A pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment can involve both an internal and external examination of the muscles and structure of the pelvis. Your therapist may perform both a vaginal and rectal exam to assess muscle strength, tone, tension, and overall functioning of the pelvic floor.

Yes, absolutely! Your comfort is our first priority and if you would like to bring someone to help ask questions, act as a support, or just be there with you, this is 100% OK with us.

At your initial assessment we will sit down and gather a detailed and in-depth medical history and information around the reason for your visit today. In order to help us find the best approach for you, we may ask you questions about your past medical history, home environment, surgical history, current medications, obstetric history, pelvic health, and treatment goals, etc. The more information you are able and willing to share with your physiotherapist or registered massage therapist, the more informed assessment and accurate physiotherapy diagnosis can be made. We understand that clients may or may not be as comfortable as us in discussing issues relating to pelvic health, however, we will do our best to ensure you are comfortable, informed, and feel heard during your visit.

Next, we will do a detailed physical assessment, which may include an internal pelvic exam (vaginal and/or rectal) and we will use any relevant outcome measures to ensure a proper diagnosis. With this information, we will discuss your goals for treatment and design an individualized treatment that works for you and help you achieve your goals.

From your appointments you can expect to experience and learn:

√ Hands-on manual therapy treatment
√ Activity modifications and pain management strategies
√ Corrective exercises for your diagnosis
√ Proper biomechanics, postural control, gait strategies
√ How to safely and correctly exercise
√ Client education (lots of it!)

Please wear something comfortable that allows the therapist to expose the area to be assessed and treated if required. For prenatal, postpartum, and exercise rehabilitation appointments comfortable, loose-fitting exercise clothing is preferred.

NO! Our therapists have training in a range of other areas including Clinical Pilates, manual therapy, sports rehabilitation, and vestibular conditions. They say variety is the spice of life, and we like to mix things up once in a while!

Yes, most extended health care plans cover physiotherapy and RMT services, including Pelvic Floor Physio and Clinical Pilates. Please check with your insurance provider to understand your individual plan coverage prior to beginning treatment should you have questions.

Yes, we are able to direct bill the following providers:
Pacific Blue Cross
Medavie
Green Shield
Canada (Great-West) Life
Manulife, Sunlife
Chamber of Commerce
ClaimSecure
GroupHealth
Industrial Alliance
Johnston Group and;
OASIS.
Please make sure to bring your coverage card and consent form with you to your first appointment.

At this time, we only accept ICBC claims. Please contact us to inquire.

At Bump Physio, we are strong advocates for self-care and at times, bringing a baby/toddler/child to your appointment can be distracting and take the focus away from YOUR needs. If at all possible, having someone care for your child(ren) for you to attend your visit(s), is preferred so we are able to spend that time 100% dedicated to YOU.

However, if you do not have anyone available to care for your child(ren), please bring your babe/child with you. We are happy to hold, bounce, carry and entertain your little one as much as we can during your visit so you get the information and treatment you need.

We strive to foster an environment where clients feel safe and supported. In order to help you feel safe and avoid possible triggers, we ask that you discuss with your physiotherapist how they might make you feel more comfortable and better supported during assessment and treatment.

After scheduling your initial visit, we recommend booking 2-3 additional follow up visits 2 weeks apart to ensure continuity of care. Your clinician will create a treatment plan with you that meets your individual needs and goals.

Thank you for booking with us! If you need to cancel or move your appointment, 48 hours of advanced notice is required. If you cancel your initial visit within 24 hours of your appointment time, a 50% appointment fee will be taken if you choose not to convert it to an online appointment. If you cancel a follow up visit within 24 hours, it will automatically be converted to an online consult otherwise cancellations and no-shows are subject to the full appointment fee for repeated missed appointments.

Clinical Pilates is an adaptation of traditional pilates, taught one on one by a Physiotherapist or Kinesiologist who has completed specialized, post graduate course work.  It can incorporate specialized equipment such as a reformer, tower or chair, and various mat exercise to release, retrain, strengthen and improve muscle coordination and control. Pilates techniques focus on breath, core strengthening, balance and flexibility. 
 
Exercise Rehabilitation is a personalized, movement and exercise-based program performed one on one with a Kinesiologist. Treatment may include cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility and release work, strength training, core stabilization and breath work depending on the client’s goals. Individualized exercise and active rehabilitation plans may incorporate both rehabilitative (foam rollers, trigger point balls, pilates balls, theraband squats, etc) and more traditionally gym based equipment (free weights, kettle bells, barbells, bosu and exercise balls, etc) into a treatment plan targeted to your specific needs. 

