The Healthy Peach Physio is a women's specific physiotherapy clinic in Brisbane, founded by Marnie Poiner. For the Best Pelvic Physio in Grange call us today!
Marnie Poiner has worked as both a musculoskeletal and women's health physio since graduating in 2015. The Healthy Peach Physio is a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist in Grange that offers a range of different services from Women's health physiotherapy, pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, bladder symptoms, bowel symptoms, pregnancy support, pre-natal support, musculoskeletal conditions, and more. We service all customers from Grange and welcome all customers from Wilston, Windsor, Lutwyche, Gordon Park, Stafford, Enoggera, Herston, Kelvin Grove, Red Hill, Ashgrove, Gaythorne, Newstead, Kedron, Stafford Heights, Everton Park, Mitchelton, Kalinga, Albion, Hamilton, Clayfield, Wavell Heights, Everton Hills, Northgate, Nundah, Hendra, Keperra, Arana Hills, Bardon, Fortitude Valley and more.
23/10/2025
Been a while and you'd like to check in? 🍑
We'd love to chat!
But remember, if it's been more than 12 months since your last visit, you'll need to book an 'extended 60-minute appointment'. Just like when you grab a coffee with a friend you haven't seen in a while, we usually have lots to catch up on! And we never want to cut you short on time with your clinician - so this just ensures we have plenty of time to catch up and deliver some treatment value inside your appointment.
22/10/2025
🤰✨ Hypermobility & Pregnancy: Practical Tips for a Smoother Journey ✨🤰
Last week we talked about how pregnancy can feel a little different if you’re hypermobile — from extra joint laxity to earlier pelvic discomfort and more intense aches. The good news? There’s so much you can do to support your body and set yourself up for a more comfortable pregnancy. 💜
Here are some of our go-to physio tips:
🩲 Compression is your friend
Pregnancy-grade compression leggings or shorts can make a huge difference. They offer lumbar, pelvic, and bump support — and full-leg versions may even help with POTS symptoms. (Bonus: you can often claim them through private health with a physio prescription.)
🍑 External support matters
A pregnancy support belt or sacroiliac (SIJ) belt can add extra stability, especially as your bump grows. Some people even layer them over compression garments for maximum comfort.
🛌 Prioritise rest and sleep positioning
Supportive pillows between your knees (or a U-shaped pillow) can keep your hips and pelvis aligned and reduce nighttime discomfort.
👟 Think about daily movement
Supportive footwear and avoiding uneven weight-bearing movements (like lunges or standing on one leg to put on shoes) can reduce joint strain. And while it’s tempting to rest more, staying active (with guidance!) helps keep muscles strong and symptoms manageable.
💪 Plan ahead
If you’re thinking about pregnancy, building strength beforehand can make a big difference. A stronger baseline means fewer barriers and more resilience once those pregnancy hormones kick in.
Small changes really do add up. Working with a pelvic health physio can help you tailor these strategies to your body — so you feel supported, confident, and empowered every step of the way.
21/10/2025
🌸 Let’s Talk About Dilators — and How They Can Help With Painful Pe*******on 🌸
Pain with pe*******on is more common than you might think — and it’s not something you need to just live with. One reason it happens is that the pelvic floor is closely connected to the emotional part of the brain. If we expect pain, the muscles often tighten as a protective reflex.
That muscle tension reduces blood flow, limits space for pe*******on, and can make intimacy uncomfortable — which in turn reinforces the fear–pain cycle. Over time, this can lead to ongoing avoidance of s*xual activity.
💫 One of the most effective ways to break that cycle is by re-establishing a sense of safety with pe*******on — and that’s where dilators come in. 💫
We often use them as part of a graded exposure approach: starting with gentle, safe touch, then slowly introducing comfortable pe*******on in a controlled, non-threatening way. Over time, this helps the pelvic floor relax, builds confidence, and teaches the body that pe*******on doesn’t have to hurt.
Dilators can be used alone or with a partner, and we often combine them with other strategies — like relaxation, breathwork, and pelvic floor therapy — to support comfort and confidence. 🍑
20/10/2025
💦 Overactive Bladder: How We Treat It — and How You Can Take Back Control 💦
If you’re dealing with that sudden, urgent “need to go” (sometimes with leakage), treatment isn’t just what happens in the clinic — it’s also about giving you tools you can use every day to feel more in control.
Here are two ways we support clients with OAB:
✨ Urgency suppression strategies
We teach techniques to help your bladder turn down the volume on those strong urges — so you can walk, not run, to the toilet. A few examples:
👉 Perineal pressure – gently crossing your legs or sitting down to settle the urge.
👉 Pelvic floor activation – a gentle squeeze can send a “calm down” message to the bladder.
👉 Brain & body distractions – things like counting backwards, toe scrunches or calf pumps help redirect nerve signals and reduce urgency.
