Womens Health Physiotherapy

Many women encounter problems with their bladder or bowel control at some point in their lives. Incontinence is actually very common with around 1 in 3 women - of all ages, experiencing symptoms and is particularly prevalent in women who have gone through childbirth. Specialist physiotherapy can help with awareness and strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles to alleviate and often resolve problems completely.

Specific conditions treated include:-
• Pelvic floor problems – weakness or overactivity
• Stress incontinence
• Overactive bladder ( urge incontinence )
• Bladder retraining and behavioural modification
• Mild to moderate prolapse
• Faecal Incontinence
• Abdominal muscle problems such as diastasis recti
• Antenatal and postnatal pelvic pain

The most common forms of urinary incontinece are stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Ask yourself the following question - do you leak if you cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise? If the answer is yes, then you may have stress incontinence. If you find yourself having to rush to the toilet to avoid an “accident” or find that you need to pass urine more often than you used to, you are probably suffering from urge incontinence. Often one can lead to the other, so it is not uncommon to suffer both sets of symptoms.

There are many effective treatments which aim to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles to provide greater control or retrain the bladder to help resist the urge to urinate so often. Pelvic floor exercises are particularly effective in combatting Stress Incontinence. About 6 in 10 cases can be cured or much improved with this treatment. It can take time and a lot of practice, but the physiotherapist will provide specialist advice and support.

If necessary, bio-feedback devices can be used so that you know when you are doing your exercises correctly and you can visually see the improvement. In some cases electrical stimulation can be used to make the pelvic floor muscles contract and thereby make them stronger. Any equipment required can be provided on loan, free of charge as part of your treatment plan.

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