How to get the most from your Pelvic Health Physio Session
Deciding to attend a Pelvic Health Physio can be a big deal : we get it. Personally I travel for an hour to see mine. I have to make a booking a few months in advance. I trust her and only her at present and so I am happy to attend her and make an effort to get ther. You are most likely the same. You make your appointment and you are delighted you have taken that step. Maybe it was something a friend suggested as a really good thing she did during pregnancy or after. Maybe your consultant or doctor referred you. Maybe you have an issue you have been ‘ living with’ or putting off addressing for a long time. Maybe you have some really diffcult symptoms that are impacting your day to day living and quality of life. Whatever it might be, whether you have been for physio before or not : this is going to be a whole new experience for you.
How to maximise your benefit from your physiotherapy on your condition;
Come in with an open mind. You may hear things that you never knew before and that may take a little time to get your head around.
Be patient with yourself and also your physio. Your first session may not be the cure all. It may be just the beginning. Your physio will be assessing you from the moment you arrive; in your chat with her ( we call this the subjective assessment) and then in her physical examination (objective assessment). She may ask alot of questions and may even get you to fill out a questionnaire. But this is all with getting you better in mind.
Be an active participant in your session . Ask your physio the tough and maybe sometimes ‘ TMI’ questions ; Maybe take notes on your phone or a notebook as ye go along or ask her for a summary before you leave. Your physio may send you on information but if you are unsure it is best to have a quick run through before you leave: so that if it takes her a while to get the exercises/ programme to you: you have no excuse. The session with your physio is meant to be educational and you are meant to leave with an idea of where to start at least. If this isnt clear, make sure to ask and review it with her. Some will video the session or make a voice note with their therapist using all available technologies so that they are happy.
Your session may involve some hands on therapy ; maybe to improve connectivity to your muscles, release tightness at a scarline or reduce pain. This may be an opportunity to talk over things with your physio and maybe strategise about lifestyle changes you could make. Alternatively it may be an opportunity to have a well deserved rest.
It is important to establish short term and long term goals with your physiotherapist. SMART goals: specific, measurable, achieveble, relevant and time-bound. But remember too that time will get the better of you. Your pelvic health physio will never judge you for not getting your ‘work’ done. Returning to see her regularly as part of a course of treatment is about you and her getting to know what works best for you. It is about motivating you : but this may not just happen overnight. You may need hands on, one to one support before you feel you can look after yourself enough independently to get to where you want to be.
Try not to give up too quickly. Most research would say at least 6 months of physiotherapy is a conservative approach to improving pelvic health. Some will continue to need maintenance after this. Ultimately your physio has your best interests at hear when she rebooks you : but know that your follow up sessions are often where the real gains are made: the progressions, the ligt bulb moments and the adjustments that get you to where you want to be. Should the physiotherapeutic approach not be working, consider your pelvic health physiotherapist a manager of your case. We are highly connected with the appropriate consulants and doctors in this field and will refer you to where you need to go. Remember that even if surgery does become a possibility that physiotherapy pre surgery is never a waste of your money .
Always be honest with your physiotherapist about your expectations of treatment. A course of physio may be two or ten sessions and it is imperative that you let your physio know how frequently you can attend and ask her how many sessions she thinks you will need so you can account for this. Your expectations and her expectations must marry together to optimise your outcome.
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy is not always a quick fix, it is often a supportive journey of sorts to help you support your own system, learn more about how your systems work and how to optimise your quality of life. It can involve trial and error and time to allow strength building and adaptation of the body. I would say however for the vast majority I am happy to say their lives will be significantly improved by our interventions and supports. Looking forward to seeing you in clinic.
Grá ó Elaine
