What To Expect During a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Assessment in the Lower Mainland

Considering pelvic floor physiotherapy and unsure what happens during your first appointment? This guide walks you through each stage of a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment, from intake to personalized planning, so you feel informed, at ease, and confident stepping into your first visit with Legacies Health Centre.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can support a wide range of concerns, including urinary leakage, pelvic pain, pressure or prolapse symptoms, pregnancy and postpartum recovery, and core or back issues linked to pelvic floor function.

What Is a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Assessment?

A pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment is a comprehensive, one-on-one evaluation performed by a registered pelvic health physiotherapist. The session looks at how your pelvic floor muscles, core, hips, breathing mechanics, and daily habits interact, so your therapist can pinpoint root causes and build a tailored treatment plan.

Common reasons to book:

• Urinary leakage, urgency, frequency, or incomplete emptying
• Bowel issues (constipation, straining, fecal leakage)
• Pelvic pain (vulvar, perineal, tailbone, deep hip)
• Pelvic organ prolapse symptoms (heaviness/pressure)
• Pregnancy preparation and postpartum recovery (including C-section/tear support)
• Core weakness, diastasis recti, back/hip pain linked to pelvic floor function

How to Prepare for Your First Appointment

• Arrive a few minutes early to complete intake forms and discuss your goals.
• Wear comfortable clothing you can move in (shorts/leggings preferred).
• Hydrate and eat normally. You do not need a full bladder unless instructed.
• Bring relevant reports (e.g., imaging, referral notes) if you have them.
• Bring questions. Your therapist will address them thoroughly.

What to Expect: Step-by-Step

1. Intake and Conversation

Your therapist will ask about symptoms (what, when, how often, what makes them better/worse), bladder, bowel, and sexual health history, pregnancy, birth, or surgical history, activity, work, and lifestyle factors, and your top goals. Your comfort is the priority. You will discuss consent options for each part of the assessment.

2. External Orthopedic Assessment

• Posture and breathing patterns
• Hip, low back, and core mobility and strength
• Functional movement (e.g., squats, lifting, cough test)
• Abdominal wall assessment (including diastasis recti screening)

3. Pelvic Floor Assessment

Your therapist will explain what is involved and obtain informed consent. You choose whether to proceed. External assessment may include observation of breathing and pressure management, perineal observation (if consented), and tenderness mapping. Internal assessment (vaginal and/or rectal), if consented, may evaluate muscle tone, strength and endurance, coordination, and prolapse support. You can pause, modify, or stop the exam at any time.

4. Personalized Findings and Plan

You will receive clear education about what is driving your symptoms and how to move forward. Your plan may include:

• Targeted exercises: coordination, relaxation, lengthening, or strengthening
• Breath and pressure strategies to support lifting, coughing, and sport
• Bladder/bowel coaching: urge deferral, optimal toileting, fiber/fluid strategies
• Manual therapy as appropriate for pelvic floor, hips, and low back
• Lifestyle modifications: return-to-run/lift, sexual health strategies, pain pacing
• Referral coordination with your physician or other providers if needed

How Long Does It Take?

• Initial assessment: typically 45 to 60 minutes
• Follow-ups: often 30 to 45 minutes, frequency tailored to your goals
• Clothing: comfortable, gym-style clothing is ideal

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is appropriate for all genders and life stages. If you experience leakage, pelvic pressure, pain, postpartum changes, or core weakness, assessment is the first step to personalized, evidence-informed care.

Your Privacy, Safety and Comfort

• Consent-led care, where you control each step
• Trauma-informed approach, proceeding at your pace
• Clear, plain-language communication
• Protection of your personal health information

Book your pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment in Burnaby, Surrey Nordel and Surrey Southpoint today at Legacies Health Centre.