Physical Therapy for Women’s Health

If you are just starting out on your journey through pregnancy, or even just coming out of the fourth trimester, physical therapy may have at one point crossed your mind. Afterall, many doulas, midwives, and obgyns will tell their patients physical therapy can help with conditions like pelvic floor dysfunction or incontinence. And not just for pregnancy, a strictly female condition, but menopause and osteoporosis too – there are conditions that impact the lives of regular women every day. Fortunately, physical therapy really is a simple treatment that can make a noticeable difference. 

At Evolution, our physical therapists are trained in a variety of different treatment options for women’s health, including conditions like lymphedema, pregnancy, pelvic floor weakness, incontinence, and mastectomies.

Why Should I See a Physical Therapist as a Woman?

For women’s health issues, physical therapy can go a long way in the prevention and treatment of certain conditions. Illness or injury related to aging, menopause, or pregnancy specifically affect only women and are effectively handled by physical therapy as a first-line treatment.

Lymphedema
Lymphedema can happen from damaged lymphatic vessels or from lymph nodes that have been removed, or during pregnancy due to fluid retention as a form of secondary lymphedema. Physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments for this condition.  Manual therapy is one of the traditional ways of managing lymphedema, allowing for lymphatic drainage and the movement of lymph fluid.

Prenatal and Pregnancy
Pregnancy comes with a number of new changes to the body, some of which are unwelcome. This can include pain in the back or sciatica and trigger conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. Not only can a physical therapist lessen the effects of these conditions but can offer preventative physical therapy for issues related to the pelvic floor and help prevent diastasis recti abdominis. 

Postpartum Symptoms
Post-delivery, in addition to sleep deprivation, bleeding, and the stress of a new baby, most women experience new health issues that can benefit from physical therapy. Urinary incontinence, lower back pain, and the aforementioned diastasis recti, as well as pelvic pain and dysfunction, can drag on and cause pain and suffering. As soon as she’s able to find time, seeking treatment with a physical therapist can help alleviate these problems.

Pelvic Floor Weakness
Otherwise known as pelvic floor dysfunction or PFD, this is perhaps one of the most well-known problems following childbirth. A physical therapist can help both before birth and after, in both cases by focusing on the muscles in the area of the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor PT usually includes exercises, stretches, or manual therapy. The advantages of pelvic floor physical therapy extend beyond childbirth, however, giving you more control over bladder and bowel function and leading to more muscle tone and control during intimacy. 

Incontinence
Incontinence is the loss of bladder control and is common after childbirth. Not only is the lack of bladder control inconvenient, but it can lead to rashes, sores, and infections of the skin or urinary tract. Pelvic floor physical therapy and its related treatments can go a long way in helping you regain bladder function and return to how you were, pre-pregnancy.

Menopause
Physical therapy is often overlooked as a treatment for the symptoms of menopause, but it is highly effective in addressing many of the issues women face during this period. Osteoporosis is a significant problem women face as they age, but by using resistance bands, weights, and exercise, women can build strength and ward off some of the worst side effects of bone loss. Additionally, incontinence, weak pelvic floor muscles, insomnia, and weight gain can all be managed with preventative physical therapy, making it one of the best treatments out there for menopause.