What to Expect During a Pelvic Health Assessment
A Possible Solution to Your Problem!
A pelvic health assessment is like all other assessments – an opportunity to build a therapeutic relationship with your physiotherapist to talk about your concerns and create a treatment plan to reach your goals! To best reach your goals, physiotherapists use a biopsychosocial approach
What Is A Biopsychosocial Approach?
The biopsychosocial model better links medicine to science – it not only considers the biology but it also considers the psychological and social factors in someone’s health. The “bio” looks at the muscles and tissues; the “psycho” considers how thoughts, beliefs, and coping strategies contribute to symptoms. The “social” looks at how family and environment affect the health of the individual. When physiotherapists use a biopsychosocial approach, there is an acknowledgement that there can be a blend of factors contributing to the symptoms. This type of assessment lens helps to target the right driver to a person’s symptoms.
Structure of the Assessment
Subjective Assessment
You and the physiotherapist will have an opportunity to discuss what your health concerns are and together you will create goals to achieve your success.
Objective Assessment
This is where the physiotherapist will look at:
- Your posture
- How you are breathing
- Your toileting habits
- Movement patterns
- Muscle recruitment
- Range of motion
- Soft tissue length and tension
- If you’re comfortable, an internal exam
Why Do An Internal Exam?
Our pelvic floor muscles sit inside of our pelvis and silently do their job, allowing us to function without interruption to assist with bowel, bladder, and sexual function. They also contribute significantly to our core strength!
It may seem strange or uncomfortable to assess the pelvic floor by completing an internal exam of the vagina or rectum; however, internal examinations of the pelvic floor is the international gold standard by which assessments and treatments of the pelvic floor is carried out.
The physiotherapist who carries out this work is a highly trained, sensitive professional who will maintain your comfort and dignity at all times. They will thoroughly explain what the assessment and treatment will involve (including proper draping) and give you alternative options – if you do not want an internal exam, there are other (external) options for successful treatments!
Does It Hurt?
No! Pelvic health assessments and treatments should not be painful. You may experience mild discomfort (it feels like pressure), but they are not painful. Your physiotherapist will ask for continuous feedback to ensure your comfort and adjust their techniques to ensure that you are not in pain.
Treatment
Your initial assessment includes treatment. This can include but is not limited to:
- Proper posture
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Muscle recruitment of the core
- Release of tight muscle (both internal and external)
- Strengthening of weak muscles
- Joint mobilizations of the low back, sacroiliac joint, and hip
- Connective tissue work
- Home exercises – tailored to your symptoms!
