What to expect

Information to help you prepare for your appointment, if you have any questions, or would like to arrange a chaperone, please contact us via email info@pelvichealth-physio.com prior to your appointment

What to wear?

In order to assess you properly, we need to be able to see the relevant body areas.

If you have pelvic pain, low back pain and/or abdominal pain there is often an element of undressing required. This is also the case if you are attending for breast health appointments, pregnancy massage or scar release treatments.

It is usually best to bring, or wear, a pair of shorts and a vest top, or sports bra. Alternatively, wear suitable underwear.

Clothing needs to be comfortable and easy to move around in.

What will happen in my first appointment? 

At your first appointment, you will be asked several questions to find out about your problems in more detail, questions will be asked about your symptoms and about your medical and social history.

Depending on what your concerns/problems are we are likely to assess your posture, pelvic alignment, stomach muscles, and how you perform certain exercises/activities e.g. squats, walking, standing from a chair. This assessment is individual to what each patient needs, there is no one set “recipe”.

If your problems are related to your pelvic floor, an internal examination is often advised to assess your pelvic floor function, this can be completed at the first appointment or at a subsequent appointment.  We will discuss what it involves and why it is advisable.  You do not have to have this examination, and you have the right to change your mind at any point. 

After a full assessment, we will discuss findings and a plan of treatment. You will usually be given some treatment/exercises at the end of this first appointment.

What happens in subsequent appointments?

We will spend some time discussing any changes in symptoms, and your treatment plan.  It is usually necessary to perform a physical examination of the relevant body areas, this is to assess any progress you may have made since your last appointment.  We may also need to assess areas we have not assessed previously. Treatment will be altered or progressed as necessary. 

Chaperones

A chaperone is a third party to an appointment or to a clinical examination, who aims to provide support and reassurance to the patient, witness the continuing consent to a procedure, and on occasion provide practical help to the physiotherapist. 

All patients are entitled to a chaperone and are offered one at the time of booking their appointment, and prior to physical examinations.  If you would like a formal chaperone present, please inform us prior to your appointment. You may ask for a chaperone at any time however and have the right to decline treatment until one is provided. 

You are welcome to bring an informal chaperone, such as an adult family member or friend, along to your appointments.