BaySport's Mission is to provide the best fitness, preventive medicine, and injury management services for individual and corporate clients.
 

What is Women's Health Physical Therapy?

Women's health is a specialty within the field of physical therapy that evaluates and treats conditions that occur throughout the lifespan and primarily affect women.

Pelvic Pain

Dysfunctions within the muscles of the pelvic region can result in pain, constipation, urinary incontinence and difficulty with intercourse. Women may experience pelvic pain as a result of various disorders including endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, labor and delivery, and from post-surgical scarring such as C-Section or hysterectomy. Common pelvic pain disorders include:
  • Vaginismus
  • Proctalgia Fugax
  • Levator Ani Syndrome
  • Vulvodynia
  • Dysparenia
  • Gynecological/oncology issues
  • Post-surgical issues

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine and can occur in both men and women, however it primarily affects women. It can occur due to trauma, surgery, or pelvic floor weakness. There are three forms of urinary incontinence:
  • Stress: leakage during normal activities such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, or exercising.
  • Urge: leakage that occurs when the patient has a strong urge to urinate even though the bladder is not full.
  • Mixed: a combination of both stress and urge incontinence.

In order to treat pelvic pain and urinary incontinence, your women's health trained physical therapist will use the following techniques and procedures:

  • Biofeedback for relaxation and/or strength training of pelvic floor muscles
  • Therapeutic exercise to address weak pelvic floor muscles (ie. Kegels)

Obstetrics

Pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood result in important musculoskeletal changes and new stressors to a woman's body. During pregnancy, women often experience swelling and joint pain due to hormonal changes occurring within the body. Many new mothers suffer from urinary incontinence caused by the stresses forced upon the pelvic floor during labor and delivery. Musculoskeletal issues can become a greater problem from the stressors involved with the care of a new child.

Your women's health physical therapist will help with the following ailments both during and after your pregnancy:

  • Incontinence
  • Pelvic pain
  • Neck and low back pain
  • Headaches
  • Leg and foot pain
  • Hand and wrist numbness, swelling, or tenderness
For those with a relatively problem free or pain free pregnancy, your physical therapist can also assist with your pregnancy in the following ways:
  • Prenatal and postnatal exercise prescription
  • Pelvic floor exercises
  • Education regarding positioning and body mechanics

Breast Cancer Rehabilitation

Following treatment and surgical intervention for breast cancer, many women experience lymphedema, a chronic swelling condition caused by the removal of lymph nodes and disruption of lymphatic system, and/or musculoskeletal conditions that occur following surgery.

Your physical therapist will teach you ways to prevent and manage your lymphedema as well as help you regain your range of motion and strength following surgery.

Schedule an Appointment

If you and your physicians agree that you would benefit from an evaluation by a women's health physical therapist, please call 408-395-8851 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to working with you!