Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
Pelvic floor physiotherapy helps strengthen and coordinate the pelvic muscles that support your bladder, bowel, and other pelvic organs. Our expert physiotherapists use evidence-based techniques, tailored to your needs, to help improve your control, comfort, and confidence.
What is pelvic floor physiotherapy?
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a specialised treatment that retrains the pelvic muscles responsible for bladder and bowel control and pelvic support. These muscles can weaken or become uncoordinated after childbirth, prostate surgery, long-term straining, or hormonal changes, leading to symptoms such as leakage, urgency, pelvic pressure, or discomfort.
A pelvic health physiotherapist assesses how well the pelvic floor moves and functions, then uses targeted exercises and behavioural strategies to restore function.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help if you:
have pelvic pain
have an overactive bladder
are recovering from pelvic surgery
have weaker pelvic floor muscles after giving birth, or after going through menopause
At Welbeck, our pelvic floor physiotherapists provide personalised assessment and treatment in our dedicated Digestive Health centre. Working closely with specialists across colorectal, gastroenterology, urogynaecology, and endocrinology, they take a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to pelvic health. You’ll receive one-to-one support and compassionate care designed to improve function, confidence, and long-term pelvic wellbeing.
Pelvic floor exercises you can do at home
Strengthening your pelvic floor doesn’t require equipment or long workouts — just a few minutes of regular practice. These simple exercises can help improve bladder and bowel control and reduce pelvic symptoms over time.
Gently tighten your back passage, as if you’re trying to stop passing wind, then lift the sensation forward towards the bladder, as if you’re trying not to wee.
Hold the squeeze for up to 10 seconds, then let the muscles fully relax.
Repeat this up to 10 times, 3 times a day.
Top tips:
you can add in several quick squeezes to help manage sudden urgency
avoid holding your breath or clenching your thighs or buttocks
stay consistent; most people notice meaningful improvement after 12 weeks of regular practice
More information
Your consultation will begin with a detailed discussion of your symptoms, lifestyle, and medical history. Your physiotherapist may assess your breathing patterns and abdominal and pelvic muscles. An internal pelvic floor examination may also be recommended, as this provides the most accurate understanding of muscle strength, coordination, and tension.
Following your assessment, your physiotherapist will create a personalised treatment plan based on your symptoms, overall health, and individual goals. They’ll explain any exercises clearly, ensure you feel confident doing them at home, and guide you through practical diet and lifestyle changes that can support your recovery and long-term pelvic health.
Treatment may include:
pelvic floor muscle training
lifestyle and diet advice
pelvic floor relaxation
techniques to reduce straining when going to the toilet
manual therapy for muscle tension or scar discomfort
neuromuscular stimulation
pelvic floor biofeedback to improve muscle coordination
Your physiotherapist will arrange a schedule of follow-up appointments to monitor your progress, adjust your treatment plan as needed, and make sure you’re getting the best possible benefit from therapy. These reviews provide ongoing support, help keep you motivated, and ensure your recovery stays on track.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is very safe. Some people experience temporary muscle soreness or increased awareness of the pelvic area when starting new exercises, but this usually settles quickly. Your physiotherapist will adapt your treatment to your comfort level and discuss any concerns you may have.
There’s no specific preparation needed for your consultation, but it can be helpful to bring a list of your symptoms and goals. If you’ve been tracking your bladder or bowel habits, bringing notes can be useful.
There’s no downtime after treatment, and you can return to normal activities straight away. Improvements typically build over several weeks as the muscles strengthen and coordination improves. Your physiotherapist will review your technique and progress at follow-up appointments and adjust your programme as needed.
Please contact our Digestive Health centre for pricing information.
At Welbeck, our pelvic floor physiotherapists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
To book pelvic floor physiotherapy, you can be referred by either your GP or a specialist following a consultation with them. Self-referrals are also accepted for this treatment.
If you’d like to schedule a consultation with a specialist, please get in touch to make an appointment. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients.
Our locations
Loading
Frequently asked questions
It’s a common misconception that pelvic floor physiotherapy is mainly for women. While pelvic floor muscles can weaken after childbirth or during menopause, physiotherapy can help anyone with symptoms such as leakage, urgency, pelvic pressure, difficulty emptying the bladder, or pelvic discomfort. Many men also benefit from pelvic floor physiotherapy, particularly after prostate surgery. At Welbeck, our physiotherapists support both men and women with personalised care to improve their pelvic health and confidence.
Not necessarily. An internal examination isn’t required, but it can sometimes be the most accurate way to assess how your pelvic floor muscles are working. Your physiotherapist will explain if they think an internal examination would help your assessment, and will be able to offer alternatives if you’re not comfortable with one.
Yes. Pregnancy is an ideal time to learn effective pelvic floor techniques that support birth and recovery. It can also help reduce common pregnancy-related symptoms such as bladder leakage, pelvic heaviness, and back or pelvic pain.
During menopause, oestrogen levels drop, which can weaken the pelvic floor muscles and lead to issues like urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help strengthen these muscles, improve bladder and bowel control, and ease pelvic discomfort during this transition.
Not always, but it’s very common, and often recommended. Many men experience temporary leakage or changes in bladder control after prostate surgery, and pelvic floor physiotherapy can significantly speed up recovery and improve confidence. Even if symptoms are mild, early guidance on pelvic floor exercises can help you regain control more quickly and reduce the risk of longer-term problems.