Anatomy: The Female Pelvis

I can't take credit for drawing this one but I did label it! This shows the bony features of the female pelvis and where the pelvis floor muscles are located. 



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Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Part 1

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The risk of Pelvic Organ Prolapse can increase with pregnancy and vaginal delivery, however may occur even without any pregnancies and can even happen to men! What is it?  'Prolapse' comes from the latin word prolabi which means "to fall out". Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) involves the descent of the pelvic organs; the bladder, bowel or uterus, into the vaginal space.  The degree of prolapse is measured on a scale of 0-4, determined by how much the organs have moved toward the opening of the vagina or if they are protruding outside the body. This may be observed by your family doctor, OB/GYN, birth professional or pelvic health physiotherapist by asking you to cough or hold your breath and bear down for 8 seconds to determine the extent of the prolapse.  The female pelvic anatomy (larger pelvic outlet and open space of the vagina) combined with our upright posture makes women particularly vulnerable to this condition. However, men can also experience similar ...
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Healthy Feet, Healthy Pelvic Floor

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Historically, pelvic floor treatment has focused solely on the pelvic floor muscles. We now know that in order to have an optimally functioning pelvic floor, we have to look at the bigger picture - the entire body starting from the feet up.  The feet are particularly important because whatever happens at ground level determines the forces and load affecting the body all the way up to your neck. Many women that I have seen for pelvic floor dysfunction also have a foot problem of some kind, the most common being bunions. The two conditions, although not physically close, have some similar contributing factors and continue to feed into one another due to tension patterns running from the feet, the back of the legs and up to the pelvis. The biomechanics that contribute to foot issues, also contribute to changes in positioning and muscle action at the pelvis.  Bunions Bones respond to   load   or   pressure . The more pressure applied to a particular part of...
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Post-Natal Pelvic Care and Return to Exercise

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Congratulations on your new baby and welcome to a whole new world that revolves around that one tiny bundle of joy! In the wonderful mayhem of new motherhood, it can be easy to forget about you  and the amazing feat that your body recently performed.  In the interest of your immediate and longterm pelvic health, here are some helpful tips for after you've had your baby: Early Post-Natal 0 - 10 days Rest and get sleep when your baby does! Cooling ice to perineum can help with healing and discomfort. This should be used with layer of cloth between skin and cold for a maximum of 10-12mins on and at least 20mins off before re-applying. (You can also use a wet pad that has been put in the fridge/freezer). Gentle  pelvic floor contractions can help decrease perineal swelling. These do not have to be super-strong and are safe to do even if you have stitches. Even if you don’t initially feel the contraction, still try to visualise the muscles working. Ensure yo...
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