An initial pre and/or post natal appointment is:
Appropriate for clients contemplating pregnancy, in the process of actively trying to become pregnant, those who are pregnant and those up to 1-year postpartum.
Appropriate for clients who may have had a recent miscarriage, stillbirth or those undergoing IVF treatment 
Appropriate for conditions such as: low back and pelvic girdle pain, round ligament pain, scar tissue management (after both vaginal delivery and c-section), DRA, c-section rehabilitation, etc
For clients seeking education and activities to help prepare the body for labour and delivery and to optimize recovery post-natally. 
An option for clients to CHOOSE from internal or external treatment options based on their level of comfort and stage in pregnancy (typically an INTERNAL assessment is NOT APPROPRIATE or indicated before 12-14 weeks of pregnancy, after ~ 37 weeks of pregnancy and is CONTRAINDICATED if the client has been told they’re high risk and have been placed on bed/pelvic rest). 
 
An initial pelvic floor appointment is: 
Appropriate for clients who are not actively entertaining the idea of becoming pregnant or are > 1 year postpartum.
Appropriate for conditions such as: incontinence, (peri)menopause, pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, pain with sexual activity, unexplained low back/hip pain, bowel health, endometriosis, and bladder/bowel pain conditions.
These sessions are likely the appropriate choice for pediatric, cis-male or transgender clients (unless they fall in to the pre and post natal criteria above). Additionally, we have pelvic floor appointments for people with penises listed on our booking site. 
 
Both treatments MAY include an internal vaginal and/or rectal examination to assess pelvic floor function but only after a thorough discussion and consent is provided by the client. 

An internal vaginal and/or rectal exam is considered the gold standard to assess how your pelvic floor is functioning which makes it the best option for the majority of conditions we treat in clinic. HOWEVER; although beneficial, internal vaginal or rectal exams are not mandatory to see improvements in your pelvic health. 
Conditions that are more likely to benefit from internal examination may include: 
Urinary or fecal incontinence and frequency 
Difficulty starting the stream of urine or fully voiding 
Pelvic organ prolapse 
Persistent pelvic pain
Pain with sexual activity 
Vaginismus/vulvodynia 
Pre- and post-pelvic/gynecological surgeries 
Transition related surgeries 

Conditions that are more likely to improve without the immediate need for internal exam and may be treated externally include:
Urinary urgency 
Abdominal wall and GI dysfunction (ie. DRA, constipation, IBD) 
Recent onset of low back or pelvic girdle pain 
Pubic symphysis pain 
IC/Bladder pain syndrome
Diastasis recti / c-section birth recovery 
Tailbone pain 
 
If your physiotherapist believes that you would benefit from an internal examination as part of your assessment based on your subjective history, or if you’ve opted for an external assessment and are not noticing significant changes or gains in your rehab progress to date, they might discuss including an internal vaginal or rectal assessment as part of their detailed assessment to ensure you are receiving the most comprehensive care possible. 
 
Lastly, if an internal exam is indicated but is not appropriate (ie. pediatrics, high risk pregnancies or pregnant individuals on bed/pelvic rest, individuals who do NOT consent to internal examination for any reason) Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging may be an alternate assessment and treatment option to provide more information about your pelvic health. 
 

Risks associated with receiving massage therapy may include bruising, aching, discomfort, short term aggravation of symptoms, and skin irritation.

Benefits of massage therapy include temporary or long-term relief of pain or discomfort caused by muscles, nerves, fascia, joints, and related soft tissue. Treatment by your RMT may also increase mobility, improve function, and reduce pain and discomfort levels.

You may attend your appointment in any clothing you had on during the day! For more active based treatments it is best to come in something comfortable and stretchy.

You may undress to your comfort level. The only part of the body that will ever be exposed is the area you are having treated, which will be discussed with your RMT prior to starting treatment. The rest of your body will always be covered by a sheet. If you would like to leave on some or all of your clothing, our therapists can adapt their technique to ensure you still receive an effective treatment. Your boundaries and consent are our top priority so you may always feel safe at your appointment. 

A bit of discomfort can sometimes be expected however the goal of the treatment is never to inflict pain. Massage therapy is most optimal when our body’s nervous system is able to send a “safe” signal to tissues, helping them soften and relax, which in turn improves mobility and decreases tension and pain. Your RMT will always adjust to lighter pressure if you are finding the treatment overly painful. We want you to leave feeling better than when you came in! You may experience tenderness for 24-48 hours following your treatment. Drinking plenty of water and gentle movement helps, however, please discuss with your RMT at your next appointment if any discomfort lasts more than 48 hours.

Any time! Massage therapy is a great form of self-care during this phase of life to support your body while it’s going through significant changes. Please ensure to disclose to your therapist how far along you are in your pregnancy plus any complications or health concerns you are experiencing so they may treat you safely and effectively. 

Generally, RMT is safe at any time postpartum. Your RMT will ask questions about your delivery to ensure you are in the most optimal and comfortable position on the table. If you are chest feeding, we recommend feeding or pumping before your treatment to alleviate breast fullness and tenderness.

Yes, it is! If you are seeking scar massage and abdominal work, please ensure you’ve received clearance from your medical provider prior to beginning treatment with us. Massage and myofascial work directly to the scar should begin around 6-8 weeks postpartum.