What is Women's Health Physiotherapy?

Women’s health physiotherapy is the therapeutic treatment of all disorders affecting the pelvis and pelvic floor. From incontinence to prolapse, pelvic pain or constipation, there is growing evidence that physiotherapy can alleviate, and in many cases cure these symptoms. Our women’s health physiotherapy partners are experienced in treating women through pregnancy, post-natally, through menopause and beyond!

What can I expect at my women’s health appointment?

Your assessment and treatment will be tailored specifically to you and your presenting complaints. We will start with a detailed history which will be taken in privacy – we are very sensitive to the fact that these conditions may be difficult to discuss.

Your physical assessment will most likely begin with examination of your abdominal muscles, pelvis and lumbar spine – these structures house your all important pelvic floor muscles; a dysfunction in one of these areas can result in dysfunction elsewhere. If appropriate, you may then be offered an internal examination. This is an important part of your assessment and necessary in identifying the tone, strength and control of your pelvic floor muscles. Using finger palpation the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue will be assessed for injury or scarring, signs of pelvic organ prolapse, muscle tone, tenderness, sensation and neural sensitivity. Following which, the pelvic floor muscle will be tested for strength and endurance. It is important to determine if the left and right, superficial and deep pelvic floor muscles are working together, and if not, why not.

The physiotherapists can then develop you a specific and individualised treatment and exercise programme. The assessment findings will be discussed with you and treatment will depend upon findings and your symptoms.