Women’s Health Rehabilitation is a specialised program that focuses on the rehabilitation and recovery of women following surgery, childbirth, or other medical events that impact their health and well-being. Women’s health physiotherapists treat women with bladder, bowel and sexual problems, and specialise in patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. They also treat patients who are pregnant, with the goal of reducing pain and keeping women fit and active throughout pregnancy.
Physiotherapy during pregnancy can include antenatal exercise classes for pregnant women to prepare them physically and mentally for birth. Pelvic floor training is an important component of training during pregnancy. Physiotherapy can also help in the postnatal period, with pain relief and return to exercise.
Many pregnant women experience pain in their lower back and pelvis. Physiotherapy treatment for this group of women consists of posture correction, stretching of tight muscles, massage, gentle core exercises, manual therapy and relaxation techniques.
Pelvic pain can be caused by many things and is often associated with tight muscles around the pelvis or the pelvic floor. This problem can be addressed with relaxation and breathing exercises and trigger point massage. Physiotherapy for urine incontinence
One in three women will also experience urinary incontinence at some point in their life. There are various reasons why women are at risk, including pregnancy and childbirth, constipation, chronic cough, being overweight and living a generally sedentary lifestyle. The physiotherapist can give advice as well as instruct and guide on a programme of pelvic floor rehabilitation.
Physiotherapy can also be effective in treating bowel symptoms such as fecal urgency, fecal incontinence, leakage of gas/wind and constipation. Lifestyle advice, including good bowel habits, stress management, gentle exercise, relaxation and guided pelvic floor rehabilitation may help manage symptoms.