Women’s Health Physical Therapy Program
Our Women's Health Program focuses on evaluating and treating musculoskeletal disorders that women may experience throughout their lifetime. Our female women’s health physical therapist has specialized training to understand the physiological differences and impact of hormones on women’s health conditions and recovery.
We offer pelvic floor rehabilitation to improve the function, independence, and quality of life of patients with pelvic floor muscle disorders. Our therapist trains patients to strengthen pelvic muscles and works to reduce pelvic pain symptoms and pelvic organ prolapse symptoms.
We also address incontinence, difficulty with urination or bowel movements, constipation, chronic pelvic pain, painful intercourse, diastasis recti, and pre-and post-natal back pain.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction & Rehabilitation
The pelvic floor is a muscle group that supports the colon, bladder and uterus. It consists of a layer of muscles and connective tissue that stretch from the pubic bone to the tailbone.
Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when pelvic floor muscles are too tight or when pelvic joints do not work in harmony, causing nearby muscles and nerves to tighten and weaken. Childbearing can increase the risk of pelvic floor dysfunction through the stretching and possible tearing of the pelvic muscles during childbirth.
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Treatment
Pelvic floor rehabilitation is done by our female physical therapist in conjunction with the patient’s OBGYN. The therapist conducts an orthopedic exam to evaluate the hips, spine, gait, and posture of the patient and performs a strength and flexibility assessment. With the verbal and written consent of the patient, the therapist completes an internal exam of the pelvic floor to assess muscle tone at rest and with strain to test the ability of the pelvic floor muscles to contract.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation treatment includes:
Stretching and strengthening exercises
Postural exercises
Relaxation techniques
Internal and external mobilization of the joints and soft tissue
Bladder training and patient education on lifestyle changes
Sensory, motor, sympathetic, and parasympathetic nerve re-training
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation
Home exercise plan
Pregnancy-Related Women’s Health Conditions
Low Back Pain
Low back pain is a common pregnancy-related issue due to the weight-bearing strain of pregnancy on the back and abdominal muscles. Physical therapy can address pre-and post-natal low back pain through strategic strengthening exercises, muscle spasm management, correct body mechanics education, and an exercise plan that strengthens the muscles around the spine and pelvic floor to support the low back.
Diastasis Recti
Diastasis recti is the separation of abdominal muscles that can occur during pregnancy as a result of the uterus pushing on the abdominal wall and the softening of the abdomen’s connective tissue due to pregnancy hormones. This can lead to low back pain and pelvic instability. Physical therapy trains a patient in safe core stabilization exercises, posture training, and proper mobility and lifting techniques.
Postpartum Bladder Incontinence
Postpartum bladder incontinence is very common, affecting between 30 to 40% of women post-birth. Many women experience stress incontinence, which is involuntary urinary leakage when pressure is placed on the bladder. Physical therapy can treat postpartum bladder issues by restoring pelvic floor muscle function.
Post C-Section Incision Treatment
Following a c-section delivery, women may experience pain at the c-section incision site as well as low back pain, urinary incontinence, and pelvic floor muscle weakness. Physical therapists can provide women customized physical therapy to address these issues by relieving incision pain through soft tissue mobilization techniques and strengthening the core, back, and pelvic floor muscles.