Suzanne Vernazza, a 44-year-old physiotherapist at the RVI in Newcastle, has seen her Know Your Floors initiative go viral, amassing more than 670,000 TikTok followers. The organisation aims to demystify pelvic health and encourage public discussion of issues that are more common than many realise.
During the pandemic, when NHS resources were redirected to tackle Covid-19, Vernazza was determined to ensure vital knowledge about pelvic floor care still reached the public. She turned to social media, and Know Your Floors has since grown significantly.
From 'Squeeze Alongs' to a £75,000 grant
Vernazza, from Low Fell, leads daily 'Squeeze Alongs' – pelvic health exercises tailored to hit songs. She recently received a £75,000 grant as part of a Women in Innovation award from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which will fund the development of an app. A book is also in the works.
Reflecting on her journey, Vernazza told ChronicleLive: "It's been a bit of a whirlwind. If you had asked me would I ever be doing this, I'd not have believed you." She qualified as a physio in 2003 and noted that women's health physiotherapy is a niche area with few trained specialists.
Breaking the silence on common issues
Vernazza said conditions like urinary incontinence are often dismissed by those affected, who think "that's just the way it is." She added: "Our teams are starting to grow – but I am aware that a lot of people are not reaching out for help. Having these issues seems to be normalised, or else people don't know who to turn to."
In 2020, frustrated that quality-of-life services were being deprioritised, she decided to take to social media. Despite initial apprehension about using TikTok, she has seen Know Your Floors go massively viral, demonstrating the positive power of the internet.
Pelvic health affects 'more people than we realise'
Vernazza emphasised that pelvic health is not solely a women's issue. She cited data suggesting one in six men will experience related problems, though even that figure may be skewed due to under-reporting. "This is definitely something that affects more people than we realise," she said.
She praised the North East NHS for its strides in women's and pelvic health, saying: "In the North East it's been incredible, there's so much drive to improve women's health and pelvic health. We are definitely making positive moves, and going in the right direction."
