We are a team of Physiotherapists with a passion for Pelvic, Obstetric and Breast Health.
You might be coming to see one of us because either your GP, consultant, or midwife recommended our input, or you are due to have specific gynaecology or breast surgery.
Our aim to is empower and guide you with the skills and knowledge to manage any symptoms you may be experiencing.
What to expect
You will be given the option of a telephone or face to face consultation. If you are due to have surgery, a telephone appointment is what we will provide.
If you are coming to see us for urogynae issue, our initial appointment is based around questions related to your pelvic health. A pelvic floor examination is an option, but this is offered at your follow up appointment.
We also have a fit for pregnancy class running face to face at Wansbeck General Hospital, Hexham General Hospital and North Tyneside General Hospital. These classes are a great way to learn how your body changes during pregnancy (as these changes can cause aches and pains), what it means to be physically active during pregnancy, and ways to reduce discomfort.
Alnwick Infirmary
Infirmary Drive, Alnwick, NE66 2NS
Berwick Infirmary
Infirmary Square, Berwick, TD15 1LT (behind maternity)
Blyth Community Hospital
Thornton Street, Blyth, NE24 1DX
Hexham General Hospital
Corbridge Road, Hexham, NE46 1QJ
North Tyneside General Hospital
Rake Lane, North Shields, NE29 8NH
Oxford Centre
West Farm Avenue, Long Benton, NE12 8LT
Wansbeck General Hospital
Woodhorn Lane, Ashington, NE63 9JJ
Pregnancy resources
Pelvic Floor
What is my pelvic floor? How do I do pelvic floor exercises? In this video, a Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist explains how to get started on finding your pelvic floor muscles and why you should be exercising these muscles as part of your daily routine. Pelvic Health Physiotherapists help with pelvic floor dysfunction caused by pregnancy and childbirth, or other issues including incontinence and pelvic pain.
For more information please see this leaflet: The Pelvic Floor Muscles - a guide for women
Posture and position during pregnancy
For more information please see this leaflet: Fit for pregnancy
If you are experiencing back and/or pelvic girdle pain during your pregnancy, watch our videos here for advice.
We also have multiple episodes on physiotherapy as part of our Maternity @ Northumbria podcast. Listen here
Bladder and vaginal problems during and after pregnancy
For more information please see this leaflet: Pelvic organ prolapse
Constipation during and after pregnancy
For more information please see this leaflet: Improving your bowel function
Back/pelvic pain during pregnancy
For more information please the following leaflets:
Physical activity during pregnancy
If you are keen to remain/start being active during your pregnancy please see this resource: Active Pregnancy Foundation
We also have multiple episodes on physiotherapy as part of our Maternity @ Northumbria podcast. Listen here.
Benefits of physical activity during pregnancy to health and well-being
Bladder care
For more information please see the following leaflets:
Pain management and wound care
For more information please see the following leaflets:
Your core muscles after birth
For more information please see the following leaflets:
Return to exercise
For more information please see this leaflet: Fit for the future
It is also important to be physcially active post-birth.
Returning to running
Keen to get back to running post-birth? We have a video explaining how this is achieveable.
Self Assessment for DRA
A Diastasis of the Rectus Abdomins refers to thinning and widening of the linea alba (connective tissue in the middle of the abdominal wall between the rectus abdominis muscles) with associated laxity of the abdominal wall. It is often referred to as the “mummy tummy”. In this video, we explain how you can self-assess for a DRA
What is Bladder and bowel incontinence?
Urinary stress incontinence is the leaking of urine from the bladder with activity. This can be sudden activities such as jumping, coughing, laughing. You can also experience leaking with day-to-day tasks such as changing position or when you are on your way to the toilet.
Bowel incontinence is the unwanted passing of stool or liquid from your anus. These symptoms because of their nature can have a huge impact on your quality life and overall confidence.
What symptoms could I have?
Incontinence affects everyone differently and your symptoms may be happening for different reasons.
- Leaking from bladder or bowel
- Leaking with certain movements
- Urgency from bladder or bowel
- Leaking when on way to toilet
- Bowel/wind incontinence
Self-help / Advice
Although these problems are common, it is important to seek help if you are experiencing symptoms of incontinence as they can be improved with the right advice. See your GP and ask them to refer you to a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist team.
