In Episode 77 of the PhysioTutors podcast, we welcome Hedwig Neels, a renowned physiotherapist from Belgium who specializes in pelvic health. Hedwig is a professor at the University of Antwerp and founder of the Pelvic Floor platform, which aims to break taboos and make pelvic health accessible and understandable for women. During the episode, Hedwig discusses her journey in creating the Pelvic Floor platform and the common misconceptions around pelvic health, such as the overemphasis on Kegel exercises. She emphasizes the importance of education, awareness, and a holistic approach to pelvic health. The conversation also covers pelvic health during pregnancy and postpartum, highlighting the need for pelvic floor training and the challenges in returning to high-impact sports. Hedwig shares insights into male pelvic health, particularly saddle pain in cyclists, and the significance of relaxation over strengthening in certain cases. The episode concludes with a discussion on the future of pelvic floor rehabilitation and the importance of open communication and education in the field. Hedwig provides valuable resources and advice for physiotherapists and individuals looking to understand and improve pelvic health.
Guest
Hedwig is a physiotherapist specializing in pelvic health, with a particular focus on education and awareness. She is a professor at the University of Antwerp, where she combines academic research with clinical practice at the University Hospital of Antwerp. Hedwig is also the founder of The Pelvic Floor, an information platform and community designed to break taboos and make pelvic health accessible and understandable for all women. She teaches both medical and paramedical professionals through the Women's & Pelvic Health Professionals network and is the author of Het Bekkenbodemboek — a beautifully illustrated, accessible guide to pelvic floor health for women.
Her clinical expertise also extends to athletes, including both women and men, with a special focus on cycling-related saddle pain and its impact on performance.
Content
00:00 Intro
01:12 Why she started her Pelvic Health Platform
03:19 Misconceptions about the Pelvic Floor
06:42 Sponsor
07:19 Lowering the barrier to start talking about pelvic health
12:00 Pelvic Health during and after pregnancy
15:40 Return to sport post-partum
20:00 Quantifying pelvic floor function in practice
23:37 Pelvic Floor Problems among top reasons women stop playing sports
26:52 Male pelvic pain
31:43 More about letting go than holding in
34:12 Pelvic health skills for non-pelvic health practitioners
37:01 Sponsor
38:02 Go beyond Kegels
42:54 Don't forget the pelvic girdle
46:34 The biggest innovation in pelvic rehab
49:32 What every physio should know about pelvic health
51:02 Hedwig's closing thoughts
53:18 Contact info & Outro
Bonus Material
Download the referenced transcript including PubMed Links and a high-resolution infographic on this episode as part of your Physiotutors membership on the Physiotutors App.
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