Women’s and Men’s Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, Pelvic Health and Prolapse Management Expert

Rebecca Rutherford is a Women’s, Men’s and Children’s Pelvic Health Physiotherapist at Total Physiotherapy Manly Vale in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. With more than 30 years of clinical experience in the management of musculoskeletal conditions, and advanced training in pelvic health, Rebecca cares for patients experiencing:

• Pelvic floor dysfunction, including bladder leakage and pelvic floor weakness.
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Bladder and bowel concerns
• Pre and postnatal care, including pelvic girdle pain management, preventative pelvic floor care, postnatal pelvic floor and abdominal muscle assessments, and guidance for a safe return to exercise following pregnancy and birth.
• Pelvic pain, including painful periods, pain with intercourse and women experiencing endometriosis
• Urinary incontinence, urgency and overactive bladder
• Pessary fitting and management

Rebecca completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) at the University of Sydney in 1993, a Graduate Certificate in the Professional Use of Pessaries for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Management at the University of South Australia in 2019 and a Master’s Degree in Pelvic Health at the University of Melbourne in 2023. She is a long-standing member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and the Continence Foundation of Australia.

Rebecca’s evidence-based treatment approach begins with a comprehensive assessment to identify the contributing factors to each person’s condition. She adopts a holistic, biopsychosocial approach to care, ensuring treatment is tailored to the individual’s needs and circumstances.

Treatment may include pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation, bladder and bowel retraining, pessary fitting and management, pain management strategies, education, and personalised exercise programs. She understands the significant impact pelvic health conditions can have on everyday life and is committed to helping patients regain confidence, improve function, and return to the activities that matter most to them.
Rebecca commonly sees patients for:

• Women’s pelvic health, including pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, urinary urgency, overactive bladder, faecal incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction and conditions specific to pregnancy and the postnatal period.

• Men’s pelvic health, including pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic pain, and bladder and bowel concerns.

• Children’s pelvic health, including bladder and bowel dysfunction and pelvic floor rehabilitation.

Rebecca is passionate about lifelong learning and is committed to ongoing professional development to ensure her patients receive current, evidence-based care. She also enjoys sharing her knowledge with the wider community and has presented educational sessions on pelvic health, menopause, and exercise to community groups and health professionals.
Outside the clinic, Rebecca enjoys running, regular exercise, reading, and spending time with family and friends.