What is Women’s Health Physiotherapy? Physiotherapists working in the field of women’s health have a special interest in caring for people across the lifespan, particularly in the areas of obstetrics and gynaecology. This includes managing concerns associated with pregnancy and the postnatal period, and general pelvic health and pelvic floor related conditions. Our physiotherapists at O&G are Kate Phillips and Jane Rothe from myPhysioSA, and they have a special interest in pregnancy, postnatal and pelvic health physiotherapy care.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an exciting time in many lives, 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 and general pelvic health concerns
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 perineal tear, episiotomy, vaginal delivery
- Pain after caesarean section
- Pelvic floor and general pelvic health concerns
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy
Many people suffer in silence with pelvic health conditions 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.
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, including pessary fitting
- Persistent pelvic pain and sexual pain
Physiotherapists can also help you to prepare for and recover from gynaecological surgery such as prolapse repair, continence procedures and hysterectomy. Pre-operative advice and pelvic health rehabilitation can improve long-term recovery and help guide you to comfortably return to normal activities and exercise post-operatively.
Exercise
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, though it can be difficult to know which type of exercise is best! A physiotherapist trained in pregnancy, postnatal and pelvic health specialties can prescribe an individualised exercise program to suit your specific needs. Our physiotherapists offer three main exercise classes:
- Beautiful Bumps (land-based exercise class for pregnancy)
- Aqua Bumps (water-based exercise class for pregnancy)
- Mum’s & Bub’s (land-based class for mothers and their babies)
The classes are run in myPhysioSA clinics in Eastwood and Mount Barker. Further information can be found here:
https://myphysiosa.com.au/womens-health-physiotherapy/