What Does A Women’s Health Physio Do In The Clinic?
Written by: Madison Cutmore (Physiotherapist in Women’s Health).
You’ve gone through pregnancy, had your baby and now you’ve been given the all clear by your GP at your 6 week check and you want to ‘get back into it’. This is a danger zone! The drive and pressure to ‘get fit’ and ‘get your body back’ post natally can mean that many women push themselves too hard too quick, leading to injury and pelvic floor damage.
In October 2019 the APA released a statement calling for ‘Women’s Health Physiotherapists to be included in the care teams for all pregnant women in Australia to reduce the risk of complications and to improve outcomes for women and their babies’. During pregnancy a women’s health physio (WHP) educates and guides pregnant women through general exercise parameters as well as specific exercise for pelvic floor and lumbopelvic stability.
The prevalence of incontinence and prolapse in postnatal women is high, with up to 50% of women having some degree of pelvic organ prolapse (APA). Thus, postnatally, a WHP works to go beyond the GP six week check up to guide women on pelvic floor health, abdominal separation and to specifically guide the return to exercise process.
A Women’s Health Physio (WHP) will:
● Assess abdominal separation. Diastisis Rectus Abdominis (DRAM) occurs during pregnancy when a woman’s Rectus Abdominis (big abdominal muscles) separate slightly to allow room for a growing baby. This separation is a completely normal part of pregnancy and childbirth but ongoing separation and associated weakness postpartum can make it difficult to tension through the rectus abdominis. Your WHP will assess this separation and your functional capacity and then create a tailored exercise program for you.
● Conduct a thorough pelvic floor exam to check the integrity of pelvic walls and organs, as well as the strength and endurance of pelvic floor muscles. From here they can generate a personalised pelvic floor training program to guide rehabilitation of the pelvic floor and monitor symptoms of incontinence and prolapse as the mum returns to exercise.
It’s important to note that pelvic floor training needs to be specific and individualised. Pelvic floor muscle training has been shown across many studies to cure stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in 50% of women and improve symptoms of leaking in 75% of women. These studies had women doing pelvic floor muscle exercises daily for three months. Interestingly, the women who saw the best results were those who did their exercises under supervision.
This means you need to be accountable to a professional who is checking on you regularly (Cochrane 2018). This also means that, though like most training programs there is a minimum of a 12 week period before you will see the effects...so don’t give up!
If you have any questions about how a WHP can help, please reach out.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT WOMEN’S HEALTH PHYSIO?
+ WHAT IS WOMEN’S HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPY?
This involves treating issues related to pelvic floor, incontinence, pain around the back, hips or SIJ or any pre or postnatal concerns such as Diastasis Recti (Belly Separation) or just wanting the best advice on how and when to exercise before and after your delivery.
+ WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU SEE OUR WOMEN’S HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPIST?
At The Running Room our women’s health physiotherapists do a very thorough history and assessment of the key muscles around your belly, back and pelvic floor. These all work together to keep you functioning well. Both Madison Cutmore and Laura Hill have completed further training and are able to perform internal exams if clinically necessary. However, not all women’s health consultations will require internal examination and we are able to assess your condition externally also.
+ WHAT DO WE DO IN A WOMEN’S HEALTH CONSULTATION?
Assess how you are functioning and give you a diagnosis and a clear time frame back to health is our priority. We can also advise on your current exercise level and what exercises you need to do to get back to 100% healthy and happy.
Along the way we may advise on certain braces or supports to help like Belly braces, SIJ braces or recovery pants.
+ WHO SHOULD YOU SEE FOR YOUR WOMEN’S HEALTH CONSULTATION
Madison Cutmore and Laura Hill are both passionate women’s health physiotherapists whom have completed further training to accurately assess and treat women who are experiencing symptoms relating to Women’s Health.
Madison Cutmore is available in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs at our Clovelly location.Laura Hill is available at iMove Physiotherapy in Rozelle.
If you require any support with regards to your Women’s Health or anywhere along your pre or post natal journey please reach out.
We love empowering women to remain active through all stages of life and our goal is to keep our amazing women active, happy and healthy.
Use the simple booking portal below and book online to see our amazing physio’s who have a special interest in women’s health physio.
