Women’s health physiotherapist Perth
Chronic pain is a key element of our women’s health physio services in West Perth. Your GP may also refer you to a women’s health physiotherapist or a gynaecologist if you experience urinary leakage, pelvic pain or prolapse. These are the most common symptoms that indicate a pelvic floor weakness, and this is where the physio comes in to help you manage your symptoms. At woom, our women’s health physio works closely together with the gynaecologist and dietitian, to help you manage your symptoms.
Chronic pain expert Perth
We believe that - rather than focusing on a short term fix - you deserve a long-term solution for chronic pain. Part of our work is about empowering you and encouraging self-management of your pain.
Women's Health Physiotherapist
As a woman, we are often told that the pain associated with periods, fibroids or sore joints before and after childbirth, is just part of what it means to be a woman. If pain drags on for years, it can impact the way you live your life, the quality of your relationships and your professional achievements. We are here to help you across the whole spectrum of women’s health: Our gynaecologist helps you get really clear about what causes your pain, our psychologist can offer support and guidance to cope with your discomfort, and as a women’s health physio we work on quick pain relief and self-management for the long term.
When we assess your situation, your treatment may be deemed medically necessary and you can then claim your sessions from your private health fund. Ask for a specific item code when you discuss physiotherapy sessions at Woom, to inform with your private health insurer about the amount claimable.
After our first assessment, we will create a treatment plan, making sure that we work on long-term improvements, pain relief and strengthening.
Women’s health physiotherapist Perth
conditions we treat
Pelvic floor dysfunction is the most common problem seen by our women’s health physiotherapists. Pregnancy and childbirth would often be the main cause of this dysfunction and it may become worse because of hormonal changes in menopause. In younger women, pelvic floor dysfunction can show up because you feel pain, or because you have poor muscle coordination resulting in tightness and tension.
So what would be the typical symptoms and conditions that we can help you with?
- Urinary incontinence: It can occur in the form of stress incontinence - with sneezing/coughing or exercising. Nearly always, this occurs after childbirth or years of pelvic floor pressure. Leaking with coughing, laughing or sneezing is referred to as stress urinary incontinence. This is happening because your pelvic floor muscles aren’t quite strong enough to withstand the pressure in the abdomen that occurs with a cough or sneeze. There is plenty that can be done about it and physiotherapy is the starting point to try and improve strength and coordination as well as restore bladder health. The other form of incontinence is ‘’urge incontinence (where your pelvic floor muscles are not strong enough).
- Bladder overactivity: You would suffer from urinary frequency and/or urgency. We understand the social impact that this may have on your life - some women would not leave the house for longer periods of time because of this. Part of your physio’s work involves bladder retraining.
- Pelvic organ prolapse: Pelvic organs such as your bladder, bowel or uterus are no longer supported by the pelvic floor. When the organs move it causes heaviness or dragging and you may experience difficulty emptying your bladder or bowel. In some situations, your women’s health physiotherapist can help you avoid surgical procedures.
- Painful intercourse: Tension in the pelvic floor muscles can create pain when attempting to be sexually active. Physiotherapy addresses the underlying muscle dysfunction and uses manual therapy, breathing exercises and movement to treat the tension.
- Bowel dysfunction: The physio works with the dietitian to help you address your bowel issues. It means that we work on your diet and lifestyle and then treat the pelvic floor weakness. This is where you experience the full benefit of an integrated women’s health hub here at Woom in West Perth.
- Ante/Postnatal conditions: Women’s health physiotherapy at Woom helps women who experience back pain or pelvic pain associated with the changing posture of pregnancy. Even as you go through your antenatal care and your pregnancy, we help you with exercises to keep your pelvic floor and your abdominal wall strong. When physiotherapy becomes part of your postnatal care, the focus is on pelvic floor strengthening after delivery, the recovery of your abdominal wall and your return to physical exercise.
- Other conditions: Pre and post gynaecological surgery, Mastitis, visceral pain (visceral mobilisation), pudendal neuralgia, menopause symptoms (osteoporosis), and exercise rehabilitation
Physiotherapy after prolapse
Immediately post-birth it would be by addressing any bladder and bowel health issues, then strengthening your pelvic floor muscles to help support your organs. In some cases, a support pessary can be used to help support the organ(s) whilst the pelvic floor recovers in strength this may be long or short term in its use.
Women’s health physiotherapist
Prolapse of the bladder, bowel or uterus can all be treated with physiotherapy.
Women often ask us if they can fall pregnant again after they had a vaginal prolapse. It is common to have a degree of prolapse following pregnancy and childbirth.
Women’s health physiotherapist
Many women may have a small degree of uterine prolapse and simply not know. Therefore, the chances of the prolapse affecting falling pregnant again are low.
However, if the prolapse is significant there may be a barrier to sperm being able to reach the egg and this will need discussing with your gynaecologist and physiotherapist. At Woom, we look at the bigger picture of your women’s health and beyond the discomfort that you may currently experience. You can see our CREI certified Fertility Specialist, and your women’s health physiotherapist will coordinate with your gynaecologist to make sure we look at your expectations for the future.
Antenatal exercises to avoid prolapse
We know that pregnancy and childbirth often result in some degree of prolapse. So our focus as your women’s health physiotherapist is always to maintain your pelvic floor strength. In reality, many women are walking around with a degree of vaginal prolapse without really knowing it.
We prefer to be by your side and help you maintain your pelvic floor strength to avoid a prolapse, and to avoid problems at a later stage in your life.
Women’s health physiotherapist
Pelvic floor exercises for strengthening
It’s quite simple: Every woman should be practising pelvic floor contractions daily regardless of her life stage and whether she has had children.
Women’s health physiotherapist
The contraction is very simply imagining that one is stopping the passing of wind and water at the same time. See how long this can be held for and then repeat up to 10 times. This should also then be done quickly ten times.
It is also a good idea to try and squeeze your pelvic floor muscles before your laugh/cough or sneeze.
Women’s health physiotherapist Perth
Constipation is often the root cause of some pelvic floor conditions. Good bowel health contributes to good pelvic floor strength. Being constipated can result in weakness and ultimately prolapse. Physiotherapy will address the underlying issues such as diet and lifestyle as well as positioning and breathing on the toilet.
At Woom in West Perth, we are a women’s health hub and work together on all aspects of your health as a woman: from paediatric gynaecology, through to adult gynaecology and fertility consultations, through to menopause management. At all times, we can count on the expertise of our accredited dietitian Nick Nation, to support the care plan that we create for you.
Perth women’s health physiotherapist
Women’s Health Physiotherapists at woom Perth
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Women’s Health physiotherapist
Specialist Nutrition Programs at Woom
Nutrition and lifestyle management are first-line treatments for reproductive conditions including PCOS, endometriosis and/or sub-fertility
