Women’s health physiotherapy is a branch of physiotherapy that addresses the unique healthcare needs of women throughout various stages of life. From pregnancy and childbirth to menopause and beyond, women’s health physiotherapy plays a crucial role in promoting overall wellness and quality of life.

Let’s explore the importance of this field and how it can benefit women of all ages.

What is Women’s Health physiotherapy?

Women can experience a range of women’s health issuesover their lifetime including – incontinence, pelvic or vaginal pain, musculoskeletal pain before or after childbirth, osteoporosis, lymphoedema, breast surgery rehabilitation and overall wellness.

Women’s health physio is a non-surgical treatment that can help treat a number of these concerns.

Also due to women’s structural make up, hormones, pregnancy and childbirth, women benefit greatly from specific advice when dealing with general pain and exercise requirements.

Women’s Health physiotherapists tailor their treatment and exercise plans in a holistic way to improve a variety of symptoms and prepare the body for what stage lies ahead. For example, looking at ways to strengthen your bones and improve bone health during menopause. Or strengthening your pelvic floor in order to help you during childbirth, but also in preventing incontinence or prolapse in the future.

Common issues why you would see a Women’s Health Physiotherapist

  • Pain related to pregnancy
  • Antenatal and postnatal exercise
  • Antenatal and postnatal Pilates
  • Pelvic floor strengthening – before and after pregnancy
  • Abdominal separation – Rectus diastasis management
  • Caesarean/Perineal scar management
  • Mastitis or Blocked Milk Ducts
  • Electronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS)
  • Instability/Pain with pelvic girdle
  • Pelvic floor prolapse management
  • Stress Urinary incontinence
  • Pelvic pain including Painful Bladder Syndrome Interstitial Cystitis and Endometriosis
  • Pelvic pain or pain related to sexual activity
  • Female sexual dysfunction (including Dyspareunia and Vaginismus)
  • Overactive Bladder (OAB including urge incontinence, frequency urgency and nocturia)
  • Bowel dysfunction including constipation and obstructed defecation
  • Faecal urgency and faecal incontinence
  • Pessary Fittings
  • Bone density concerns related to menopause
  • Pro/post gynaecological surgery advice and management
  • Other surgery rehabilitation
Lower Back

Pregnancy and Postnatal Care

Pregnancy brings about profound changes in a woman’s body, often resulting in discomfort and musculoskeletal challenges. Women’s health physiotherapists specialise in addressing these issues through personalised exercises, manual therapy techniques, and education, ensuring optimal comfort and preparation for childbirth.

Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

Maintaining a strong and functional pelvic floor is essential for overall health and wellbeing in women. Women’s health physiotherapists offer specialized rehabilitation programs to address pelvic floor disorders such as prolapse, incontinence, and pelvic pain, empowering women to regain control and confidence in their bodies.

Menopause Management

Menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years and brings about significant hormonal shifts that can affect various aspects of a woman’s health. Women’s health physiotherapy offers support and guidance to navigate this transition, focusing on strategies to maintain bone density, cardiovascular health, and overall well being through tailored exercise programs and lifestyle adjustments.

What can I expect from a Women’s Health Consultation?

When you book a consultation with a Women’s Health physiotherapist you can rest assured you are in the safe hands of a professional, with extensive expertise and understanding of the female anatomy and various women’s health issues such as pregnancy, incontinence and menopause.

Women’s health issues are often highly sensitive and patients may feel a level of embarrassment, however women’s health physios are highly knowledgeable, understanding, and considerate of this, and will be very respectful of your privacy.

After completing initial paperwork, consultations will take place in a private room with a door, rather than a cubicle with curtains. Your physio will ask questions about your symptoms, health history, experiences and goals. Be prepared as questions can often be of a sensitive nature about your sex life, periods and bladder and bowel function.

A physical assessment will be different depending on your concerns, but may include checking stomach muscles for abdominal separation, an internal check of the vagina to check pelvic floor muscles or looking at the perineum and checking for a prolapse. An ultrasound machine may also be used to check a patient’s bladder or abdominal muscles.

Generally a consultation will take about an hour and may include some gentle stretches, so it is advisable to wear comfortable clothing.

Your Women’s Health Physio may then suggest a series of appointments that often include hands-on treatment, home exercises and monitoring of progress. They will also work closely with other health professionals and specialists as required, with the patient’s permission.

Women’s health physiotherapy plays a vital role in addressing the unique healthcare needs of women across different stages of life. With specialised care and guidance from a women’s health physiotherapist, women can proactively address their health issues and enhance their overall quality of life.

Our Experienced and Highly Trained Women’s Health Team at SPHC

We are very proud of our amazing team of Women’s Health Physios at Sandgate Physical Health Clinic, led by Jane Cannan. Along with our newly expanded team, we can now offer our clients appointments within one week, including Saturday appointments, for their convenience.

Our Physio Shruti Patel has just completed her Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) Level 2 Women’s Pelvic Health course. This extensive course involved completing 19 hours of online training before doing 19 hours of practical, classroom training with leading pelvic health physiotherapists. The Level 2 course is the highest level of training offered by the APA in women’s pelvic health and requires hours and days of dedication to complete.

Kristin Catalano has also, earlier this year, completed her APA Level 1 Women’s Pelvic Health course and has now completed the PhysioSkills Female Pelvic Health – Internals, Foundations and Fundamentals. This course similarly involved long hours of both online content and quizzes before intensive, practical training from an internationally recognised educator of all things Pelvic Health.

These courses have further enhanced Shruti & Kristin’s knowledge of pelvic health conditions such as pelvic pain; overactive bladder and prolapse. Both ladies are trained in using Realtime Ultrasound as well as trauma informed internal palpation techniques to ensure accurate diagnosis and management of Female Pelvic Health conditions.

BOOK NOW with one of experienced Women’s Health Physios or call us on 07 3869 1099.

Lower Back