ROLE OF THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST IN PELVIC FLOOR DYSFUNCTION

• Work in a team with other professions in medicine
(e.g. general practitioner, urologist, gynecologist,
radiologist).
• Evaluate the degree of pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms
and complaints and overall condition by covering
all components of the ICF.
• Fully evaluate PFM performance, including ability to
contract and strength.
• Set individual treatment goals and plan treatment
programmes in collaboration with the patient.
• Treat the condition individually and/or conduct
PFM exercise classes.
• Teach preventive PFM exercise individually or in
classes during pregnancy and post natally.
• Clinicians without a research background can participate
in high-standard research as deliverers of high quality
physical therapy and conduct evaluation of
the intervention. They should, however, refuse to be
involved in studies with low-quality methodology
and/or low-quality intervention (e.g. inadequate
dosage).
• Research PTs should:
– conduct basic research on tissue adaptation to different
treatment modalities;
– participate in the development of responsive, reliable
and valid tools to assess PFM function and
strength and outcome measures;
– conduct high-quality methodological and interventional
RCTs to evaluate effect of different
physical therapy interventions.