What is Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy?
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a type of Physiotherapy that focuses on the group of muscles at the base of your pelvis, called the pelvic floor.
These muscles act like a supportive hammock for your bladder, bowel, and uterus (if you have one), and they play a key role in bladder and bowel control, core stability, and sexual health.
When the pelvic floor becomes weak, too tight, or uncoordinated, it can cause issues like urinary leakage, constipation, pelvic pain, or problems after childbirth.
A pelvic floor physiotherapist helps assess how these muscles are working and teaches you exercises, breathing techniques, and relaxation strategies to restore proper strength and function.
Who can benefit from Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy?
Pelvic floor physiotherapy can benefit people of all ages and life stages. While many assume it’s only helpful during pregnancy or after childbirth, the truth is that pelvic floor therapy supports anyone dealing with bladder, bowel, or pelvic health concerns. Every day, we help people just like you!
What conditions can Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy help treat?
How does Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy work at Markham Pelvic Health?
Begin with an Assessment
Our initial assessments are 60 minutes long for all clients. There is usually a lot to cover on the first day. Here is what we typically try to accomplish in our first session together:
- Develop a clinical picture and diagnosis
- We’ll take time to understand your medical history and begin to develop a clinical picture of what is happening to you. While this is often overlooked, we believe that understanding the “what and the why” is critical to your success as a patient
- Perform an Internal Assessment
- This is optional but always recommended. We’ll do an internal assessment so we can understand what is happening to the ligaments and muscles in and around your pelvic floor
-
Education
- We’ll empower you about your condition so you know what can potentially help, and what will make things worse
- We’ll help you find your pelvic floor muscles, teach you how to turn them on, and help you understand when to use them
-
Treatment
- Where appropriate, we’ll spend treatment time via manual therapy, muscle stim and other techniques that can help provide relief to your condition
-
Treatment Planning
- During your assessment, we’ll work together to develop a treatment plan to define a path to reach your goals.
Treatment
Treatments are typically 30 minutes long, weekly. But this can vary depending on your specific clinical case.
- Manual Therapy
- We’ll continue with manual therapy and build on your progress, guided by your body’s feedback.
- Progress Tracking & Fine Tuning
- We’ll review and track the progress you’ve made on prescribed exercises
-
Check how your symptoms are changing — whether things are getting better or worse.
-
Adapt the plan, either stepping up or easing back, depending on how your body reacts.
Clinical Support
We are committed to your long-term recovery at Markham Pelvic Health. Sometimes, this means changing gears and trying something different and leveraging the team’s expertise.
- Adjusting the Plan
- If you’re feeling mostly better but can’t quite get over the last hurdle, we’ll step back, readjust, and refine your treatment so you can cross the finish line.
- Case Reviews
- At Markham Pelvic Health, we conduct periodic clinical case reviews with our team. This gives patients the benefit of our collective expertise. We typically do this for:
- Highly complex medical history
- Cases where client progress has “plateaued”
- At Markham Pelvic Health, we conduct periodic clinical case reviews with our team. This gives patients the benefit of our collective expertise. We typically do this for:
What Can I expect at my appointment?
Why Choose Markham Pelvic Health?
Markham Pelvic Health is the first and only clinic in York Region focused on pelvic floor physiotherapy. Our mission is to remove the stigma, educate the public and provide leading treatment to clients with issues related to pelvic health.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Absolutely. Your physiotherapist will give you a personalized home plan — not just “do Kegels.” We focus on breathing, relaxation, coordination, and gradual strengthening that fit naturally into your routine. Consistent home practice helps you progress faster and feel the benefits between appointments.
Yes. Physiotherapy can greatly improve bladder control and reduce the feeling of heaviness from prolapse. We focus on retraining muscle coordination, managing pressure, and supporting your core during daily movement. For many people, these changes make an enormous difference in comfort, confidence, and quality of life.
Most people begin once cleared by their healthcare provider — typically around 4–6 weeks postpartum. Early sessions focus on gentle recovery and education, then gradually build strength and coordination. Whether you delivered vaginally or by C-section, we’ll tailor care to your unique recovery. Our postpartum clients often tell us they wish they’d started sooner!
Yes. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is safe and can be very beneficial during pregnancy. It can ease pelvic or back pain, improve bladder control, and prepare your body for birth. Sessions are always adapted to your comfort and stage of pregnancy. Many expecting parents in the Markham area start treatment in the second trimester for support and prevention.
During your first pelvic floor physiotherapy appointment at our Markham clinic, your therapist will take time to understand your medical history and build a complete picture of what’s happening. With your consent, an internal assessment may be offered to evaluate how your pelvic floor muscles and ligaments are functioning. You’ll learn what’s contributing to your symptoms, what can help, and what to avoid. Treatment may begin right away using gentle manual techniques or muscle stimulation, and you’ll leave with a personalized plan to guide your recovery and long-term goals.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy focuses on the muscles at the base of your pelvis that support your bladder, bowel, and uterus. These muscles play an important role in bladder and bowel control, core strength, and sexual health. When they become weak, tight, or uncoordinated, issues like leaking, constipation, pain, or postpartum changes can occur. At our Markham pelvic health clinic, your physiotherapist will assess how these muscles are working and guide you through exercises, breathing, and relaxation techniques to restore strength, control, and confidence.
An internal exam is never required at our clinic — your comfort and consent always come first. We can perform thorough external assessments if you prefer. However, an internal evaluation is often recommended because it gives us the most accurate understanding of how your pelvic floor muscles are working.
Think of it like coming to physiotherapy for a knee injury: we could assess you while you’re wearing jeans, but it’s much easier — and more precise — if you’re in shorts. The same principle applies here. We’ll always explain the process in detail and only proceed if you feel fully informed and comfortable.
If you’re noticing bladder leaks, urgency or frequency, pelvic heaviness, pain with intimacy, constipation, or core weakness after pregnancy or surgery, an assessment can help. Many clients across York Region book a first visit just to learn more and leave with a clear plan.
Every person’s timeline is different, but most notice improvement within 3–6 sessions. Consistency with your home exercises and daily habits makes a big difference. Your therapist will check in regularly to track your progress and adjust your plan as your strength and confidence grow.
Proud Partners of
You are not alone.
As many as 1 in 4 people suffer from pelvic health issues.
Our Clients. Our Biggest Advocates.
“I have been told many good things by my OB and midwives about this clinic ever since I had my first baby…if you are reading this, DO NOT WAIT like me!” – read more
“I cannot emphasize enough how good this clinic is and how good the staff is, they have extensive knowledge about pelvic related problems, they educate & explain everything really well…” – read more
Logistically, this place is easy to access with ample free street parking. Their online booking and payment system is seamless, and their new facility is brand new and clean!..– read more
Our Niche
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy is what we do. All Day. Every Day.
Gender Inclusive
We work with Women, Men and Children of all ages
Our Experience
We have helped more than 5000 clients achieve their pelvic health goals.