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Physical therapists are healthcare professionals who help people maintain or restore their physical health and mobility. They work with people of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, and across the spectrum of ability and disability.
One important aspect of physical therapy is women’s health. Physical therapists can help promote women’s health by providing education and advice about exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle choices. They can also provide treatment for a variety of conditions that affect women’s health, such as pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and chronic pain. Physical therapists can work with you to create a personalized plan that will help you meet your specific goals.
There are many different reasons why a woman might need physical therapy aside from traditional injuries (such as back pain etc.). Some common issues that women experience that can be helped with physical therapy include:
– Painful periods
– Urinary incontinence
– Joint pain
– Postpartum depression or anxiety
Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. It can range from leaking when sneezing to not being able to get to the restroom in time. Approximately 13 million Americans are incontinent, 85 percent of whom are women. Incontinence is most common among the elderly.
Often, the cause of incontinence is aging. The body’s muscles just don’t work as well as they used to. Symptoms include having to urinate often, urge to urinate, urine leaks when laughing or coughing, or a constant dribble of urine. The constant dribble may be because the bladder isn’t emptying completely. Women who are or have experienced a pregnancy may also experience incontinency.
Physical therapy treatment can improve pelvic-floor muscle function. Treatment may include Kegel exercises, biofeedback, muscle-strengthening exercises, or electrical stimulation. All around, physical therapy for your patients who suffer from incontinence provides a re-education of the pelvic muscles.
Pelvic pain refers to pain in the region of the reproductive organs. It can occur in both men and women. Pelvic pain may be the result of nerve conditions, pelvic disorders, bladder disorders, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Physical therapists use pelvic floor therapy to treat pelvic pain. They treat the pelvic floor musculoskeletal system through both internal and external therapy. Internal techniques may include massaging out trigger points or spasms on the pelvic floor. These treatments can fix more than one area at a time. Not only is pelvic pain reduced, but your patients can eliminate the need to see several doctors. With external therapy like joint mobilization and deep tissue massage, pain is also reduced. With physical therapy, patients can avoid surgery and having to depend on pain meds.
Whether you’re experiencing issues due to pregnancy, postpartum, or something else, a physical therapist can help assist you in your journey to recovery. Give our clinic a call or select the “Book an appointment” button above to learn more!