Women’s Health Physiotherapy at Physio Fit Adelaide
At Physio Fit, we are here to support women the best we can through all stages. From childhood and adolescence, through to peri-menopause and beyond our Women’s health team are here to help. We understand that each of these phases come with unique challenges and potential problems, which benefit from care taking this into account.
Pregnancy & Post Partum Care
Every woman and every pregnancy experience can be vastly different! At Physio Fit we pride ourselves in taking the time to understand the individual woman to provide the best care possible. From education, advice, pain management and exercise, we want to keep you moving and well throughout your pregnancy and beyond. We help pregnant women by;
- Treating lower back, pelvic girdle and hip pain
- Treating other common conditions through pregnancy; such as carpal tunnel syndrome, rib and shoulder pain, neck pain and headaches
- Providing education and advice for exercise during pregnancy, from women looking to start exercise through to athletes looking to maintain their capacity
- Educating about abdominal and pelvic floor muscle function and providing appropriate exercises
For women already in their post-partum phase, physiotherapy can be of great value. As with pregnancy, individual factors relating to the birth, the baby and fourth-trimester of the woman need to be considered to guide care. We help women after birth by:
- Treating for hip(s), pelvis or low back pain after delivery
- Treating pain related to breast feeding (neck, upper back/shoulders or wrist/hand)
- Assess and guide you for safe return to exercise and/or sport
- Assessing for, providing education and treatment for abdominal separation.
- Tips and tricks to manage postural pain whilst looking after your baby in the early months
- Recommendations to support healthy bladder and bowel function
We work in partnership with our clients because we know that this provides the best outcomes for them.
Physiotherapy Throughout Pregnancy
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is not exclusive to pregnancy and post-natal care. Women who last gave birth many years ago, or young women and girls who have never been pregnant may suffer from pelvic floor symptoms. Changes through menopause can also create pelvic floor discomfort. Whether that’s leakage during running or sports, pain or difficulty with day to day behaviours related to their bladder, bowel or reproductive health.
At Physio Fit, pelvic floor physiotherapy is being offered exclusively at our Modbury and Findon clinics. Pelvic floor physiotherapy can be for a wide range of complaints, including:
- Urinary urgency or incontinence
- Faecal urgency or incontinence
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Constipation, painful defecation
- Pelvic pain (e.g. pain with sex, pain with chronic conditions such as endometriosis)
- Guidance for return to exercise after gynecological procedures
- Assessment and guidance for pelvic floor muscle training, during pregnancy, post natal or otherwise
Assessment of the pelvic floor can involve an internal pelvic exam (1-2 gloved fingers inside of the vagina) to determine muscle function and capacity, which then guides your course of treatment. However, it is not strictly required. Your physiotherapist will discuss all assessment options with you during your appointment. Your comfort in addressing your complaint is paramount to us.
At this time we do not fit or provide management for pessaries (medical device for pelvic organ prolapse). However if this is assessed as being a possible treatment option for you, we will refer and work with other providers to ensure access to this care.
