Quick answer: Before booking a pelvic floor physio in Toronto, ask about their postgraduate pelvic health training, how often they see pregnant and postpartum clients, how long the first visit is, and whether they offer an internal assessment with consent. Then confirm their registration on the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario public register.

I'm a physio, and I'll admit it's confusing from the outside. Every clinic in Toronto seems to list pelvic floor now, and the training behind that line ranges from a weekend course to years of focused practice.

The questions above are the ones I'd ask for a friend. I'd add one more. Ask who else is on the team. If your physio can walk down the hall to your kinesiologist, your birth educator or a social worker, you stop repeating your story five times and your care stays in one plan.

1. Post graduate Health Training

Pelvic health physiotherapy requires additional training beyond a physiotherapy degree.

Our therapists have postgraduate training that helps them understand the anatomy and physiology of the pelvic floor and trains them on all aspects of pelvic floor assessment including what to ask, how to examine these muscles in a way that clients feels and educated and how to look at pelvic floor in the connected context of your physical and emotional health.

In addition to the basics, our team is trained in pregnancy, c-section care, diastasis recti management, pain management and more.

2. How long is the first visit and do we perform an internal exam

Our initial visits are 60 minutes in length. A large majority of this time is spent getting to understand all the different things that might contribute to your pelvic floor discomfort. This might include everything from birth history, sexual history, nutrition, toileting, and even some of your daily habits. 

Given that this can also be a vulnerable procedure, we also spend a good deal of time letting you know exactly what to expect and making sure you consent to the treatment at hand.

Following the subjective history and with your consent, most exams will then proceed to an internal assessment, the gold standard for understanding the tone and contractility of the pelvic floor. We look at the resting tone of your muscles, how you're able to engage them, and any challenges or differences in neuromuscular timing.

Lastly we spend time working out with each client an individualized treatment plan that works with your lifestyle. This often includes habit changes and home exercise plans. 

This is also where your therapist will let you know about the frequency and duration of your treatment plan and answer any questions you might have (so that you leave feeling confident in the work that the two of you need to do together).

3. Is your therapist rostered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario

Any therapist certified to provide pelvic health therapy needs to be rostered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. You can check if your physiotherapist is appropriately listed by checking their website here.

Body Co's pelvic floor physios, Nicole, Tara and Nikita, are happy to answer any of these before you book. We also offer virtual pelvic floor visits if getting out of the house is the hard part right now. Call us at (416) 572-0479 or start here.