Women's Health

What is women’s health physiotherapy?

Women’s health physiotherapy refers to disorders that are specific to women during various phases of life ranging from adulthood, pregnancy, post-partum, menopause and old age. This also includes rehabilitation post-surgery and post-cancer diagnosis/treatment.

What are some of the conditions we treat?

Osteoporosis
Bowel/Bladder Dysfunction
Pre- and post-cancer muscle dysfunction
Pelvic pain / Perineal pain / pelvic instability
Pre- and post-surgery (hysterectomy/pelvic surgery/breast surgery)
Lymphedema
Diastasis recti
Tail bone pain
Low back pain
Sacroiliac dysfunction
Pre- and post-natal pain and dysfunction

What are the common symptoms experienced by women with pelvis health issues?

Pain is the most common symptom reported by women with pelvic health issues. Low back pain or pelvic pain with sustained sitting, cycling, during sexual intercourse and swimming are few of the problems where there may be pelvic floor dysfunction. Pain unattended can alter functions of muscles, joints, and increase nervous system sensitivity thereby resulting in change in strength, mobility and posture. Involuntary loss of urine is considered as incontinence, there are various types of incontinence like stress, urge, mixed. Weakness in pelvic floor muscles can lead to incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

How physio can help

Women’s health physiotherapy is a specialized area focusing on treatment and management of women’s health issues. Physiotherapists treating pelvic floor disorders are called pelvic health physiotherapists. Your women’s health physiotherapist helps you identify the factors determining the problem. They can help with pain reduction, function and mobility, and strategies to help cope with pain. A detailed external and internal examination can be required to determine the physical factors associated with the given condition, and they are specially trained pelvic floor therapists.

They do treatments like but not limited to

Pelvic Floor Muscle Strengthening and education
Biofeedback
Muscle stimulation
Relaxation techniques
Bladder Training
Core Stabilization
Manual Therapy
Exercise Prescription

Look for physiotherapists with specialized credentials. Your pelvic health physiotherapist should be a member of the College of Physiotherapists in your province to perform this controlled activity; you can verify this by checking here.

Please click here for the list of women’s health specialists in Canada.