Latest News & Events
A physio’s favourite pelvic mobility stretches
Fri 10, Jul 2020Brisbane physiotherapist Lissy Changuion takes us through her favourite exercises and stretches for pelvic mobility and flexibility – and why this is so important. Keep reading to find her photos and instructions to guide you. The pelvic floor muscles attach between our pubic bone and tailbone, positioned in the base of our pelvis. Based on […]
Small Lifestyle Changes – an Investment for Retirement
Fri 19, Jun 2020By Annabelle Citroen, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist Caravans, cruises, community groups, volunteering, hobbies, family time, lazy coffees and morning newspaper…the sweet scent of freedom associated with the ‘golden years’ of retirement. Everyone has an individual plan and dream as to what their ‘retirement’ might look like, however all retirement dreams are likely to have two things […]
A conversation was the break-through Amy needed
Tue 9, Jun 2020Amy, 31, found that the pelvic pain she was experiencing after the birth of her daughter didn’t go away. She was diagnosed with pelvic floor dysfunction and bladder and bowel (rectocele) prolapse. She shared her story with Bridge readers. Amy: I never thought pooing would be something that I have to put so much time […]
Is posture important for continence?
Tue 9, Jun 2020Take a moment to think about how you’re holding your body right now. This is posture: the way you sit, stand or even lie down. It actually has a lot to do with your bladder, bowel and pelvic health. Let’s start at the pelvic floor. This is a layer of muscle that spans the bottom […]
5 minutes with Rachel Andrew
Tue 9, Jun 2020Rachel Andrew is a Continence and Women’s Health Physiotherapist, based in Hobart, Tasmania. Rachel is passionate about women having access to pelvic floor physiotherapy and being able to talk about intimate symptoms in a safe space. She has shared her experience of switching to treating clients through telehealth, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth is […]
Pelvic health with Lori
Tue 9, Jun 2020Brisbane physiotherapist, host of The Pelvic Health Podcast and ambassador for Always Discreet, Lori Forner, shares her insights on menopause. Menopause isn’t spoken about or researched enough. Even the word is surrounded by confusion – what happens, when, and why exactly? Menopause marks the last period or menstrual cycle a woman has. It often is […]
Men’s health Q&A
Tue 9, Jun 2020For Men’s Health Week, 15 to 21 June 2020, the National Continence Helpline 1800 33 00 66 is answering questions around men’s bladder, bowel and pelvic health. I experienced urinary leakage after prostate surgery and have been following what my health professionals told me about pelvic floor exercises. How do I know that they’re working? […]
‘I’m not willing to give up on running’: Mel’s prolapse story
Fri 27, Mar 2020An avid runner, Mel was in the middle of training for her second half marathon when she found out she was in the early stages of pregnancy. Now almost five years later, at 36, a prolapse diagnosis means the type of running she loved is off the table – for now. “Running was a big […]
High intensity training and incontinence
Fri 27, Mar 2020High intensity training is extremely popular, possibly because of its suggested health benefits and time savings. Exercises often included in these types of workouts are linked to urinary incontinence. What does this mean for you? High intensity interval training (HIIT) and high intensity functional training (HIFT) are types of group circuit workouts. They often include […]
What to do about UTIs
Fri 28, Feb 2020Urinary tract infections (UTI) can interfere with daily life, intimacy and even land you in hospital. What exactly are they and how can you try and avoid the nasty symptoms? A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection in the urinary system. Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria, usually from the bowel. […]
‘A UTI is one of my first memories’: Caitlin’s story
Fri 28, Feb 2020Caitlin Daley, NSW, has dealt with urinary tract infections (UTIs) since she was only five years old. While it has been challenging, the experience eventually inspired her choice of career. “Unfortunately, a UTI is one of my first memories. I was sitting on the toilet feeling like I was busting to go, only to find […]
Bowel health Q&A
Fri 28, Feb 2020The National Continence Helpline 1800 33 00 66 has answered the questions you’ve been wondering about bowel motions and diet. What does having regular bowel habits mean? Regular bowel habits are very individual. Opening your bowels anywhere from three times a day to three times a week is considered normal. This is as long as […]
How to talk to your PT about pelvic issues – and do you need to?
Fri 6, Dec 2019At the start of the exercise class, the instructor will usually ask whether anyone has any injuries. You hear a classmate mention a knee injury or weak wrists, and don’t exactly feel comfortable to pop your hand up and say, “yep, I have a prolapsed bladder” or “I have a weak pelvic floor and sometimes […]
You can’t contract your way to a strong pelvic floor
Fri 6, Dec 2019Everybody likes a 2 for 1 deal! You’ve heard that you can strengthen your pelvic floor just by doing ab, hip or glute work. It sounds appealing, but what does the research say? A 2018 study, published in Neurourology and Urodynamics, looked at this very question and investigated whether contracting [shortening] muscles other than the […]
5 minutes with Helen O’Connell
Thu 5, Dec 2019Helen O’Connell is a Professor, Department of Surgery, at the University of Melbourne and the Director of Surgery and Head of Urology at Western Health, Victoria. She is a leading researcher in the area of female pelvic anatomy and was the first woman to complete training as a urologist in Australia. Prof O’Connell is the […]
Pelvic floor training – a men’s issue
Thu 5, Dec 2019We know that exercising your pelvic floor muscles can help bladder and bowel control, but two physios have done some research and found that there can be a happy side effect. Physios Chris Myers and Moira Smith looked at studies from around the world to find out if pelvic floor muscle training can make a […]
From the National Continence Helpline
Tue 24, Sep 2019Our 2019 Continence in Australia: A Snapshot report revealed some startling results on how incontinence affects people’s lives. The findings were part of a nationally-representative survey conducted by the Continence Health Australia. Sue Blinman, Manager of the National Continence Helpline, breaks down the results and gives her advice. 62 per cent of Australians who currently […]
Expert answers your pelvic floor Google searches
Fri 9, Aug 2019Resist the temptation of Dr Google with the help of our expert, Continence and Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist Annabelle Citroen. Why does my pelvic floor hurt after running? The pelvic floor works in conjunction with many other muscles around the pelvic girdle and torso. Some of the pelvic floor muscles double up as muscles of the […]
Food choices to help your pelvic floor
Fri 9, Aug 2019Food and dietary choices seem a world away from pelvic health, but there’s a closer link than you think. Let us explain: excessive straining on the toilet also strains your pelvic floor, weakening the muscles and potentially leading to problems with urinary and faecal incontinence and prolapse. A common reason for straining is constipation, which […]
Pelvic floor-modified workout you can do at home
Fri 9, Aug 2019Pick up your mat and dumbbells – because that’s all you need for our home workout! This workout has been especially created with the pelvic floor in mind. Warm up Start with low impact cardio (6-9 minutes) Side-taps – raise your arms sideways. To increase intensity, bend your supporting knee. Avoid bouncing. Heel digs. Walking […]
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