Women's Health & Pregnancy Care

WOMEN'S HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES IN SPRINGFIELD

Women’s Health Issues

Did you know that 1 in 3 women who have had a baby have bladder leakage? That 50% of women over 50 have vaginal prolapse? The good news is that in most cases these issues are treatable and with the help of Physiotherapy.

At Orion Family Physiotherapy, our Women's Health Physio Team can help you with a number of Women’s health problems including:

Pregnancy related issues (e.g. pelvic girdle pain, back pain, pubic symphysis diastasis, bladder weakness)
Ante-natal and post-natal education and specific exercise prescription
Diastasis recti of the abdominal muscles (abdominal muscle separation)
Stress and urge incontinence and bladder urgency
Pelvic floor organ prolapse
Rehabilitation after gynecological, urological and colorectal surgery
Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
Menopausal concerns

What may you expect in your first consultation?

Obtaining a thorough history (this may include questionnaires and a bladder diary)
A comprehensive assessment of pelvic floor muscle and deep abdominal muscle control (in some cases may involve a expert internal (vaginal) examination)
Education to help you understand and manage the problem
Teaching and implementing strategies to assist with attaining normal function or preventing worsening of symptoms (sometimes with the use of various aids)
Exercise prescription, including pelvic floor rehabilitation and Pilates and specific strength exercises.

If you need help, don’t delay and make an appointment today!

Pregnancy Care

PRE - NATAL EXERCISE

Pregnancy is an important time to maintain good exercise habits. It is important to ensure that the exercise you undertake is appropriate, as the shape of your body and the way you move is constantly changing and joint laxity (looseness) is affected by hormones. At OFP we offer individually tailored Pilates programs and Peri-Natal Exercise Prescription to suit any stage of pregnancy.

POST - NATAL EXERCISE

After giving birth, a gradual and guided return to exercise is again recommended to prevent injury. Our team of friendly (and if you prefer – female) Physiotherapists can advise a safe return to exercise or sport program. Also Pilates classes are an excellent ways to gently recruit your abdominals, pelvic floor and other stabilising musculature before returning to your previous exercise level.

Motherhood can be quite demanding- at OFP we believe maintaining good exercise habits is important to help you make the most of this special time and enjoy it at your physical best. Our physiotherapists will work with you to set safe exercise goals during this time.

PRE AND POST - NATAL PELVIC AND BACK PAIN

During and after pregnancy the low back and sacroiliac joint is under progressive strain due to increased changes in centre of body weight and ligament laxity due to hormones. We can assist you with exercises to assist with strengthening and stability. If necessary we can also assist you with fitting a sacroiliac / back supporting belt to assist with support.

PELVIC FLOOR RETRAINING

The pelvic floor muscles are too often forgotten, but they are an integral component of our stabilising musculature. The pelvic floor muscles work to maintain continence, stabilise the pelvis and lumbar spine and of course play an important role in childbirth and pregnancy. They work in synergy with your deep abdominals to achieve this.

Research shows over 30% of women who have normal deliveries may have some degree of pelvic floor weakness and /or incontinence. Our physiotherapists are able to help you learn how to switch-on and retrain these muscles as part of treatment and exercise prescription.