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Pelvic Surgery

Are you preparing for upcoming pelvic or vaginal surgery?

Are you recovering from a hysterectomy?

Hysterectomy is the most common female surgery with around 30,000 Australian women undergoing a hysterectomy each year!  Your recovery from surgery and long-term outcome can be impacted by many factors including constipation, heavy lifting, returning too quickly to strenuous exercise or activities and poor pelvic floor muscle function.  Occasionally following surgery women experience problems such as bladder leakage or painful intercourse.
 
Unfortunately research shows that 50% of women cannot contract their pelvic floor muscles correctly following verbal or written instruction.  In fact, 25% of women use a technique that could result in weakening of their pelvic floor.  It is therefore vital that you know how to correctly contract and relax your pelvic floor muscles to ensure the best outcome of your surgery.
 
It is commonly advised that you see a specialist physiotherapist prior to surgery so that you have an understanding of the pelvic floor muscles well before they are further affected by the pain and swelling of the surgery.

Any increase in abdominal pressure (bending, lifting, carrying, coughing, exercising etc) results in pressure down on the pelvic organs and pelvic floor muscles because of gravity. Of course this will continue following surgery so it is important for the success of your surgery that you understand how to protect this area for life!

 
What can be done?

  • We are specifically trained to make a thorough assessment and design a treatment program to meet your personal needs.  Exclusively for you We then support you along the way to meet your goals

  • Learn where the pelvic floor muscles are and how to use / relax them

  • Specific exercises will help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles

  • Education on how to use these muscles in your daily activities including exercise or at work

  • Advice on preventing further weakness of these muscles

  • Education on lifestyle modification and safe return to normal exercise/activity

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