For the mother: Perineal Rehabilitation
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Perineal and pelvic rehabilitation

Pregnancy and childbirth can be rough on our body! Perineal and pelvic rehabilitation is an approach of physiotherapy which mainly deals with dysfunction of the pelvic floor musculature.

Women consult during pregnancy and after childbirth, but, sometimes, also a few years after.

Once the physiotherapist, following physical and gynecological (if necessary) assessments, has identified the anatomical structures that are affected, she may make different interventions. She can perform with you, among other things, strengthening, coordination, endurance and flexibility pelvic floor muscles exercises, provide you information to better understand your problem, use manual techniques or use some devices, such as biofeedback and neuromuscular stimulation.

Commonly treated problems:

During pregnancy :

  • Pregnancy pains (back, pelvis, genital area, sciatica, etc.)
  • Physical training for delivery
  • Urine leakage

After childirth :

  • Bladder problems (urine leakage, frequent urination, etc.)
  • Physical rehabilitation after childbirth (pelvic floor, abdominals, etc.)
  • Abdominal muscle separation
  • Painful scarring
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Prolapse
  • Clogged milk duct and Mastitis
  • Pain (back, pelvis, genital area, sciatica, etc.)

If you have symptoms such as abnormal urine frequency, urine leakage or a feeling of heaviness in your vagina, it is important to quickly consult a physiotherapist expert in perineal rehabilitation.

The consultation in perineal rehabilitation during pregnancy allows for the treatment of pregnancy difficulties but also to prepare your body for childbirth and for the postnatal period.

Before starting physical activity in post partum, it is appropriate to have a perineal assessment to ensure that your body is ready, because a too early return may weaken the pelvic floor and cause unwanted problems (urine, gas or stool leakage, prolapse, etc.)

Some interesting facts:

You should urinate:

  • Approximately every 2-3 hours
  • Not more than 8 times per day
  • 0 to 1 time per night

You should never have leakage of urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze, lift a load, jump or run.

42% of women have urine incontinence during pregnancy. (Kari Bø, Siv Mørkved 2000)

1 in 3 women have urine incontinence after childbirth. (Hay-Smith et al. 2008)

You shouldn’t have a sensation of heaviness or pressure in your vagina.

Women who conduct pelvic floor exercises from the 20th week of pregnancy are 50% less likely to develop urinary incontinence at the end of their pregnancy and after childbirth than those who do not practice. (Bø, 2007)

Research shows that 50% of women cannot learn pelvic floor muscle exercises from hearing or reading instructions. It is therefore important to have individual support by a physiotherapist specifically trained in perineal rehabilitation.
(Saskatchewan Pelvic Floor Pathway, 2013)

Be careful: poorly executed pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercises may even weaken muscles.

Solutions to your problem do exist!

Don’t be embarrassed to consult, our physiotherapists are qualified professionals with superior university training in perineal and pelvic rehabilitation and have tools to greatly improve your quality of life!

Video of the Ordre professionnel de la physiotherapie du Quebec describing perineal and pelvic rehabilitation (French):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_I9V2_-o7A