Sophie Edstein MAPA
BAppSci (Physio) Hons
GradCertPhysio (Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy)
Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
Sophie is an experienced Pelvic Health Physiotherapist who graduated from University of Sydney with first-class honours in 2011.
Her early career saw her working in a busy hospital managing post operative rehabilitation and patients recovering from lower limb amputation requiring prosthetics. She then moved into private practice as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist largely focusing on sports injuries and working with a Shute Shield rugby club and local netball teams.
Sophie's passion for pelvic health began in 2016 when she began working at a busy pelvic health clinic in the eastern suburbs of Sydney before moving to London. Here she continued working in private practice and set up a pessary fitting clinic where she helped mentor other physios with pessary fitting skills. for the last decade, Sophie has completed many pelvic health short courses, attended conferences, both her and in Europe, and completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy through Melbourne University (2021). Her passion for pelvic health has expanded since having her own 3 children and she now focuses on all aspects of women's health, integrating the latest evidence-based treatment, together with her earlier experience in sports physiotherapy (including mat and reformer pilates), to provide holistic management of womenthrough all life stages.
On a more personal note, Sophie has a love of sport, previously competing at a national level in rowing and surf boat rowing. She now enjoys keeping fit by running, reformer Pilates, strength training and swimming. She loves spending time with her family, travelling and cooking.
Her main areas of clinical interest are:
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Pelvic Girdle Pain: including pubis symphysis, sacroiliac, coccygeal and deep gluteal pain - sport, pregnancy or general
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Hip, Groin and Back pain/dysfunction
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Urinary Incontinence: including stress and urge incontinence
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Bowel Disorders: including incontinence, constipation, and pain associated with anal fissures
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Prolapse: including pessary fittings, pelvic floor training
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Overactive bladder / Urgency
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Pre-/Post-Natal education, treatment and management: including birth prep, abdominal separation, pre- and post-natal assessments, exercise in pregnancy, return to exercise in the post-natal period including following c-section, pelvic and back pain
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Pre-/Post-Operative care: including hysterectomy, prolapse repairs, gynaecological/anorectal cancer
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Pelvic Cancer treatment: including dilator therapy following radiation therapy to the pelvic area
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Sexual Pain/Dysfunction: vaginismus, endometriosis, adenomyosis, vulvodynia, PGAD
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Clinical Pilates and Dry Needling
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Chronic Pelvic Pain
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Mastitis
Fun Facts​:
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How did you get into pelvic physio?
I once had a pregnant triathlete who asked me what was safe regarding exercise in pregnancy, and how quickly she could return to competing post birth. I had no clear guidelines, so I went on a 5-day introductory course in pelvic health and found it the most fascinating course. I just wanted to know more and more and so I attended many short courses, and eventually completed my Post Grad degree upon returning from London. I also had my own episode of pelvic pain following a traumatic surf boat injury so know first hand the sensitivities around pelvic pain and treatments.
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What are your passions in the field?
I believe that women from all walks of life should be able to access quality, compassionate healthcare. I have a particular interest in assisting women with maintenance of health and fitness during pregnancy, and helping them return safely to exercise after giving birth, as well as supporting women to maintain strength through perimenopause and beyond. The rates of women dropping out of fitness and exercise due to pelvic health concerns is alarming. I love working with my clients to ensure every woman can find some kind of exercise that they enjoy and are not afraid of participating in due to pelvic health symptoms.
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What would you like to see change in the world of pelvic health?
I want to see more young women start and maintain their activity levels. Periods, period pain, and incontinence should not be a reason our young girls avoid exercise, nor should incontinence, prolapse or pelvic pain be a reason our middle and older aged women avoid exercise. this is something that needs to change and women need to talk freely about thes concerns/symptoms so that we normalise the conversation. Pregnancy exercise guidelines have become less about sacre-mongering and tehre is now great research recommending less restrictions on exercise in pregnancy and showing better birth statitics in women who maintain and continue exercising througout pregnancy.
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What do you like to do in your spare time? ​
Outside of work, I am busy mum of 3. I love cooking, exercising, travelling, and spending time with my famiy on teh beach or in gthe bush.