women’s health & Incontinence
Women’s health physiotherapy helps treat women’s health issues such as incontinence, pelvic/ vaginal pain, prenatal and postpartum musculoskeletal pain, osteoporosis, rehabilitation following breast surgery, lymphedema, education prevention, wellness and exercise and so much more.
Women’s health physiotherapists can tailor an exercise plan to help you improve a variety of symptoms caused by women’s health concerns. For example, bone density naturally decreases during menopause. So, a physiotherapist can help you strengthen your bones and improve your bone health through exercise.
Additionally, strengthening your pelvic floor, especially during and after pregnancy, is a huge component of women’s health physiotherapy. Pregnancy and childbirth obviously put a lot of stress on your pelvic floor and it’s essential to strengthen this area as much as possible. It’ll not only help you during childbirth but also can help prevent incontinence, prolapse and other pelvic floor related issues.
When you work with a women’s physio, you can expect expertise on the unique complexities of the female anatomy (including female hormones) to help you treat various issues related to women’s health, pregnancy, menopause, and more.
When you see a women’s physiotherapist, you can expect to first be asked about your symptoms, experiences, and goals. If you’re seeing a physio for pelvic floor issues, you can also expect to receive a pelvic examination.
It’s understandable that you may be nervous about the pelvic exam portion of your physio appointment. Always let your physio know how you’re feeling, and they will help reassure you to make you feel comfortable throughout the process.
Generally, a women’s health physiotherapy appointment should take around one hour. However, the length of your appointment may vary depending on what treatment you require. In most circumstances, you should expect to wear comfortable clothing in which you can move freely to your women’s health physio appointment. Often, you’ll be performing low-impact exercises during your session.
Pre-natal and post-natal physiotherapy:
- Pregnancy-related pain
- Relaxation and mindfulness exercises to aid in childbirth
- Abdominal separation due to pregnancy
- Pelvic floor strengthening during and after pregnancy
- Caesarean/Perineal scar management
- Bone density concerns related to menopause
- Pelvic girdle instability or pain
- Urinary or fecal incontinence
- Pelvic floor prolapses due to childbirth
- Pelvic pain or pain related to sexual intercourse
- Overactive bladders
- Urinary urgency
- Constipation
- Antenatal and postnatal exercise
- Antenatal and postnatal Pilates
- Antenatal massage
- Mastitis or Blocked Milk Ducts
