Disclaimer: General educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified health professional. © 2026 Better Physiotherapy Bundoora.
Pelvic floor dysfunction affects approximately 1 in 3 women — yet most suffer in silence because they don't know help is available or feel embarrassed to seek it. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a specialised, evidence-based treatment that addresses urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, and a range of prenatal and postnatal conditions — with results that can be life-changing.
What Is the Pelvic Floor?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue that form the base of the pelvis. These muscles support the bladder, bowel, and uterus; control bladder and bowel function; and play an important role in sexual function and core stability. Like any other muscle group, the pelvic floor can be too weak, too tight, or poorly coordinated.
Conditions Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Treats
Urinary Incontinence
- Stress incontinence — leaking urine with coughing, sneezing, laughing, running, or lifting. Affects up to 35% of women. Pelvic floor muscle training resolves or significantly reduces this in 70–80% of patients without surgery.
- Urge incontinence — a sudden, strong urge to urinate that is difficult to defer, sometimes resulting in leakage. Treated with bladder retraining and pelvic floor muscle coordination.
- Mixed incontinence — a combination of stress and urge components.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Prolapse occurs when the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, or bowel) descend into or beyond the vaginal wall due to weakness of the pelvic floor supports. Symptoms include a feeling of heaviness, pressure, or a bulge in the vaginal area. Pelvic floor physiotherapy — specifically muscle strengthening and lifestyle modification — is the first-line treatment for mild to moderate prolapse and reduces symptoms significantly.
Prenatal Physiotherapy
During pregnancy, the pelvic floor supports significantly increased weight and is vulnerable to overload. Prenatal pelvic floor physiotherapy helps prevent incontinence and prolapse during and after pregnancy, manages pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), and prepares the pelvic floor for labour and birth.
Postnatal Rehabilitation
Childbirth — particularly vaginal delivery — places enormous stress on the pelvic floor. Postnatal physiotherapy assesses pelvic floor function after birth, treats perineal trauma and scar tissue, manages incontinence and prolapse, treats diastasis recti (abdominal separation), and guides safe return to exercise.
Pelvic Pain
Chronic pelvic pain, vaginismus, vulvodynia, dyspareunia (painful intercourse), and endometriosis-related pelvic pain all have a pelvic floor muscle component. A physiotherapist trained in pelvic health addresses the muscle tightness, trigger points, and neural sensitisation that contribute to these conditions.
What Does Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Involve?
Assessment includes a detailed history, external assessment of posture, breathing, and abdominal function, and (with your full informed consent) an internal assessment of pelvic floor muscle strength, coordination, and tone. Treatment may include pelvic floor muscle training, biofeedback, bladder retraining, manual therapy, and a structured home program.
Frequently Asked Questions
I leak urine when I cough, sneeze, or exercise. Can physio help?
Yes. Stress urinary incontinence — leaking with physical exertion — is one of the most treatable conditions in physiotherapy. A specific pelvic floor muscle training program resolves or significantly reduces leakage in 70–80% of patients without surgery.
Is pelvic floor physiotherapy only for women after childbirth?
No. Pelvic floor physio helps anyone with pelvic floor dysfunction — including women who have never been pregnant, men after prostate surgery, and people with pelvic pain or prolapse of any cause.
Are Kegel exercises enough?
Generic Kegel exercises alone are not always effective — and can sometimes make things worse if the pelvic floor is too tight rather than too weak. A physiotherapist assesses whether your pelvic floor needs strengthening, relaxation, or coordination training, and prescribes the appropriate program.
What can I expect at my first pelvic floor appointment?
Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your symptoms, general health, and birth history. A physical assessment follows, which may include an external assessment of posture, breathing, and abdominal function, and an internal vaginal or rectal examination (with your full consent) to directly assess pelvic floor muscle strength and coordination.
Ashley Haleel
Physiotherapist & Owner — Better Physiotherapy Bundoora