Our Kelowna physiotherapist Bea Francisco is a certified Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist with Pelvic Health Solutions. She has taken numerous post-graduate courses on pelvic health including treating pregnant and postpartum individuals and pelvic floor considerations for the female athlete/runner/lifter.

What treatment options are available?

Treatment approaches can involve a combination of education (information on your diagnosis and what you can do about it), suggested lifestyle modifications and pain management strategies, exercises and demonstrations on how to do them correctly, and hands-on treatment.

My doctor and/or midwife already did a pelvic exam. Why do I need another?

Your doctor and/or midwife may have already completed an internal pelvic exam, however they are usually focusing on diagnosing or ruling out medical conditions (ex. infection, malignancy, etc). Pelvic health physiotherapists focus on assessing and treating the pelvic girdle and pelvic floor muscles (and their strength, tone, function, and coordination). We also look at the presence of scar tissue and/or adhesions, and the position of pelvic organs. Importantly, we consider the pelvic floor muscles and how they relate to the rest of your body/how you move.

Can any physiotherapist assess and treat the pelvic floor?

Pelvic health physiotherapists complete post-graduate training to be able to asess and treat the pelvic floor muscles. While some pelvic health physiotherapists only see clients with pelvic health conditions, other physiotherapists are both orthopaedic and pelvic health physiotherapists. A lot of the time, pelvic floor dysfunction can be related to orthopaedic conditions (eg. hip, back pain) so at MoveMed Physiotherapy, we treat both pelvic floor and orthopaedic conditions.

Do I need a doctor’s referral to see you?

No, you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see us. However, some insurance policies do need a doctor’s referral for your physiotherapy visit to be covered. Please check with your insurance provider before you book your first appointment.

Is pelvic health physiotherapy covered by extended health insurance?

Yes, most insurance plans cover physiotherapy services, including pelvic health physiotherapy. Please check with your individual insurance provider if you’re not sure.

Do you offer direct billing?

Yes, we offer direct billing to most health insurance policies, including Beneva, BPA, Canada Life, Canadian Construction Worker’s Union, Chambers of Commerce, CINUP, Claimsecure, Coughlin, Cowan, D.A. Townley, Desjardins, EmpireLife, Equitable Life, First Canadian Insurance Corp, GMS, Greenshield, GroupHealth, Groupsource, iA Financial Group, Johnson, Johnston Group, Labourer’s International Union of North America, Manion, Manulife, Maximum benefit, Medavie Blue Cross, MSP, Pacific Blue Cross, People corporation, RWAM, Sun Life, SSQ, Union Benefits, UV Insurance

Can I bring my baby/child(ren) with me?

Yes. Although it is preferred to have someone care for your baby/children while you come in for your appointment so that we can focus 100% on you, we also realize that it can be challenging to find childcare. So if you need to bring your baby or children, we will make it work!

Can I still come to my appointment if I have my period?

Yes. However, if you feel uncomfortable with it, feel free to reschedule your appointment.

Can I have an internal exam if I’m pregnant?

Yes. We can do an internal exam if you are pregnant and you’re past your first trimester. However, if your doctor or midwife has advised you to refrain from sexual intercourse during pregnancy, we will not complete an internal exam.

Why should I see a pelvic health physiotherapist during pregnancy?

Some reasons why you might want to see a pelvic health physiotherapist during pregnancy are to learn how to prepare your body and pelvic floor for labour and delivery, help prevent leakage or address existing bladder/bowel leakage, get an individualized exercise and physical activity plan, receive advice for postpartum recovery, address any pelvic pain or other symptoms you might be having, and to establish a support team before baby arrives. The Canadian Guidelines for Physical Activity During Pregnancy also recommend pelvic floor muscle training and instruction on proper technique during pregnancy.

Do I have to wait until I’m 6 weeks postpartum to see you?

Not necessarily. Although internal exams are not recommended until at least 6 weeks postpartum, you may want to see a pelvic floor physiotherapist earlier than that if you want advice on how to start moving, reduce pain, or if you want a personalized gradual return to activity plan. Online (virtual) appointments are a good option for the early postpartum days, as we can still assess movement over video and you don’t need to leave the house to get a physio plan started.

How many visits will I need?

This will completely depend on your condition and what you’re coming in for. We aim to give you as many tools as we can so that you can do a lot of your recovery plan on your own in between sessions. We will try to work with you to create a plan that fits with your budget and/or schedule.

If I’m a runner with pelvic symptoms, should I book a running assessment or a pelvic health assessment first?

Generally, we recommend booking a pelvic health assessment first - especially if you have pelvic symptoms with running (eg. leaking, pelvic pain) or are wanting to return to running post-partum. Feel free to contact us if you’re unsure.

Pelvic Health Physiotherapy FAQ

What can I expect at the first pelvic health physiotherapy assessment?

Your first visit will be 60 minutes, and we will start with a conversation to better understand your health history, the reason(s) for your visit, and your goals.

In order for us to find the best approach for you, we may ask you detailed questions about your past medical history, physical/mental health, obstetric/gynecological history, surgical history, home environment, pelvic/bladder health, activities/hobbies, and treatment goals. The more information you are willing to share with your provider, the more informed and accurate our treatment approach will be. However, you are expected to only share what you feel comfortable with.

An internal pelvic floor exam may be completed to assess the strength, tone, and function of your pelvic floor muscles. You are always in control of the appointment, so whether an internal pelvic floor exam is completed is your choice. An external-only assessment of the muscles and structure of your pelvis can be done if that is your preference.

After an assessment is completed, we will create a recovery plan with you that fits with your goals, resources, and schedule.