Orthopaedic & Pelvic Floor Health
Hello!
I’m Nicole.
I’m a Registered Physiotherapist working in Orthopaedic & Pelvic Health in London, Ontario.
What I do
Orthopaedic Physiotherapy
I treat a variety of neuromusculoskeletal conditions including arthritis, low back, neck and knee pain, tendon injuries, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel and more.
Pelvic, Prenatal & Postnatal Physiotherapy
I treat a variety of pelvic floor dysfunctions including painful intercourse, bladder and bowel incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pre- and post-surgery, prostate cancer and more. I am also passionate about prenatal and postnatal pelvic care.
Research & Teaching
I am an Associate Research Scientist at Western University where I research cognition, exercise and chronic pain. I am also a professor in the Faculty of Business where I teach Research Methods and about the Canadian Healthcare System.
The Pelvic Floor is a sling of muscles that support the pelvic organs.
The bowel, bladder and uterus in females, and the bowel and bladder in males. Yes - males have pelvic floors too!
What is the “pelvic floor”?
The “pelvic floor” contains a group of muscles that span the bottom of the pelvis. There are three layers of pelvic floor muscles that contribute to five important functions: stability of the pelvis, support to the pelvic organs (e.g., bladder and rectum in men, and the bladder, bowel and uterus in women), sphincteric functions (e.g., continence or leaking of the bladder and rectum), sexual functions (e.g., arousal and orgasm) and decongestive functions (e.g., lymphatics in men and women, and menstruation in women). Normally, we don’t give much thought to these muscles as they silently do their job and assist our bowel, bladder and sexual function. These muscles also contribute to the function of our core, abdominal, hip and back muscles.
Pelvic physiotherapy might be right for you if you experience things like:
leaking urine when you cough, laugh, sneeze or exercise
the inability to control an urge to use the washroom
urinating > 8 times per day
waking in the night to urinate
difficulty urinating
feeling like you can’t empty your bladder
pain in or around the pelvis
low back, hip or tailbone pain
difficulty having a bowel movement (constipation) or pain
pain with intercourse or difficulty with penetration
painful periods