Lifestyle changes can also help your bladder and bowel symptoms. Simple changes in your lifestyle can have an impact.
- Start to do your pelvic floor muscle exercises (see resource list below for link to ‘pelvic floor muscle’ booklet)
- Try to prepare for any activity where you may leak by tightening your pelvic floor muscles first (also known as the ‘knack’).
- Try not to rush straight to the toilet if you get a sudden urge. Try sitting down, waiting and using the pelvic floor muscles to calm the ‘urgency messages’ from your bladder or bowel down before you walk to the toilet. It is important to establish what is normal for you before you start to change you habit.
- When you finish using the toilet, try to make sure you have finished emptying your bladder by sitting and waiting a little longer, relaxing your pelvic floor, deep breathing or tipping forwards and backwards on the toilet.
- Try and avoid getting constipated and straining. Ensure you have a balanced diet with plenty of fluid (see resource list below for link to ‘improving bowel habitats’ booklet).
Useful resources
Pelvic floor muscles (a guide for woman)
20818-POGP-PelvicFloor.indd (thepogp.co.uk)
Pelvic floor muscles exercises and advice for men
21xxxxpogppelvicfloormen_signed_off_1.pdf (thepogp.co.uk)
Pelvic floor muscle exercises and advice (a guide for trans men, trans masculine and non-binary people (who were assigned female at birth)
211012pogppelvic_floor_trans_men_v3_1.pdf (thepogp.co.uk)
Pelvic floor muscle exercises and advice (a guide for trans women, trans feminine and non-binary people (who were assigned male at birth).
211013pogppelvic_floor_trans_women_v3.pdf (thepogp.co.uk)
The pelvic floor muscles (a guide for women who are having or have had pelvic radiotherapy)
21xxxx_pfm_radiotherapy.pdf (thepogp.co.uk)
Pelvic organ prolapse:
232207pogpprolapse.pdf (thepogp.co.uk)
Improving bowel habitats:
What to expect
One of our Physiotherapy team will contact you by telephone before your surgery to complete a screening assessment with you and this will take approximately 30 minutes.
We do not routinely follow you up in physiotherapy following your surgery, but we can offer an appointment at your request.
Fit following surgery (advice and exercise following gynaecological surgery)
Fit following surgery (advice for trans men, trans masculine and non-binary people following hysterectomy)
pogp_fit_following_surgery_gender_diversity.pdf (thepogp.co.uk)
Recovery tracker following abdominal hysterectomy:
Recovery_tracker_following_abdominal_hysterectomy.pdf (northumbria.nhs.uk)
Recovery tracker following pelvic floor repair:
Recovery_tracker_following_pelvic_floor_repair.pdf (northumbria.nhs.uk)
What to expect
One of our Physiotherapy team will contact you by telephone before your surgery to complete a screening assessment with you and arrange your follow up appointment. This telephone appointment will take approximately 30 minutes.
After this you, will be offered a face-to-face appointment at a site that is convenient for you, and this will happen approximately 3-4 weeks after surgery. Within this appointment we will have a chat about your recovery and assess how you are moving following your operation.
Resource list
If you are due to have a lump or breast removed, lymph nodes sampled and/or tissue expander inserted please see the link below:
If you are due to have a breast uplift (also known as a mastopexy), breast reduction, breast enlargement or change of breast expander to implant please see link below:
If you are due to have breast reconstruction surgery using a latissimus dorsi flap, please see link below:https://
If you are due to have breast reconstruction using an abdominal flap, please see link below:
Other support
If you would like to know more about online support networks during your journey through diagnosis and treatment, please see the following links:
Breast cancer now: https:/
MacMillan: https:/
Our trust website also has good information regarding the breast care team and contact numbers:
https://
If you are keen to restart physical activity post-surgery/treatment, please see the following links:
We are undefeatable. There are exercises aimed at all different levels of fitness from chair-based exercise to exercises for complete beginners to high intensity exercise. There are some inspiring stories of people becoming more active despite their health conditions.
https://
This girl can. As the name suggests is aimed at supporting women to exercise confidently. This site might be helpful for you if you already enjoy exercise and want to find opportunities and ideas to exercise whatever your starting weight.