Trish Brunelle is an experienced physiotherapist who has worked specifically in pelvic health for over 15 years. She wears many hats including being a birth phyio-doula, an educator and instructor to physiotherapists, a physiotherapist who can fit pessaries, and an owner of Get Moving Physio, a clinic in Barrie, Ontario. Trish and I had a great conversation about prolapse which will serve as a great introduction for women who are newly diagnosed with a prolapse and looking to get more information.
(Advance apologies about some of the overlapping/lagging conversation and minor tech issues which took place during the recording.)
Interview Highlights:
- How Trish got into the field of pelvic health physiotherapy – 2:38min
- Is there awareness of prolapse as a health condition that can be treated with physiotherapy? – 4:50mins
- What is a prolapse – in summary – 7: 05mins
- Is a prolapse forever? – 11:11mins
- What causes prolapse? – 12:40mins
- How to manage an existing prolapse during pregnancy and postpartum? – 15:50mins
- Does childbirth make prolapse worse? – 20:25mins
- Signs and symptoms – 21:08mins
- Assessment techniques – 24:11mins
- Discussion on treatment – 26:02mins
- Discussion on pessaries – can they be eventually discontinued? – 31:00mins
- Should a pessary be a standard care during postpartum? – 34:47mins
- Thoughts on surgery for prolapse – 37:40mins
- What defines success? – 40:55mins
- How realistic it is to see changes in prolapse grading – 43:45mins
- The effectiveness of pelvic physiotherapy for prolapse – 47:00mins
- Discussion on the psychological and emotional dimensions with a prolapse diagnosis – 49:39mins
- How to encourage clients to be active safely – 53:34mins
- Thoughts on online support groups for prolapse – 59:00mins
- Final thoughts on prolapse – 61:50mins
