Amped Physiotherapy is pleased to offer pelvic health physiotherapy treatment to people of all gender identities who are experiencing urinary leakage and urgency, genital pain, painful intercourse, prolapse, pregnancy-related conditions, and persistent low back, pelvis or hip pain that does not respond to typical physiotherapy treatment. Our exercise-based approach focuses on keeping you active while managing your symptoms.
Our pelvic health physiotherapist, Stephanie Burans, is here to help you return to comfortable and confident activities of daily life and exercise/sport. Her primary area of pelvic health clinical focus is return to sport and physical activity in the active postpartum and menopausal population.
As Stephanie’s pelvic health availability is limited, new clients are accepted on a case-by-case basis and primarily booked via direct referral from another health professional. Please contact our office today if you are interested in working with Stephanie.
Pelvic health physiotherapists are specifically trained in the management of conditions related to the pelvic and genital region, as well as how those regions interact with your low back and hips. They will assess your body’s movement quality and strength, like any other physiotherapist.
Your pelvic health physiotherapist may also recommend an internal pelvic floor exam, to directly evaluate the muscle tension, strength and areas of pain in further detail. This will help your therapist to prescribe an individualized treatment plan for your care.
Your pelvic health physiotherapist is rostered (or registered) to provide pelvic health care and held to a high standard of practice to ensure your safety and comfort during treatment.
Your pelvic health physiotherapist will discuss the assessment and treatment options with you, to determine what approach is best for your care.
Stephanie was trained in the assessment of the pelvic floor through Pelvic Health Solutions. She also has advanced training in orthopaedic and manual physiotherapy, intramuscular stimulation (GunnIMS) and exercise.
Stephanie has completed courses in The Physical Therapy Approach to Anyone Experiencing Urinary Incontinence, The Role of Physiotherapy in the Treatment of Anyone Experiencing Pain Through a Trauma Informed Lens and Biopsychosocial Reframed.
Stephanie has completed additional courses in The Female Athlete with Antony Lo and Diastasis Rectus Abdominis and the Implications for Low Back and Pelvic Health with Diane Lee. She has special interest in the treatment of pelvic pain and exercise-based treatment of patients with urinary incontinence. Stephanie has experience working with people assigned male and assigned female at birth.
As an active mother of two young children, Stephanie has personal and professional experience in recovery after Caesarean section, postpartum UI and pelvic pain.
Pelvic Health Solutions is an Ontario evidence-based teaching company that provides high quality continuing education courses, mentoring and clinical resources to practitioners – with the goal of delivering evidence-based, biopsychosocial assessment and treatment of pelvic health problems to patients. Pelvic Health Solutions takes pride in training sensitive professionals to provide trauma-informed care, while maintaining the dignity and comfort of their patients at all times.
You can find resources about pelvic floor physiotherapy and the training of pelvic health physiotherapists at https://pelvichealthsolutions.ca.
As Stephanie’s pelvic health availability is limited, new clients are accepted on a case-by-case basis and primarily booked via direct referral from another health professional. Please contact our office at (613)822-9000, ext 1, if you are interested in working with Stephanie.
Please note that our clinic is on the second floor of Amped Sports Lab and Ice Complex. While we have a transitional space on the main floor for people who are recovering from an injury that means they cannot do stairs temporarily, this space is not equipped for pelvic health assessments. The transitional space is not wheelchair accessible and does not have the space needed to allow for a safe and comfortable pelvic health examination. If you require a fully-accessible treatment space, we would be happy to direct you to accessible clinics in the area.
Your first session will depend upon you and your needs. You can help us prepare for your initial appointment by completing your pelvic health intake form – this will help your physiotherapist to guide your session effectively.
Your physiotherapist will conduct a comprehensive assessment, including: a medical history, discussing your symptoms and concerns, and performing a physical examination. Depending on your needs and your comfort level, this examination may be external or internal (a vaginal or rectal examination). Your physiotherapist will explain their findings and the treatment options, which may include exercise, hands-on treatment, and education.
No!
While the most effective method for assessing any area of our body is to directly examine the muscles and structures in the area, we recognize that this type of assessment can make some people feel uncertain.
Our pelvic health physiotherapists are trained to be sensitive to your needs, and have many ways to assess the pelvic floor. Your physiotherapist will work with you to find the balance of care that reaches your goals while meeting your comfort level.
Pelvic health assessments are designed to be as comfortable as possible. If pelvic pain is the reason you are attending physiotherapy, your physiotherapist will ensure that the examination process is gentle, and will communicate with you throughout the process.
You can be assessed by a pelvic floor physiotherapist while pregnant, but the choice to do an internal exam will depend on you, your pregnancy and your physiotherapist. We do recommend that you speak to your maternal health professional, to ensure they are aware that you are seeking pelvic floor physiotherapy.
You also can be assessed by a pelvic floor physiotherapist while you are on your menstrual cycle, but the choice to do an internal exam will depend on your comfort level. If you are comfortable with an internal exam during your cycle, we can proceed as with any other appointment. If you are not comfortable with an internal exam, we can work on external techniques and strategies during your appointment.
No!
Everyone has a pelvic floor, and that pelvic floor plays an important role in the function of our core, low back and hips. If you are seeking pelvic health physiotherapy for males or for people assigned male at birth, Stephanie would be happy to assist you!
✔ Therapeutic Exercise Programs
✔ Breathing pattern coordination exercises and relaxation techniques
✔ Myofascial release techniques
✔ Visceral manipulation
✔ Bowel retraining
✔ Chronic Pain management
✔ Manual therapy techniques
✔ Core stabilization exercises directed at improving pelvic floor function
✔ Modified “kegel exercises” to address muscle strength, speed, endurance, muscle awareness, and coordination
✔ Pelvic floor muscle training
(613) 822-9922
Monday - Thursday: 7:00am - 8:00pm
Friday: 7:00am - 6:00pm
