Women’s Health Physiotherapy

At Vitality Physiotherapy, we provide specialist women’s health physiotherapy designed to restore confidence, strength and control at every stage of life. If you are experiencing urinary leakage, pelvic heaviness, abdominal separation, pelvic pain or postnatal weakness — you are not alone. These symptoms are common, but they are not something you simply have to live with.

Our approach combines clinical expertise, detailed assessment and progressive rehabilitation to help you return to the activities you love — whether that’s lifting your baby, running, strength training or simply feeling secure in your body again. We support women across Southwark, London Bridge, SE1 and Esher with evidence-based pelvic health care.

What We Treat

Urinary Incontinence

Leakage when coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising (stress incontinence), sudden urgency to rush to the toilet (urge incontinence), or a mix of both.

Common signs:

• Leaking during running or jumping
• Needing to wear pads
• Frequent night-time urination
• Fear of being caught short

Pelvic floor physiotherapy has been shown to significantly reduce leakage episodes when delivered by a trained specialist.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

A sensation of vaginal heaviness, dragging or pressure can indicate pelvic organ prolapse.

You may notice:

• A bulge sensation
• Discomfort with standing or lifting
• Difficulty fully emptying bladder or bowels
• Targeted rehabilitation can improve support, symptoms and quality of life.
• Postnatal Recovery & Core Rehabilitation

Pregnancy and childbirth place significant load on the abdominal wall and pelvic floor.

We assess and treat:

• Diastasis recti (abdominal separation)
• Pelvic floor weakness
• Scar tissue (C-section or perineal)
• Return to running or gym readiness
• This is not just “doing Kegels.” It is structured, progressive rehabilitation tailored to your body.

Menopause & Pelvic Health

Hormonal changes can impact pelvic tissues, bladder control and sexual function.

Symptoms may include:

• Increased urgency
• New onset leakage
• Vaginal dryness and discomfort
• Reduced tissue elasticity

Strength training, pelvic floor retraining and load management can significantly improve resilience and control during this phase of life.

Pelvic Pain

Persistent pelvic pain, painful intercourse or tension-related symptoms require careful assessment and individualised care. Treatment may include manual therapy, relaxation techniques, breathing retraining and graded strengthening.

How We Assess

Your first appointment is a comprehensive 60-minute assessment

We include:

• Detailed symptom and medical history
• Functional movement assessment
• Core and pelvic floor testing
• Breathing and pressure management evaluation
• Optional internal pelvic floor assessment (always consent-based and explained clearly beforehand)
• We assess how your pelvic floor functions during real-life movements — not just lying on a treatment couch.

What Treatment Looks Like

• Every programme is personalised. Depending on your needs, treatment may include:
• Individualised pelvic floor strengthening or down-training
• Bladder retraining strategies
• Pressure management education
• Functional lifting and return-to-running progressions
• Strength training for glutes, hips and deep core
• Manual therapy where appropriate
• Scar tissue mobilisation

We focus on restoring function, not just muscle activation.

Our aim is not only symptom reduction — but long-term resilience.

Evidence-Based Care

• Clinical guidelines consistently support pelvic floor muscle training as first-line treatment for stress urinary incontinence.
• When supervised by a specialist physiotherapist, pelvic floor rehabilitation can:
• Reduce leakage frequency
• Improve quality of life
• Reduce need for surgical intervention in mild to moderate cases
• Improve return to sport outcomes postnatally
• We combine evidence with practical application — translating research into real-world function.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I leaking when I run?

Running increases abdominal pressure. If the pelvic floor cannot generate sufficient counterforce, leakage can occur. Targeted retraining and strength progression can resolve this in many cases.

Are Kegels enough?

Often not. Many women either over-contract, under-recruit, or struggle with timing and coordination. Effective rehab addresses strength, endurance, relaxation and functional integration.

Is an internal assessment necessary?

Not always — but it can provide valuable information about muscle tone, coordination and strength. It is always optional and explained thoroughly before proceeding.

How many sessions will I need?

This varies. Many women notice meaningful improvements within 6–12 weeks of structured rehabilitation, depending on severity and adherence. Look at our EmpowerHer Programme

Why Choose Vitality Physiotherapy?

• Experienced women’s health clinicians- over 20 years experience
• Evidence-based rehabilitation
• Integrated strength & performance approach
• Support for return to gym, running and sport
• Clinics in Southwark (SE1) and Esher
• We bridge the gap between clinical pelvic health and real-life movement.

Book a Women’s Health Assessment

If you are experiencing leakage, pelvic heaviness, abdominal weakness or menopausal bladder changes — early intervention makes a difference.

Book your specialist women’s health physiotherapy assessment today and take the first step toward restoring confidence and control.