Women’s Health
Women’s health relates to a branch of medicine which is specific to the conditions that are commonly experience by women. There are different categories of this branch which may require the attention of different medical professionals.
This article focuses women’s health conditions that are commonly treated or diagnosed by a physiotherapy professional, or a physiotherapist is involved in the treatment.
Common conditions
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Prolapse involves dropping or descending of any of the pelvic floor organs. This condition may be caused by obesity, constipation, cancers of pelvic organs, pregnancy, and chronic long-term cough. About 50% of women going through pregnancy experience this condition.
Physiotherapy treatments can be quite beneficial for pelvic organ prolapse. The aim of physiotherapy is to increase strength of the core muscles and working on pelvic floor muscle exercises which significantly reduces the chances of prolapse during pregnancy.
You need to speak to a physical therapist if you are feeling discomfort/feeling different during intercourse.
Chronic Pelvic pain
The pain that the patient feels under the bellybutton and between the hips. This condition can last for about 6 months and is a complex condition. There may be a range of different causes of chronic pelvic pain for instance musculoskeletal problems and fibroids.
Physiotherapy treatments can be beneficial for chronic pelvic pain. The aim of physiotherapy session is to identify the issues and provide a plan that best suits you circumstance and needs. The plan may consist of combination of exercises and physiotherapy treatments and educating the patient on the condition and how to prevent future complications.
Post-natal rehabilitation
Post-natal rehabilitation refers to the recovery that a new mother’s body needs after the period of delivery. There are significant changes to the mother’s body after pregnancy. Common conditions experience by women going through pregnancy include Carpal tunnel syndrome, pelvic floor disorders, back pain, abdominal separation and more.
Physiotherapy can play a crucial role in post-natal rehabilitation. The benefits include, reducing anxiety, mood improvement, weigh loss, mental well-being, improving sexual health and overall quality of life.
Constipation
It is common for women to experience constipation during their pregnancy. There are different ways to treat constipation. Having a right type of diet, exercise plan and positioning are some of the methods used to treat constipation during your pregnancy.
The aim of physiotherapy treatment during pregnancy is to strengthen pelvic floor muscles, improve positioning, and relaxing sphincter muscles. Your treatment plan may consist of exercises and other types of physiotherapy treatments to treat your condition effectively.
Incontinence
During pregnancy women may experience incontinence or in other words ‘leaking’ of urine. As the baby grows, the increase in the weight of the mother may cause the ‘leaking’ of the urine when the mother coughs or sneezes. This may also occur during the time the mother exercises.
Some risk factors may include the age of the mother, obesity, and family history.
Lower back pain
Lower back pain is one of the most common conditions women deal with after giving birth. The conditions that are more common in women are SI joint dysfunction, Piriformis Syndrome, Spondylolisthesis, and postmenopausal compression fractures.
Lower back pain may have other causes such as abdominal separation. The stomach muscles may get weaker after pregnancy due to abdominal separation and this may lead to the back muscles not being supported by the stomach muscles and it can cause back pain for the patient.
Weakness in pelvic floor muscles
Pelvic floor muscles are the muscles that allow a person to control their bladder and bowel. Women may experience having weakness with their pelvic floor muscles or the pelvic floor muscle being overstretched or tight. The causes of this condition in women can be due to pregnancy, constipation, exercise, being overweight menopause or smoking.
The aim of physiotherapy sessions is the rehabilitation of pelvic floor muscles. During your physiotherapy sessions, you will be provided with a treatment plan that best suits your circumstances and needs. The plan for having weakness in pelvic floor muscles may include exercises, biofeedback, and hands on treatment.
Abdominal separation
Abdominal separation is a condition that most women deal with after their pregnancy. This involves the mother experiencing widening or separation of muscles on her stomach during pregnancy. This condition is more common in women who give birth more than once.
Abdominal separation may cause other issues such as lower back pain since the stomach muscles are weaker and are not able to support the back. Hence it is crucial for the patients to be treated to prevent any future complications.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
Carpal Tunnel syndrome relates to palms or forearms and when the median nerve is pressed or squeezed. The initial symptoms may appear slowly in patients. The most common symptoms include pain, tingling or numbness. CTS may also cause weakness in your hands and you may also have difficulties holding things.
You may not experience the symptoms constantly at the start. However, as the condition worsens, you will regularly feel the symptoms.
In pregnant women, the changes in hormones and fluid retention may cause Swelling on hands which leads to the tendons and nerves not having enough space in the carpal syndrome.
For more information in relation to any of the conditions explained above, you can contact us by messaging us through any of our social media platforms or call us on (02) 9637 5708.
Related words :
Women’s Health – Physiotherapist in Merrylands – Physiotherapist in Parramatta
Physio in Merrylands – Physio in Parramatta – Physio in Auburn – Laser therapy in Merrylands – Physio in Granville – Physiotherapist in Auburn – Physiotherapist in Granville – Shockwave therapy in Merrylands – NDIS physio in Merrylands