Both men and women can experience bladder problems and other symptoms of pelvic floor weakness related to urological or gynaecological conditions or operations.

Women

© Sherborne Gibbs Ltd 2013. First published in Primary Care Women's Health Journal. For more information visit www.womenshealthj.com.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy has been shown to be beneficial for a range of conditions such as:

• stress or urgency urinary incontinence (urine loss)
• pelvic organ prolapse (a feeling of heaviness, pressure or bulging in the vagina)
• anal incontinence (loss of stool or wind)
• symptoms of lax pelvic floor muscles (e.g. sexual dysfunction)
• vulval pain

Women can be particularly vulnerable to urinary incontinence and other symptoms related to their pelvic floor muscles at different times in their life e.g.:

• pregnancy
• post-natally
• menopause
• older age

Physiofit physiotherapists Caroline Bilmen and Jenny Heron specialise in the treatment of pelvic floor problems. Assessment involves questions about medical history, background to the problem, current symptoms, and normally a physical examination (with your consent). Goals and appropriate treatment would be discussed and agreed, and might include specific and holistic advice, appropriate exercise, and additional therapies such as biofeedback and nerve stimulation.

Men

Bladder & Bowel Foundation (www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org)

Pelvic floor physiotherapy has been shown to be beneficial for a range of conditions such as urinary incontinence and other bladder symptoms such as urinary urgency (sudden need to empty your bladder) and urinary frequency (going to the toilet more often than usual).

It is believed that around 1 in 6 men will have problems with bladder control at some time in their life, and they may be particularly vulnerable if they are experiencing problems with their prostate gland. There is a high incidence of some urinary incontinence in the weeks following a prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate gland) and men are often advised to learn and practice pelvic floor muscle exercises both before and after the operation.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy may also help with bowel problems such as constipation, faecal incontinence or poor control of wind.

Physiofit physiotherapists Caroline Bilmen and Jenny Heron specialise in the treatment of pelvic floor problems. Assessment involves questions about medical history, background to the problem, current symptoms, and normally a physical examination (with your consent). Goals and appropriate treatment would be discussed and agreed, and might include specific and holistic advice, appropriate exercise, and additional therapies such as biofeedback and nerve stimulation.