All clients are required to fill out a medical questionnaire and informed consent form before attending an initial consultation. This is to ensure your safety at all times. Please answer all questions fully and truthfully. All information will be kept strictly confidential and any further questions that arise will be discussed at your first appointment.
Informed Consent
Purpose
Belly Strong provides two kinds of physiotherapy services – musculoskeletal and pelvic. A musculoskeletal physiotherapist is trained to assess and treat conditions involving muscles, joints and nerves with a combination of hands-on treatment and exercise prescription and other modalities. A pelvic physiotherapist does the same, but their primary focus is the pelvic floor. Sometimes there is an overlap in treatment as often pelvic and musculoskeletal issues coexist.
What is an digital vaginal or rectal exam?
The pelvic floor is much like any other muscle – it can be weak, inactive, tight or overloaded. Like any muscle, to get an idea of if there are any problems associated with it, we ideally need to physically feel it and test its strength and activity. Because it sits internally, such assessment is best completed via an internal examination. An internal digital vaginal/rectal exam (DVE/DRE) is an examination performed by a suitably trained physiotherapist. A single lubricated and gloved finger is inserted into the vagina or rectum to assess the condition of the pelvic floor muscles. In some cases, if appropriate, the physiotherapist may attempt to treat your pain/problem directly during this examination. You can ask your physiotherapist to stop the procedure at any point and they will do so immediately.
Why would an internal vaginal/rectal exam be beneficial for me?
The following problems may benefit from this kind of assessment (and associated treatment) as often the pelvic floor muscles are involved in, if not a direct cause. These are the conditions were are currently seeing patients for:
- Stress urinary incontinence (leaking urine when you cough, laugh, sneeze, jump, lift or exercise)
- Urinary urgency with/without incontinence (a strong desire to urinate which can be accompanied by leaking)
- Overactive bladder (peeing very frequently)
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Constipation/obstructed defaecation
- Anal incontinence (leaking poo or gas)
- Faecal urgency (a strong desire to poo which you battle to control)
- Incomplete emptying (a feeling of never being able to fully empty your bladder or bowels)
- Diastasis recti/abdominal separation
- Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP)
- Low back, hip or sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain
- Pelvic pain conditions e.g. vaginismus, vulvodynia, coccydynia, IBS
Do I have to have an internal examination?
No. Whilst an internal exam is often the best way of accurately assessing your pelvic floor, there are other techniques that can be employed, eg. external palpation / use of aids. These methods do not always give as accurate and extensive a picture as an internal examination would normally do.
Risks
All procedures carry risks and there is a chance that you may experience adverse effects as a result of assessment and treatment. We will do everything we can to prevent any adverse effects, and we encourage you to communicate any discomfort to your therapist immediately. Effects can include, but are not limited to: treatment soreness in the 24hours after a session, pain, infection (urinary or vaginal) and bleeding. Every care is taken to minimise these risks through clear communication with you and the use of clean procedures.
Benefits
There are so many benefits to having a physiotherapist assess and treat you. These can include reduced pain, improved function, enhanced quality of life and a feeling of empowerment over your health.
Confidentiality
We value your privacy and will never disclose any information that we receive from you to outside parties without your prior written consent. All personal details will be kept strictly confidential.
Withdrawal of Consent
You can withdraw your consent at any time.
Questions
If you have any questions, please email info@bellystrong.com. You will also be given the opportunity to ask questions during your sessions.
Medical Questionnaire
Declaration
By completing, signing and submitting this form, I acknowledge that I have read, understood and accurately completed all questions; and I have not provided any false information. I confirm that I am voluntarily engaging in assessment and treatment, and my participation involves a risk of injury. If I answered YES to any of the questions in Medical Questionnaire regarding current medical conditions that may contraindicate having a vaginal exam, I have sought medical advice from my overseeing medical doctor that I may undergo assessment and treatment. I understand the risks and benefits associated with seeing a physiotherapist, and agree to take full responsibility for my health and well-being. If anything regarding my physical state of health changes, I will inform my therapist immediately in writing. I hereby agree to the Belly Strong’s terms of use (these can be found on our Terms and Conditions page).