These often work within 30 seconds — giving you time and confidence back. 💪
⚡ TENS therapy
We may also use a small TENS device to gently stimulate nerves near the bladder. Used a few times a week, it can gradually reduce bladder sensitivity and improve control over time.
Together, these strategies empower you to manage OAB beyond the clinic — building confidence, reducing urgency, and putting you back in charge of your bladder. 🍑
17/10/2025
We talk a lot about the the pelvis (it's kinda our thing! 🍑) but breast-feeding mums - we can also support you through symptoms and conditions associated with the lactating breast!!
This includes things like…
🍑 Mastitis
🍑 Blocked ducts
🍑 Engorgement
We have a range of treatment methods we can utilise, including both the use of ultrasound and massage. But, like always, often the most powerful thing we can do is educate and support you! This includes sharing a range of management strategies that you can do at home too.
Here to support you through every stage of the many life phases we go through - and help you feel your peachiest every step of the way.
15/10/2025
🤱✨ Supporting Postpartum Recovery, including Ab Separation! ✨🤱
During pregnancy, it’s normal for the two sides of your abdominal muscles to stretch and move apart — a change called abdominal separation (diastasis recti). For some people, these tissues gradually come back together on their own, but sometimes they also need a little extra support.
Hands-on techniques, like the one shown here, can help by:
🍑 Improving blood flow to the healing tissues
🍑 Reducing tightness and tension around the abdomen
🍑 Encouraging the muscles and connective tissue to realign
🍑 Supporting your core as you rebuild strength
Massage is just one piece of the puzzle — we usually pair it with targeted exercises, breath work, and gentle movement to help your body recover fully and functionally. 💪
And here’s the thing: postpartum pelvic health physio isn’t just for those noticing a “gap.” It can support every new parent through this transition — from guiding a safe return to exercise, to helping with perineal healing or scar recovery, easing pelvic floor symptoms, supporting bladder or bowel control, and navigating a comfortable return to s*xual activity.
No matter what your postpartum journey looks like, you don’t have to do it alone — the right support can make all the difference in how you feel and function. ❤️
13/10/2025
🤰✨ Hypermobility & Pregnancy: The Pelvic Floor Perspective ✨🤰
Pregnancy is always a time of big change — but if you’re someone with generalised joint hypermobility or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), those changes can feel a little more noticeable. Because connective tissue is more stretchy and joints are more mobile, your body might respond differently to pregnancy than someone who isn’t hypermobile.
During pregnancy, hormones like relaxin and oestrogen naturally increase to help your body prepare for birth. For people with hypermobility — where ligaments are already more flexible — this can mean:
🍑 A little extra joint laxity
🍑 Pelvic girdle or hip discomfort (sometimes earlier than expected)
🍑 Low back aches or occasional subluxations
🍑 Digestive changes like reflux or constipation
🍑 And yes, sometimes pelvic floor symptoms like leakage or prolapse
You might also notice chronic pain feels more intense — not because anything is “wrong,” but because changes like weight gain, posture shifts, and altered movement patterns can place more demand on joints and soft tissues.
But here’s the good news 💡 — knowing this beforehand gives you the chance to support your body proactively. Building pelvic floor and core strength before and during pregnancy, pacing activity, and working with a pelvic health physio can all make a huge difference. And if symptoms do pop up, there are plenty of strategies to help you stay comfortable and confident through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. 💪✨
10/10/2025
✨ What’s a pessary — and why might your pelvic floor thank you for one? ✨
A pessary is a small, usually silicone device that’s placed inside the va**na to help support the pelvic organs. Think of it a bit like a little internal shelf — gently lifting things back into place and reducing the pressure and heaviness you might feel if those organs have shifted downward.
We often use pessaries as part of treatment for things like:
🌸 Pelvic organ prolapse – to reduce feelings of heaviness, dragging, or bulging.
🏃♀️ Bladder stress incontinence – in some cases, the extra support can help with symptoms.
💪 Pelvic pressure during exercise (often due to a mild prolapse) – especially if you notice symptoms when running, jumping or lifting.
Some people wear a pessary more long-term, others just when they’re exercising or doing more physical activities. And here’s the best part: they’re removable, reversible, and can be a great non-surgical option — either as a long-term solution or to give your body extra support while you’re doing pelvic floor rehab. 🙌
If you’re curious whether a pessary could help, chat to your pelvic health physio. It’s one more tool in the toolkit — and for many people, it’s a total game changer. 💜
09/10/2025
💧 What causes bladder leakage? 💧
First things first — bladder leakage is part of what we call urinary incontinence. And it’s not just about those moments when you can’t make it to the toilet in time. Even if you avoid leaks by going to the loo very frequently or “just in case,” the underlying issue is still there — you’re just managing it differently.
