What is pelvic physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is the assessment, treatment and management of physical conditions using physical modalities, manual techniques and education.
It focuses on ‘levels of intervention’ – primarily what you can do to help yourself, and what the therapist can do to re-balance and restore function.
Pelvic physiotherapy aims to shift whatever imbalance is causing pelvic symptoms, thereby improving quality of life and general activity.
Why pelvic function?
The pelvis is complicated, with varied functional demands in one place. Many patients think of the pelvis in the context of bladder, bowel or sexual function. To others its all about movement or musculoskeletal function – this is particularly true for sportsmen and women, and women with pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain. This website aims to provide sufficient information for you to be able to identify if you have a pelvic problem that might respond to pelvic physiotherapy. It also seeks to reassure those who are apprehensive about the process and procedures involved.
Disclaimer:
Every sentence should begin with “As a general rule….”
No two patients are the same.
Although patterns, trends and signatures exist, all patients are unique and have their own history and (her)story.
If you have a problem where the doctors have been saying “There is nothing wrong with you”, consider there might be nothing sinister or abnormal detected on medical testing. There might be an imbalance in muscles, nerves, or even your behaviour. Get an assessment by an appropriately trained pelvic physiotherapist (Women’s Health and/or Men’s Health).
You can source a relevantly trained physiotherapist in your area by contacting the Women’s Health Physiotherapy Group, a special interest group of the South African Society of Physiotherapy.
Meet Corina:
Corina Avni
PhD Candidate (UCT, SA); M.Physio (SUN, SA); Accreditation in Women’s Health Physio (Bradford, UK); B.Physio (UCT, SA)
Registered Physiotherapist – special interest in Pelvic Function
Corina is a registered physiotherapist with over 20+ years experience in pelvic health.
She is currently registered for her PhD (Physiology) and is researching chronic overlapping pain conditions and the role of autonomic nervous system dysregulation (dysautonomia).
Corina completed her Masters by thesis – “Pelvic floor muscle function during gait” at Stellenosch University (2017), and has her undergrad B.Sc(Hons) in Physiotherapy from the University of Cape Town (1997), along with a postgraduate qualification in Women’s Health Physiotherapy from Bradford University, UK.
She runs a practice devoted to the assessment and management of pelvic function in men, women and children. Increasingly her case load comprises of patients with chronic pain and dysfunction in multiple systems.
She has particular interests in:
- chronic overlapping pain conditions and the role of dysautonomia (autonomic nervous system dysregulation)
- chronic pelvic pain with pelvic co-morbidity (everything going wrong all at the same time)
- pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain
- the role of weight-bearing on pelvic floor muscle function during gait (walking) and dynamic activities including sport
- the role of the hemi-pelvis during movement
She lectures online, nationally and internationally to physiotherapists, doctors and other medical and movement professionals. She has appeared on radio shows, and TV; and written multiple magazine and infotainment articles. She has contributed to local academic material (including books and pamphlets) on pelvic floor function and dysfunction.
In her spare time, Corina walks on mountains and beaches.
Pelvic Function 