Symptoms
- Urinary incontinence or urgency
- Pelvic pain or heaviness
- Difficulty emptying bladder or bowels
- Pain during intercourse
- Pelvic organ prolapse symptoms
- Lower back or hip pain
Common causes
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Chronic straining (constipation)
- Heavy lifting
- Obesity
- Chronic coughing
- Menopause-related tissue changes
- Pelvic surgery
How physiotherapy helps
Pelvic floor assessment, biofeedback training, Kegel exercises with correct technique, relaxation techniques for overactive pelvic floor, bladder retraining, and lifestyle modification advice.
Exercises your physiotherapist may give you
- Kegel exercises (strength and endurance)
- Quick flick contractions
- Pelvic floor relaxation breathing
- Core-pelvic floor coordination exercises
- Squats with pelvic floor engagement
- Bridge with pelvic floor activation
Please note: start these exercises only after an assessment, and stop if pain increases. Your physiotherapist will choose the right exercises, number of repetitions and progression for you.
Guide written by the physiotherapists of CAPT – Centre for Advanced Physiotherapy, MVM Educational Trust. For more reading, search MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).