Women’s health physiotherapy is the therapeutic treatment of all disorders affecting the pelvis and pelvic floor. From incontinence to prolapse, there is growing evidence that physiotherapy can alleviate, and in many cases cure these symptoms. We are experienced in treating women through pregnancy, post natally, through menopause and beyond!
What can I expect at my women’s health appointment?:
Your assessment and treatment will be tailored specifically to you and your presenting complaints. We will start with a detailed history which will be taken in privacy – we are very sensitive to the fact that these conditions may be difficult to discuss.
Your physical assessment will most likely begin with examination of your abdominal muscles, pelvis and lumbar spine – these structures house your all important pelvic floor muscles; a dysfunction in one of these areas can result in dysfunction elsewhere. If appropriate you may then be offered an internal examination. This is an important part of your assessment and necessary in identifying the tone, strength and control of your pelvic floor muscles. Using finger palpation the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue will be assessed for injury or scarring, signs of pelvic organ prolapse, muscle tone, and tenderness, following which the pelvic floor muscle will be tested for strength and endurance.
We can then develop you a specific and individualised treatment and exercise programme. The assessment findings will be discussed with you and treatment will depend upon findings and your symptoms.
Conditions we treat:
- pelvic floor muscle tightness and weakness,
- pelvic organ prolapse,
- pelvic pain, including during pregnancy,
- incontinence, frequency and urgency symptoms,
- diastasic recti (abdominal muscle separating during pregnancy)
Treatments we offer:
- pelvic floor muscle exercises
- internal pelvic floor muscle release
- caesarean scar massage
- post natal rehab