Direct billing to most insurance providers
Whether you're managing pain, recovering after birth, or addressing pelvic dysfunction for the first time, we’re here to support your journey with expert care.
Book Your Assessment with a Pelvic Floor Therapist Today
You don’t have to live with pelvic discomfort or dysfunction. At Achieve Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, our skilled pelvic floor therapists are ready to help you restore your strength, mobility, and confidence.
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