We have four trained Physiotherapists in the field of Pelvic Health Physiotherapy. 

Julia Raptis (Esposito) and Alex Walker have completed their post-graduate training in Pelvic Floor and Continence Physiotherapy at The University of Melbourne. These Physiotherapists are now qualified to treat the conditions listed below.

• Weak or overactive pelvic floor muscles
• Stress urinary incontinence (e.g. I leak when I sneeze)
• Urgency urinary incontinence (e.g. I cannot hold on as long as I used to be able to)
• Pelvic floor training in pregnancy to prevent incontinence during and after pregnancy
• Postpartum pelvic floor check ups
• Return to running and sport/exercise postpartum
• Childbirth injuries and perineal trauma (tears, episiotomies)
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Chronic pelvic pain 
• Incontinence and pelvic floor related issues in athletes
• Coccydinea
• Constipation and defaecation disorders
• Overactive bladder 
• Pain with intimacy (Dyspareunia)
• Vulvodynia
• Vaginismus
• Pelvic floor dysfunction pre/post prostate removal surgery (prostatectomy)
• Prostatitis pelvic floor related issues
• Menopause issues
• Pre and post hysterectomy and gynaecological surgery
• Nocturnal enuresis (bed wetting)

Julia and Alex have acquired specialised skills and are up to date with the latest evidence-based assessment and treatments for pregnant, post-natal and post-menopausal women.

They are also qualified to treat men with incontinence issues.

Following her own experience as a pelvic floor patient, Ali Minichiello has recently completed her foundation training through Pelvic Health Melbourne. Emily Tregear also has a passion for this area of Physiotherapy and has also completed this course. Ali and Emily are able to treat the following conditions and will continue to up-skill to include a wider range of conditions in future:

• Pregnancy-related pelvic floor concerns
• Postnatal assessment/check-up
• Stress urinary incontinence 
• Urge urinary incontinence 
• Overactive bladder
• Basic prolapse
• Pelvic floor weakness
• Pelvic floor overactivity/tightness 
• Constipation management 

There is fantastic evidence to support individualised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) can prevent and improve pelvic floor dysfunctions. Additionally, evidence has shown that a strong pelvic floor can assist vaginal deliveries and potentially shorten labor duration which therefore, can prevent postnatal incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction.

Additionally, even if you are not experiencing any pelvic floor or continence issues, there is also a large amount of evidence that supports pelvic floor muscle training to prevent pelvic floor and continence dysfunction. 

What will a Pelvic Physio Initial Appointment Include?

The gold standard of assessing the strength of your pelvic floor muscles and the pelvic connective tissue integrity is with an internal examination. However, if you would prefer to not do an internal examination, our Physiotherapists will use non-invasive, external assessment techniques.

One of these external techniques may include using the Real Time Ultrasound machine. In which case we ask that you empty your bladder 2hrs before your appointment. You should then consume 500-700ml (2-3 glasses) of water, stopping 30 minutes before appointment, then don’t empty your bladder. If you find if challenging to hold this amount of water in your bladder, that is okay, our Physiotherapists can work around this.

* Please note that Julia is currently on maternity leave *