So what’s actually happening? 🤔
Most leakage comes down to how well the muscles around your urethra (the tube that carries urine out) are doing their job. These muscles wrap around the urethra to keep it closed while your bladder fills. If bladder pressure builds up and they’re not strong enough to resist it, they can be overpowered — and that’s when leakage occurs.
Sometimes this weakness is mild and only causes small, occasional leaks. Other times, it’s more significant and happens more often or in larger amounts. These urethral muscles give us majority of the closure, and the pelvic floor muscles assist against increases in abdominal pressure (like coughing/sneezing). So the pelvic floor muscles are actually not a huge contributor to stopping urge incontinence. This is why some people can be confused as their pelvic floor muscles function well, but they still have incontinence episodes.
There are other factors too, like:
🌱 Genetics – some of us are more predisposed.
⬇️ Urethral or bladder prolapse – changes in support can affect closure.
💉 Oestrogen changes – lower levels (after menopause or childbirth) can reduce support and make leakage more likely.
The good news? 💡 Leakage isn’t something you just have to “live with.” With the right assessment and treatment, most people see dramatic improvements and go on to live leak-free! We're here to help. 💧
07/10/2025
Did you know, you can Facetime your physio? 🍑
(not on like, the same on-call basis as your mum, but we can shift your appointment to tele-health if it makes life easier!)
Reasons why this may be an epic option for you, below 👇👇
Think about all the times you were rushing to leave the house and your baby wouldn’t stop crying and your toddler kept taking their shoes off while wearing their un**es on their head. How nice would it be to just jump on the computer for half an hour to talk to someone and figure out how best to achieve your goals?
Or if you live somewhere where it’s difficult to access healthcare. That doesn’t exempt you from pelvic floor issues, but it does make it harder to get help.
It could also be the perfect option for when you're not feeling 100% the day of your appointment.
Even more importantly, we find that patients get just as much out of the appointment, even if it's telehealth-delivered. This includes sessions where we do assessments and exercises! Our team are very creatively trained to use whatever you have in your home. So - regardless of where you are, and/or how crazy your day-to-day life might be, please know there is 100% a way we can work around it!
Simply reach out, and we can get an online consult booked in! 🍑
06/10/2025
Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) describes the range of urinary, s*xual, and va**nal symptoms that result from reduced oestrogen levels during and after menopause. So what are the symptoms? GSM symptoms are typically grouped into three main areas: bladder, bowel, and s*xual function. Let's dive into them! 👇
Bladder Symptoms & Dysfunction
🍑 Urinary urgency (feeling like your bladder is in control)
🍑 Pain or burning with urination
🍑 Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
🍑 Weak or hesitant urinary stream
🍑 Incomplete bladder emptying
🍑 Urinary incontinence (leaking)
Bowel Symptoms & Dysfunction
🍑 Feeling of incomplete emptying
🍑 Faecal incontinence
🍑 Excessive wiping to feel clean
🍑 Increased time to complete a bowel movement
🍑 Changes in bowel frequency or consistency
Sexual Symptoms & Dysfunction
🍑 Vaginal dryness and irritation
🍑 Pain during or after s*x (dyspareunia)
🍑 Post-in*******se bleeding
🍑 Burning or tearing sensations during intimacy
🍑 Decreased libido and reduced cl****al sensation
These symptoms are often tied to va**nal atrophy, the thinning and drying of va**nal tissue due to oestrogen loss. The discomfort may not only affect your s*xual health but also your self-confidence and intimate relationships.
But there's good news - GSM is very treatable, and depending on your individual symptoms, experience and goals, we have a diverse toolkit to help manage your pelvic health holistically!
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If you’ve every asked yourself, “Is this normal”, and been too afraid to broach the topic with your friends or even your GP that you’ve been seeing for 30 years and don’t feel comfortable talking to about your lady bits! Then this is the place for you.
Do I need a Women’s health physio?
· Do you leak urine, wind or stool when you cough, sneeze or at any other time? It can be a small, moderate or large amount; consistently or just occasionally; or maybe just during exercise!
· Do you have to run to the toilet urgently or frequently because you feel you will not make it in time? Do you leak when rushing to the toilet?
· Do you have pain with your bladder filling or emptying?
· Do you have a feeling of heaviness or dragging in your pelvis, va**na or a**s?
· Does it feel like you have "something down there" like a lump when you are washing yourself?
· Do you have decreased sensation with in*******se?
· Do you have pain with in*******se, inserting tampons or undergoing a doctor's pelvic exam?
· Have you had a baby? (like, ever. Not just recently) Whether you’ve delivered va**nally or through caesarean having a pelvic floor check can be a great way to ensure that everything is healing well and if you have any issues (whether symptomatic or not!) they can be managed early before becoming an issue
· Have you had, or are you having, pelvic surgery and want to prevent further or recurrent issues?
If you answered yes (or even maybe!) to any of these questions, then YES! These are not conditions that you need to live with, and Women’s Health Physiotherapy is the right place for you!
