Physiotherapy
Below the Belt
Pelvic Floor Exercises
Joan Perkins
Physiotherapist
Overview
• The Multi Functional Pelvic Floor
• Anatomy
• Types and Causes of Urinary Incontinence
• Impact of Chronic Diseases
• Identify, Ensure Correct Technique and
Functionally Train Pelvic Floor
• Where to access help
Multi-Functional Pelvic Floor
• Water works control
• Support Pelvic Organs
• Bowel Function
• Intra-Abdominal Pressure
• Sexual Role
• Sacro-Iliac Joint Stability
Pelvic Floor Muscle
• Pubo rectalis
• Pubo coccygeus
• Ilio coccygeus
Muscles and connective tissue work together
• Peri urethral ligament
• Pubo urethral ligament
Pelvic Floor Muscles
• Broad flat muscle sheets that support
pelvic organs
• Sphincteric actions that contribute to
Continence
• Provide Sacro coccygeal stability and Core
stability
• Concentric / Isometric Muscle Contraction
Types of Urinary Incontinence
• Stress Incontinence
– Urethral Hypermobility
– Intrinsic Sphincter Deficiency
Urge Incontinence
Causes of Urinary Incontinence
Pelvic Floor Muscles can become loose and weak
• Pregnancy / Labour / Menopause
• Straining / Constipation
• Heavy Lifting
• Age
• Obesity
• Asymptomatic Women
• Inherited Factors
• Young, elite, female athletes
• High Impact Frequent, Intense Training
• Abdominal Curl-Ups
Chronic Diseases affect Urinary
Incontinence
• Neurological Diseases – PD, MS, Stroke
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COPD
Arthritis
OP
LBP
Diabetes
PFM’s
• Identify Correct Muscles
• Ensure Correct Technique
• Co-Contraction PF and TA
• Functional Training
Pelvic Floor
• Complex
• Multifunctional
• Unique
• Anatomically variable
• Not necessarily optimal in sports women
and asymptomatic women
Where to get help?
• Continence Physiotherapist
– Concord Hospital Joan Perkins on 9767 6183
• Australian Physiotherapy Association
– www.physiotherapy.asn.au
• Continence Nurse
• CFA Hotline
– 1800 330 066
• CFA Resource Catalogue
– Pamphlets