Zeeland has only thirteen pelvic physiotherapists, although there is considerable demand for them. A number of therapists in the province are also quitting because they have reached their retirement age, causing shortages and waiting lists. The thirteen specialized therapists are currently very busy. This is reported by Omroep Zeeland.
Patients can visit a pelvic physiotherapist if they have urinary or defecation problems, pain during sex or, for example, pelvic complaints after pregnancy. The group of patients is therefore very broad: young and old, men and women – everyone may need a pelvic physiotherapist. So it’s not just pregnant women who have pelvic complaints. “Men who have erectile dysfunction. Women with pain during sex. People who have difficulty going to the toilet. Really very diverse,” says therapist Ella Dingemanse.
Treat internally
The province could use more pelvic physiotherapists, but they are not easy to recruit. Presumably because physiotherapists think they have to act internally. But according to Dingemanse, this is rarely the case. Only a small part of the treatment is internal, she says. Most of the treatment takes place externally.
Specialization in pelvic physiotherapy
Anyone who wants to do the three-year specialization in pelvic physiotherapy must first complete the HBO physiotherapy course. Physiotherapists often know hardly anything about training to become a pelvic specialist from their basic training. And because Zeeland only has thirteen of these professionals, the chance that an intern will be recruited is small. Dingemanse and her colleagues will therefore work to recruit more interns to show them what the work entails. Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda has promised to pay more attention to the master’s degree.
By: National Healthcare Guide / Johanne Levinsky
