... for the Body, Mind & Spirit
What is Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy involves strengthening and/or relaxing the muscles of the pelvic floor to help improve core stability and control over urination, bowel movements, and sexual function.
Spirit Winds is Your Expert Resource
We offer treatment plans from a certificated specialist in pelvic floor disorders. Allyn Brown has had extensive training to evaluate and treat the many symptoms of pelvic floor conditions.
When you arrive at Spirit Winds, you will be greeted and taken to a private meeting room with the therapist. A review of your medical history and your symptoms will be followed by the creation of a plan for diagnosis and recovery.
You will likely be given a bladder or bowel diary, to help track and discover patterns and behaviors that may be increasing your symptoms. The therapist will help analyze current issues and plan ways to see improvements to your pelvic health right away.
Enhance Your Quality of Life and Confidence
Many factors can affect your pelvic floor functionality, and overall your quality of life. Approximately 32% of women and 16% of men will have at least one pelvic floor disorder in their lifetime. Many patients don't realize how their daily routines and stresses are affected by pelvic floor health.
A common pelvic floor problem is urine incontinence or UI. It is the sudden and strong urge to urinate caused by involuntary contractions of muscles in the bladder wall at inappropriate times. It is triggered by everyday occurrences such as the sound of running water, drinking cold beverages, or an increase in abdominal pressure. Many patients are initially unaware that these symptoms do not have to be a part of their daily life, and can be improved in as little as 5-10 visits with a pelvic floor specialist.
When Do I Need Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Learn the difference between common and normal. Although many people of all backgrounds suffer from pelvic floor disorders, not everyone knows how easy it can be to make improvements Here is a list of common symptoms that can be treated:
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Frequent urination
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Strong urge to urinate (urgency incontinence)
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Urine or stool leakage due to movement (stress incontinence)
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Pain in the pelvis, hip, abdomen, thigh, low back with intercourse
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Constipation
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Pregnancy/post-pregnancy pain or incontinence
Pregnancy and Postpartum Care
It is safe and a good idea to meet with a PT at any point in your pregnancy. If you are experiencing pain or have any concerns, accessing treatment sooner is always better. If you do not have any concerns but want to be proactive, it is recommended to come in as early as your second trimester. We can work together to understand any issues. Towards the end of your pregnancy, pelvic floor treatment may assist in labour and delivery techniques.
What can a pelvic floor physiotherapist assess and treat during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, a pelvic floor physiotherapist can help address areas of pelvic pain or pressure, address issues with leakage of stool or urine, or teach you exercises and techniques to help prepare your body and your pelvic floor for delivery. Topics that may be addressed in your treatment include, but are not limited to:
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Hip and low back pain
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Round ligament pain
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Exercises to relax for delivery
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Exercises to restore function of the pelvic floor muscles and core to help with early post-partum recovery
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Breathing and pushing techniques for delivery
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Exercises that are safe to complete and/or exercises to avoid based upon your individual assessment
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Pain with intercourse
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Urinary or bowel incontinence
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Planned or unplanned caesarean birth
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Pelvic organ prolapse
After your baby arrives, we can re-assess you at six weeks postpartum. Depending on your assessment, your PT will be able to determine how often they would like to see you and develop a treatment plan to help you on your journey.
Pelvic Floor Therapy - We Answered Your Questions!
Meet Allyn Brown, P.T.
Certificated Specialist at
Spirit Winds
Allyn believes in treating her patients through hands-on therapy, focusing on manual therapy and exercise progression to get her patients back to their prior level of function as quickly, but safely as possible. She enjoys staying as up-to-date on current research as possible to ensure that her patients get the highest level quality of treatment. While her primary focus is to guide her patients to pain-free living through highly individualized treatments, she also takes pride in educating her patients about the mechanism of injury and providing them with the tools and knowledge to manage their injuries and prevent further impairments from occurring in the future. Allyn implements a model focused on whole-person care, understanding that a return to 100% cannot occur without this. Allyn has treated a wide range of patients in regards to age, as well as specialty, treating patients as young as age 4 and mature as 101, with experience in specialties ranging from sport-specific orthopedics to pelvic health. Allyn is eager to guide her patients in the direction toward a pain-free and more active lifestyle to improve their quality of life!
Pelvic Floor Health Video Series
There is Hope.
There is Hope. It's a message we like to reiterate with all our patients and our community. Pelvic floor symptoms are no exception. Please step into our office, virtually, and consider what a few visits with our therapists could do for you.
Part I: Pelvic Floor Therapy at Spirit Winds
Part I: Pelvic Floor Therapy at Spirit Winds
Part II: Quality of Life
Part III: Understanding Urge Incontinence
There is Hope.
Pelvic floor therapy could help you to regain your confidence, freedom, and pain-free lifestyle. We have appointments available now, so don't wait, give us a call!