What is Women’s Health Physiotherapy? Physiotherapists working in the field of women’s health have a special interest in caring for women across the lifespan, particularly in the areas of obstetrics and gynaecology. This includes managing problems associated with pregnancy or the postnatal period and a number of bladder, bowel and pelvic floor conditions. Our physiotherapists at O&G are Kate Goode and Jane Rothe and they have a special interest in pregnancy, postnatal and pelvic floor physiotherapy care.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an exciting time in a woman’s life, however the combination of pregnancy hormones and postural changes that occur as your baby grows can have a profound effect on your body. During pregnancy physiotherapists can help to optimise your health and wellbeing, prevent or manage pregnancy related conditions and help you prepare for labour and the early postnatal recovery period.
Some of the common conditions in pregnancy that can be managed include:
- Back, neck and rib pain
- Pelvic girdle pain
- Abdominal pain
- Wrist pain, tingling or numbness
- Abdominal muscle separation or weakness
- Pelvic floor problems
Postnatal
Pregnancy and childbirth can weaken your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, and the demands of caring for a newborn can lead to a number of aches and pains. During the postnatal period, some of the conditions a physiotherapist can help you with include:
- Thumb/wrist pain, tingling, weakness
- Back, neck, pelvic and/or coccyx pain
- Abdominal muscle separation or weakness
- Breastfeeding problems including breast engorgement, mastitis, blocked ducts, postural discomfort
- Pain after a perineal tear, episiotomy, vaginal delivery
- Pain after a caesarean section
- Pelvic floor problems
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
Many women suffer in silence with pelvic floor problems for years before seeking help, others may not have any symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction but are interested to learn more about these muscles to prevent issues later in life – all women can benefit from a pelvic floor assessment and prevention is better than cure.
Some of the common conditions that a physiotherapist can help you manage include:
- Bladder issues such as urinary incontinence, urgency and/or frequency
- Bowel issues such as faecal incontinence, urgency, difficulty emptying
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Persistent pelvic pain and sexual pain
Physiotherapists can also help you to prepare for and recover from gynaecological surgery such as prolapse repair, incontinence procedures and hysterectomy. Pre-operative advice and pelvic floor rehabilitation can improve long term recovery and it can also help guide you to safely return to normal activities and exercise post-operatively.
What else do Women’s Health Physiotherapists do?
Women’s Health Physiotherapists are passionate about improving the overall health and wellbeing of women.
Exercise is associated with many health benefits and is an important part of the prevention and treatment of diabetes (including gestational diabetes) and osteoporosis.
It has also been shown to be beneficial for both mother and baby during pregnancy. It is often hard to know which type of exercise is best but a physiotherapist can prescribe an individualised exercise program to suit your specific needs. Our physiotherapists offer three main exercise classes:
- Pilates
- Beautiful Bumps
- Mum’s & Bub’s
The classes are run in myPhysioSA clinics in North Adelaide and Mount Barker. The class timetables are available to view here:
Class timetable:
http://myphysiosa.com.au/classes/classes-timetable/
Adelaide locations
http://myphysiosa.com.au/adelaide-physiotherapy/
Adelaide Hills locations
http://myphysiosa.com.au/adelaide-hills-physiotherapy/