Women's Health

Women’s health address the needs and issues specific to women, focusing on the underlying musculoskeletal dysfunction that are often the cause of pain and discomfort.  Treatments address conditions such as pelvic pain, loss of bladder and/or bowel control and pre/postnatal care. There is no reason to be embarrassed or suffer in silence. Please call us and begin your path to recovery.

About Pelvic Pain

Women often overlook this serious condition, assuming it is a normal part of being female and bearing children. This is not necessarily true. Pain can be the result of pregnancy, childbirth, surgery, poor posture, gynecological conditions or infections. Common conditions include:

• Painful sexual intercourse
• Pain in the low back, tailbone, rectum, vagina, abdomen or hips
• Heaviness in the pelvic area (feeling that your insides are falling out)

'These symptoms can often be eliminated or alleviated with physical therapy. Manual therapy, modalities and special exercises can often help to relax the tight muscles and to strengthen the weak ones. Patient-specific home programs can help to educate women in self-management techniques and exercises to implement at home.

Loss of Bladder and/or Bowel Control - Incontinence

Loss of bladder or bowel control is very common in women of all ages - young, active women, as well as the more mature. In fact, one of every four women experiences at least occasional trouble with bladder control.

With physical therapy, nearly 70 percent of women are able to improve their bladder control. Physical therapy can be the only component, or part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Physical therapy uses exercises to improve the strength, coordination and endurance of the muscles at the urinary and anal sphincters (pelvic floor muscles). These exercises, also known as "Kegels," can effectively improve bladder control when done correctly. Other core muscles also can be strengthened as well to assist in optimal pelvic floor muscle function.

Biofeedback is another part of the physical therapy program. This tool measures the tiny electrical signals that muscles produce when they contract. During a biofeedback session, muscle contractions are displayed on a computer screen. By watching the computer screen, a patient can see when she is contracting the right muscles. Biofeedback also measures strength, showing how much progress has been made.

Other treatments, including bladder retraining and pelvic muscles stimulation, also can be used as determined to be appropriate by the physical therapist to effectively maximize a woman's potential to improve control of bowels or bladder.

Pre/Post-Natal Care

Pregnancy can be physically demanding, even for the fittest mother-to-be. During pregnancy, and for some time after, the body undergoes significant postural, physical and hormonal changes, all of which can cause musculoskeletal problems: excessive leg and back pain, pelvic pain and even neck pain and headaches. Pregnancy discomfort does not have to be unbearable.

Physical therapy can provide relief of the following conditions with manual techniques and massage along with specific exercises to realign joints and restore symmetry while teaching safe exercises to promote maintenance of alignment and optimal posture. Our physical therapists also teach pregnant women to function optimally in their environment on a daily basis with proper body mechanics to reduce potential re-injury.

• Low back pain and sciatica
• Thoracic (mid back) and rib pain
• Headache and neck pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Other pregnancy related conditions including women expecting multiples and those with high risk pregnancies