Caitlin McPhee

Caitlin McPhee is a dedicated Pain Coach and Physiotherapist with a special interest in complex chronic pain conditions. Her extensive experience spans across wellness, sports science, musculoskeletal physiotherapy, chronic disease management, but it's her specialty in pelvic health and painful women's and men's health conditions that sets her apart in her field.

My Background

Driven by a deep curiosity about the synergy between movement and the mind, as well as an inherent passion for sports, Caitlin embarked on her Physiotherapy journey at Curtin University. Her time in private practice in Melbourne ignited her interest in women's health and pelvic pain. Recognising the need for specialised skills in this arena, she pursued postgraduate studies focusing on women's & men's pelvic health at Curtin University.

Throughout her career, Caitlin has enriched her expertise by collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, gleaning insights from diverse healthcare professionals and specialties. In 2022, she joined the Painless team, expanding her scope in caring for all forms of persistent pain and deepening her specialty offering in pelvic pain care.

My Approach

Caitlin's approach emphasizes the connection between the mind and body. She takes a holistic, integrated approach to treating and managing pain, believing that multidisciplinary care is essential in pain management. With a strong passion for pelvic health, she combines evidence-based physiotherapy, pain science, and specific movement rehabilitation to deliver a best practice approach to treatment. As a pain coach, Caitlin's role is to listen to her patients' stories and work with them to create a treatment plan focused around their unique goals.

My Favourite Therapies

Physical Assessment: Using both internal and external physical examinations to assess muscle tone, strength, and tenderness, along with palpation of the pelvic floor muscles.
Dry-Needing: Dry-needling is technique involving the use of acupuncture needles to stimulate and release muscle trigger points.
Biofeedback: Utilising specialized equipment to measure and display the activity of the pelvic floor muscles, aiding in both diagnosis and treatment.
Manual Techniques: Such as myofascial release, trigger point release, and soft tissue mobilisation to address specific issues within the pelvic floor and surrounding structures.
Pelvic Floor Exercises: Designing tailored pelvic floor muscle training programs to address weakness, incoordination, or hypertonicity.
Education: Educating patients about the pelvic anatomy, proper posture, bladder and bowel habits, and the factors contributing to their pain.
Electrical Stimulation: Using devices to provide gentle electrical currents that can aid in muscle relaxation, pain reduction, or strengthening of the pelvic muscles.
Relaxation Techniques: Teaching diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and other techniques to reduce muscle tension and pain.
Trauma-Informed Care: Approach that acknowledges the widespread impact of trauma and seeks to understand and respond to symptoms in the context of traumatic experiences. Prioritising the patient's safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.
Bladder and Bowel Training: Providing strategies to manage urinary and fecal incontinence, urgency, or frequency.
Lifestyle Recommendations: Offering advice on diet, fluid intake, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors that might be contributing to pelvic pain or dysfunction.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Working in tandem with other healthcare providers such as urologists, gynecologists, and colorectal specialists, ensuring a comprehensive approach to care.
Pain Science Education: Helping patients understand the neurophysiology of pain, and how it relates to their personal experience.
Home Exercise Programs: Designing individualised exercise and self-care regimens for patients to carry out at home to support their recovery and pain management