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Women's
Health
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Men's
Health
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Children
Why women's health physiotherapy?
Women have a relatively high incidence of
dysfunction of the reproductive organs (including
breasts) and urogenital system, and a thorough
understanding of these systems is required in order
to effectively manage dysfunction. In fact, one in
three women who have had a baby, will have some
form of urinary incontinence. Continence and
Women's Health Physiotherapists are physios who
have undergone further study and training in order
to specialise in this area. They have a unique role
in assessing and managing problems related to
control of both the bladder and bowel, pelvic floor
muscle dysfunction, sexual dysfunction and female
musculoskeletal problems.
A note from
Alison:
Many
of my patients are referred to me after
seeing their GP or specialist doctor, and
are somewhat baffled as to why they are
seeing a physio for incontinence! This is
completely understandable, as many people
aren't aware that physios are involved in
this area. It's not all about
incontinence, though! Women's Health
physiotherapists assess and manage a
variety of physical conditions,
including:
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Breastfeeding conditions, including mastitis, blocked ducts and cracked nipples |
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Pregnancy-related back pain and pelvic girdle pain (including low back pain, symphysis pubis dysfunction, tailbone pain, rib pain, sacroiliac and sciatic pain)
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Pregnancy-related wrist conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome and de Quervain's tenosynovitis
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Antenatal
education, including preparation
for childbirth
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Post-birth complications including haemorrhoids, perineal trauma, tailbone pain
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Rectus adominus diastasis (tummy muscle separation)
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6 week postnatal physiotherapy assessment (includes real-time ultrasound)
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Bladder leakage (urinary incontinence)
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Problems emptying the bladder (voiding dysfunction)
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Bowel leakage (faecal incontinence)
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Constipation
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Prolapse
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Pelvic pain, including pain with sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), chronic pelvic pain syndrome, pudendal neuralgia, painful bladder syndrome, vulvodynia and vaginismus
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Lymphoedema including post-operative advice and education, manual lymphatic drainage (massage) and compression bandaging
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Osteoporosis
management, including exercise
advice and
prescription
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Real-time
ultrasound assessment and
biofeedback training
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Why would a man need to see a Continence and
Women's Health physiotherapist?
Currently, around 18,700 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in Australia every year. Many of these men
will have their cancer treated by removal of the
prostate, which can result in urinary incontinence
and erectile dysfunction. Continence and Women's
Health Physiotherapists are highly trained in the
assessment and management of urinary and faecal
incontinence, as well as erectile dysfunction, and
pelvic pain.
Men's Health services include the following:
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Physiotherapy management before and after prostate surgery |
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Chronic pelvic pain syndrome, including pudendal neuralgia, pain with erections/sexual intercourse
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Weak bladder (overactive bladder syndrome)
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Bladder leakage (urinary incontinence)
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Problems emptying the bladder (voiding dysfunction)
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Bowel leakage (faecal incontinence)
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Constipation
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Erectile dysfunction
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Real-time ultrasound assessment and biofeedback training
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Lymphoedema
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At
Hillview Women's and Men's Health Physiotherapy, we
perform detailed continence assessment both pre-
and post-operatively; we also utilise real-time
ultrasound, an incredibly useful visual biofeedback
tool for learning pelvic floor muscle contraction
and relaxation, and for assessing bladder
function.
Our paediatric physiotherapist sees children from newborn to adolescence. She performs physiotherapy assessment and provides treatment programs tailored to the individual child, with a focus on practical strategies for both the child and their parents.
Paediatric physiotherapy services include a wide range of conditions:
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Babies with asymmetrical head/neck position (infant torticollis) |
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Babies with flattened head (plagiocephaly) |
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Clubfoot (talipes) |
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Developmental delay |
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Unsettled/colicky babies |
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Arthritis |
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Childhood obesity |
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Respiratory conditions |
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Disability, including cerebral palsy |
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Gait abnormalities (e.g. toe walking, in-toeing) |
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Coordination disorder |
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Rehabilitation after surgery |
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Sporting injuries |
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Posture assessment and exercises |
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Orthopaedic conditions |
In addition, our Continence and Women's Health physiotherapists are highly trained in the assessment and management of childhood bladder and bowel dysfunction, including the following:
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Nocturnal enuresis (or bedwetting) |
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Daytime bladder leakage |
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Overactive bladder syndrome (frequent, urgent need to pass urine) |
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Constipation |
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Bowel leakage/soiling |
At Hillview Women's and Men's Health Physiotherapy, we perform detailed paediatric physiotherapy bladder and bowel assessment, and provide management programs in collaboration with children and their families. We utilise non-invasive techniques, including real-time ultrasound assessment and biofeedback therapy.
