Leanne has over 30 years physiotherapy experience and specialised skills and expert knowledge in the area of pelvic health. She is passionate about helping her patients enhance their quality of life. Leanne will explain things clearly and in plain language and is happy to answer any questions. She will help to demystify the issues that are not often talked about, and will provide you with the information, skills and strategies in order to regain as much control over your bladder/bowel and pelvic health as possible. There is no need to be embarrassed – Leanne has helped many patients and looks forward to helping you.

If you call the clinic please leave a message if we are unable to take your call. Katrina on reception will call you back to schedule a time that suits you. Once you have made an appointment we will send you an appointment confirmation, some clinic information and routine questionnaires. You can fill these in at home or at the clinic.

Most people are not sure what to expect from their first pelvic health physio appointment, and it’s normal to feel a bit nervous.

Your first appointment will be mostly discussion identifying what you see as your most important issues and the factors which contribute to these. Thorough assessment is crucial to implementing the most appropriate treatment options for you and providing you with the best service. An internal vaginal or rectal muscle assessment is usually performed on the first appointment but is optional and will be discussed with you. This kind of assessment is the only way to really know what your pelvic floor is doing and how it might be contributing to your problem.

Once we have done an assessment, we will come up with a treatment and management plan specific to your needs. This might include pelvic floor exercises or relaxation, core exercises, bladder/bowel management and retraining, prolapse management, pre/post natal care including pelvic girdle or lower back pain treatment or diastasis management…. individual symptoms require individual care.

YES. I recommend every postnatal women has a pelvic floor check after delivery. Both pregnancy and childbirth put extra strain on the pelvic floor which means it can become weakened. Some woman also have injuries during childbirth that they may be unaware of.

A pelvic floor assessment can help identify any issues or potential problems early on which gives us an opportunity to intervene and treat and therefore optimise recovery and prevent long term consequences.

A post baby assessment includes a pelvic floor assessment, posture review and a tummy check to make sure the muscles and your scar if you have had a c section has recovered. We also check for prolapse if you have symptoms and can advise on safety to return to exercise after baby. We recommend these from 6 weeks post baby or earlier if you have symptoms or concerns.

There are many options to be explored. After assessment Leanne will create a personalised treatment plan especially for you, which may include:

• Education & advice specific to your condition

• Pain education and advice

• Toileting techniques

• Pelvic Floor Muscle Rehabilitation including

• Strengthening, down-training/relaxation, co-ordination, functional training and endurance

• Pelvic floor, breath and core coordination and strengthening programs

• Bladder retraining

• Urge control strategies for bladder and bowel

• Individualised home programme of exercise

• Prolapse pressure management

• Pelvic floor safe exercise advice

• Graded return to exercise

• Post baby- specific to you and your needs

• Post-surgery - specific to you and your needs

• Prolapse safe exercise program specific to you and your needs

• Sexual function recovery strategies and aids

• Manual therapy – internal and external

• Soft tissue massage / mobilisation

• Connective tissue massage

• Abdominal massage for constipation

• Visceral mobilisation

• Myofascial release techniques

• Contract Relax and stretch techniques

• Scar release techniques

• Electro therapy including

• Electro- stimulation - pelvic floor strengthening

• TENS - pain, overactive bladder, constipation

• EMG biofeedback – up and down training

• PTNS – posterior tibial nerve stimulation for overactive bladder

• Progressive muscle relaxation techniques

• Individualised Breathing re-education / retraining

• Relaxation

• Mindfulness meditation, breathing

• Vaginal trainers/ dilators

• Simple dietary advice and stool management

• Postural Correction

• Postnatal Abdominal rehabilitation for Diastasis Recti (abdominal gap)

• Back care advice

• Bending and lifting strategies

• Pressure management for coughing and sneezing bending and lifting

• Pelvic stabilisation exercises

• Advice re belts / splints

• Strapping / taping

• Provide Resources

No. Many of our patients refer themselves. Sometimes we need extra information but we discuss this with you when we book an appointment for you.

Absolutely, a support person or dependents are always welcome.

This will depend on your problem and how your recovery progresses. Please ask for specifics of your condition.

MATERNAL BIRTH INJURY

You may have a claim already lodged for you by the hospital, your midwife or G.P

Following an assessment a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist can lodge an ACC claim for physical injury including pelvic organ prolapse, coccyx injuries, perineal/vaginal tears, levator avulsion - pelvic floor injury, pelvic joint injuries and fractures. Physiotherapists cannot lodge a mental injury claim for you.

Are other injuries covered? – Yes anything that was covered before the change to legislation October 2022 is still covered.

I treat Maternal Birth Injuries here at Inside Out Physiotherapy – but understanding what this is and who is covered can be confusing. Seeing a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist can help to identify if you have some of the injuries covered. We can then lodge a claim for you and provide treatment and support as you recover.

More information below:

Since 1st October 2022 ACC legislation has changed to include certain birth injuries. See below for what you need to know:

• Birthing parents can be considered for further cover if they suffer a mental injury or any other physical injury caused by a covered maternal birth injury.

• These must have occurred on or since 1st October 2022.

• What is a birth injury? The definition of ‘accident’ now includes “a force or resistance internal to the human body at any time from the onset of labour to the completion of delivery”.

• Who can lodge a claim for me? Following an assessment a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist can lodge a claim for physical injury including prolapse, coccyx injuries, tears, levator avulsion, pelvic joint injuries and fractures. Physiotherapists cannot lodge a mental injury claim for you.

• Are other injuries covered? – Yes, anything that was covered before the change to legislation is still covered.

• Is there a cost if you have an ACC claim? – yes, like any other ACC treatment there is often still a co-payment to pay.

For more information see https://www.acc.co.nz/for-providers/maternal-birth-injuries/

There are many reasons for this which is why individual assessment and exercise programs are essential. The reasons why pelvic floor exercises don’t work may include:

You’re not sure how to do pelvic floor exercises.

You can’t activate your pelvic floor.

Your pelvic floor exercises may be being done incorrectly.

You may not be doing enough pelvic floor exercises each time you do them.

You may not be doing pelvic floor exercises regularly enough.

Your contraction may lack coordination.

You may have an overactive pelvic floor dysfunction.

You didn’t continue to do them for long enough to retrain and strengthen.

LOCATION & DIRECTIONS:

Inside Out Physiotherapy is situated on the lower level of the Village Health Centre (33-35 Napier Road, Havelock North), below Te Mata Peak Practice.

If travelling from Napier: come into Havelock North on Napier Road to the roundabout at the Karanema Drive intersection. The Village Health Centre is on your right on the corner of Napier Rd and Karanema Drive. Turn right into Karanema Drive, then turn right into the car park at the Village Health Centre – just before the fire station.

If travelling from Hastings: come into Havelock North on Havelock Road. Cross the bridge at the entrance to Havelock North then take the first exit off the roundabout to the left onto Karanema Drive. Continue on Karanema Drive toward Napier Road (the Village Health Centre is located on the corner of Napier Road and Karanema Drive). Turn left into the Village Health Centre carpark just after the fire station.

Inside Out Physiotherapy is best accessed from the carpark behind the Village Health Centre. This can be accessed from Napier Road or Karanema Drive next to the fire station. Go through the automatic door on the lower level and we are located immediately on the right.

PARKING:

Parking is available in surrounding streets or in the car park behind the Village Health Centre which can be accessed from either Napier Road or Karanema Drive.