Women’s Health & Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Over a woman’s lifetime, our bodies navigate incredible transitions; from pregnancy and childbirth to menopause and beyond. While changes in pelvic health are incredibly common, you don't have to simply "live with" symptoms like leaks, discomfort, or a weak core.
At Peak Physio, we provide specialist, sensitive, and evidence-based care to help you regain confidence, build strength, and live free from discomfort.
Pelvic health issues are incredibly common but highly treatable; research shows that over 60% of women experience pelvic floor dysfunction, yet over half never seek help because they assume it's just a normal part of life. This affects athletes too, up to 80% in high-impact sports experience leaking, but 95% suffer in silence rather than seeking support. Whether you are a busy mum or a competitive athlete, these symptoms may be common, but they are never something you just have to live with.

 

What is the Pelvic Floor?

Think of your pelvic floor as a supportive hammock of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue stretching from your pubic bone to your tailbone. It plays a vital role in keeping you stable, maintaining bladder control, supporting your pelvic organs, and ensuring sexual health. It works intimately with your deep abdominal muscles; when your pelvic floor is functioning beautifully, it supports your entire lower back and pelvis.

 

Our Specialist Women’s Health Appointments

We offer targeted, comprehensive assessments depending on where you are in your life journey:

1. General Women’s Health & Pelvic Floor Assessment

Suitable for: Women of any age experiencing pelvic health concerns or looking to optimize their core and pelvic strength.

This appointment targets conditions that can be significantly improved—and often entirely resolved—with targeted physiotherapy. Research shows that up to 80% of bladder incontinence can be improved with specialist pelvic floor therapy.

Conditions we treat include:

• Bladder Leaking & Urgency: Stress urinary incontinence (leaking when you laugh, sneeze, jump, or run) and overactive bladder (sudden, overwhelming urges to go).
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP): A feeling of heaviness or a bulge in the vagina, caused by weakened supportive tissues. We focus on specialized pelvic floor exercises, postural adjustments, and lifting mechanics to manage and prevent progression.
• Pelvic & Intimate Pain: Chronic pelvic pain, tailbone pain (coccydynia), and painful intercourse (dyspareunia, vulvodynia, or vaginismus). We use gentle soft-tissue release, circulation techniques, and relaxation training to calm overactive muscles.

2. Motherhood Wellness & Postnatal Check-up

Suitable for: Anyone who has ever given birth—whether you are 6 weeks postpartum or your "baby" is in secondary school.

Often referred to as a comprehensive postnatal screening, this specialised assessment checks exactly how your body is recovering after pregnancy and labour. It is a thorough, top-to-toe check designed to help you return to running, lifting, or daily life safely and confidently.

What we assess and treat:

• Abdominal Separation (Diastasis Recti): Checking for "doming" or a gap in your stomach muscles. While we can't always completely "close the gap," we can vastly improve how your core handles pressure, helping you safely return to independent exercise.
• Postural & Musculoskeletal Strains: Addressing the back, hip, and pelvic girdle pain caused by pregnancy posture shifts, ligament laxity, or the physical demands of feeding and carrying a baby.
• Pelvic Floor Integrity: Ensuring your muscles can both contract strongly and relax fully with your breath to prevent long-term leaking or prolapse.
• Nervous System & Trauma Support: A difficult or traumatic birth can leave your nervous system on high alert, causing the body to hold physical tension. We acknowledge and support, your nervous system alongside your physical recovery.

 

Menopause Wellbeing & Screening

Hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause significantly alter muscle mass, bone density, and tissue elasticity. This can trigger new joint aches, a weaker pelvic floor, or changes in bladder habits. We will soon be launching specialized Menopause Wellbeing Checks to provide you with tailored strength training, bone-density advice, and pelvic health strategies to navigate this transition with strength.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

We know that talking about pelvic health can sometimes feel daunting. Our goal is to make you feel entirely safe, heard, and comfortable.

• A Detailed Discussion: We will start by talking through your medical history, your symptoms, and your lifestyle goals. Some questions are personal, but they help us build an accurate picture of what's going on.
• Physical Screening: We will look at your overall posture, breathing mechanics, pelvic alignment, and abdominal muscle function.
• Internal Examination: If relevant to your symptoms, you may be offered a gentle internal (vaginal) examination. This is entirely optional and never mandatory, but it provides invaluable information about your pelvic floor muscle strength, tone, and coordination. We will explain everything clearly beforehand, you can change your mind at any point, and you are welcome to have a chaperone present.
• A Clear Plan: We will discuss our findings together and map out a tailored rehabilitation plan. You will leave your very first session with practical advice or exercises so you can immediately start your journey toward recovery.