Toronto and North York’s Pelvic Health Experts

Here at Cornerstone Physiotherapy’s Pelvic Health Clinic in Toronto, we have a team of specially trained Physiotherapists who are rostered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario to provide Pelvic Health services. These therapists help people every day who suffer from urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse and many other common pelvic dysfunctions. If you have been diagnosed with a pelvic health problem, Physiotherapy is often the treatment of choice, and Cornerstone Physiotherapy in Toronto is an excellent place to start.

Pelvic Health Physiotherapy is sometimes referred to as Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy or Women’s Health Physiotherapy.

Pelvic Floor Problems Are Common

An enormous number of people suffer from pelvic health dysfunction and yet many patients feel quite alone with their problem. 30% of women suffer from urinary incontinence and more than half have minor organ prolapse following vaginal childbirth. Most people have heard of, and tried Kegels. Unfortunately, if they have not been taught with internal feedback many people are doing them incorrectly! It’s important to seek care from an experienced professional.

What To Expect At Your First Appointment

We take your privacy seriously. All treatment takes place in our nicely appointed private treatment rooms.
Your physiotherapist will begin by taking a detailed history of your problem. We know that not everyone is comfortable talking about their pelvic health. Rest assured that our therapists treat pelvic dysfunction every day and will help you feel that you are not alone. Pelvic health problems are incredibly common and highly treatable.
After a detailed history, there will be a physical examination. This will include examination of the joints, muscles and ligaments of your pelvis, low back and hips. It is recommended that all pelvic health patients undergo an internal exam to properly assess the pelvic floor, as many of these muscles are only accessible internally. However, if a thorough assessment is not tolerated initially, we can start with an external approach and progress to internal when appropriate. In total, at this assessment visit, you will spend about an hour with your Physiotherapist. Together you will develop a treatment plan that will address your specific problem and map out your road to recovery.

Common Symptoms Of Pelvic Dysfunction

• Incontinence – Leakage of urine or feces.
• Urgency – A strong urge to urinate or defecate.
• Urinary Frequency – Having to urinate so often that it disrupts your routine.
• Chronic Pelvic Pain – pain, burning or pressure in the pelvic region.
• Constipation – difficulty passing stools
• Painful Intercourse
• Nocturia – waking often at night to urinate

Pelvic Physiotherapy Treatment

At Cornerstone, each patient is provided with a customized treatment plan that is designed to address their specific problem. Your treatment will always include education about your problem and may also include manual (or hands-on) therapy, bowel and bladder tracking and a set of specialized exercises designed specifically for pelvic floor problems. Some patients will benefit from electrical stimulation to help their pelvic floor muscles function properly. This is done with a metallic probe that is placed internally and designed to deliver just enough electrical current to stimulate your muscles.

Common Pelvic Health Conditions

• Incontinence – can be fecal or urinary and comes in many forms
• Urinary urgency, retention, hesitation, frequency
• Pain with bowel movements or urination
• Overactive bladder
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Constipation
• Levator Ani syndrome
• Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia)
• Pain in areas of the vagina (Vestibulodynia, Vulvodynia or Clitorodynia)
• Persistent genital arousal disorder
• Interstitial cystitis
• Painful Bladder Syndrome
• Endometriosis
• Pelvic pain
• Tailbone pain/Coccydynia
• Pudendal Neuralgia
• Low back pain
• Hip pain
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
• Prenatal care
• Postpartum care – including treatment of Diastasis Recti, bladder leakage, overactive bladder, urinary urgency/frequency, prolapse, painful scar tissue, learning Kegels correctly and guidance on re-training the “core” or returning to safe exercise