Effective Pelvic Health Physiotherapy via Telehealth

By Brooke Dobó, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist

Recent studies have revealed effective delivery of pelvic health physiotherapy via telehealth.

A systematic review has revealed significant improvements in pelvic floor muscle function, urinary symptoms and quality of life following physiotherapy using telehealth. Vera Women’s Wellness is committed to delivering the best possible care to its patients and is well equipped with advanced software to facilitate seamless telehealth care with the highest technological security.

If you have seen an experienced women’s health physiotherapist, you will know that much of our role lies within providing education and empowering women through providing individualised tools to optimise function.

We understand the importance of listening to a patient’s story and as such, during an initial appointment, it is common that a physical exam is saved for a subsequent session. It is essential to learn how to connect with your muscles and movement (using “biofeedback”) in order to improve your condition and achieve your goals. Often it is necessary to do your own ‘homework’ before a comprehensive exam (e.g. a pelvic floor exam).

Vera’s Pelvic Health Physiotherapists, Brooke Dobó, (left) & Angie Vienne (right)

If you are considering seeing a pelvic health physiotherapist for the first time and are unable to attend in person (or live interstate / overseas), consider telehealth for your initial appointment to get a head start on your home program and health care plan.

Successively, if you require a follow up appointment and are uncertain whether to attend face to face, be assured that your experienced physiotherapist will be able to talk you through progressing your program without the need of a hands-on physical exam.

With the help of simple technology (i.e. a device with a camera), we are able to analyse movement, assess postures, and demonstrate exercises and stretches essential to your recovery.  Once booked in for a telehealth consult, the team ensure you are set up with the correct platform and will offer smart phone applications to assist in your treatment program, as well as ongoing email/telephone support as needed.

Confidentiality is extremely important to us and we can assure our patients that we have the highest level of cyber security, to keep patient information safe at all times.

Pelvic health physiotherapists provide individualised advice and education for pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, bladder and bowel concerns, peri/post-menopausal discomforts, recovery from surgery, pregnancy and postpartum. They are able to guide you on building connection to your body using biofeedback strategies at home and how to perform a self-assessment to check in with individual progress, which is paramount to healing.

Treatment may include advice and education on fluid/diet intake, lifestyle modifications, defecation dynamics, daily self-care practices and individualised home exercise programs including strategies to connect to pelvic floor muscles, breathing exercises, stretches, yoga practices, or strengthening programs.

Telehealth has been on the rise recently, predominantly utilised for those from rural and regional locations. It has allowed offering essential services for those who are unable to attend the clinic face to face and has been successfully utilised in physiotherapy over the past decade, with an increase owing to the pandemic - a silver lining of recent times.

The physiotherapists at Vera Women’s Wellness have been able to provide services to those living interstate during border closures, to patients under isolation restrictions, and have even delivered telehealth appointments to overseas dwellers – opening up and offering the expertise of Vera services to the world. 

Furthermore, interestingly another recent study has suggested even better outcomes for those utilising physiotherapy via telehealth when compared to face-to-face. It is hypothesised that better outcomes arise when patients are more proactive in their own care, with a much less passive approach that can occur with hands-on therapy. Telehealth is undoubtedly a valid and reliable method of consultation in physiotherapy.

If you are unable to attend our clinic in person due to self-isolation, or are living/travelling far away, this is the perfect opportunity for you to continue your healthcare journey without compromise.  If this is your first appointment, you will be sent a questionnaire to fill out beforehand to maximise our contact time and enable us to have an efficient and valuable consultation. There are factors to consider when planning an effective online session, including children or family at home, cultural needs, your environment, confidence using technology, and so we will accommodate for this according to your needs.

Most private health funds cover physiotherapy via telehealth to enable its members to continue access to health care so you will still be entitled to a rebate with your consultation. For confirmation, contact your health insurance provider.

Our specialised physiotherapy service will continue during these uncertain times, both in-person (taking extra precautionary measures during COVID-19 – click here for more information) and via telehealth. Please contact our lovely reception team if you have any questions.

References:

Conlan, L., Thompson, J., & Fary, R. (2016). An exploration of the efficacy of telehealth in the assessment and management of stress urinary incontinence among women in rural locations. Australian and New Zealand Continence Journal, The, 22(3), 58-64.

Cottrell, M. A., Galea, O. A., O’Leary, S. P., Hill, A. J., & Russell, T. G. (2017). Real-time telerehabilitation for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions is effective and comparable to standard practice: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical rehabilitation, 31(5), 625-638.

da Mata, K. R. U., Costa, R. C. M., Carbone, É. D. S. M., Gimenez, M. M., Bortolini, M. A. T., Castro, R. A., & Fitz, F. F. (2020). Telehealth in the rehabilitation of female pelvic floor dysfunction: a systematic literature review. International urogynecology journal, 1-11.

Stanhope, J., & Weinstein, P. (2020). Learning from COVID-19 to improve access to physiotherapy. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 26(4), 271-272.

Van Egmond, M. A., van der Schaaf, M., Vredeveld, T., Vollenbroek-Hutten, M. M. R., van Berge Henegouwen, M. I., Klinkenbijl, J. H. G., & Engelbert, R. H. H. (2018). Effectiveness of physiotherapy with telerehabilitation in surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Physiotherapy, 104(3), 277-298.

Zischke, C., Simas, V., Hing, W., Milne, N., Spittle, A., & Pope, R. (2021). The utility of physiotherapy assessments delivered by telehealth: A systematic review. Journal of global health, 11.