Women’s Health Physio Heidelberg | Pregnancy & Postnatal Care

Women’s Health Heidelberg

As one of the most trusted Allied Clinics in the Reservoir area, Northern Spinal & Sports Injury Clinic offers are for a range of women’s health related issues.

Our team provide care to all local Heidelberg residents and surrounding communities.

Our osteopaths, physiotherapists and chiropractors are passionate about all therapeutic treatments of women’s health issues. Women’s health can sometimes be an embarrassing topic and many women don’t know what help is available. Many times women experiencing pain don’t look any different and keep their condition private.

Women’s Health refers to the treatment and management of any health concerns such as; pelvic floor dysfunction, prenatal care, postnatal care, incontience and menopausal changes in the body.

Where does Osteopathy, Physiotherapy & Chiropractic care fit in women’s health?

A regular visit to an osteopath, physiotherapist or chiropractor can keep your body aligned and in balance, which means that, no matter the challenges you encounter each day, you can make sure it’s the best possible version of yourself that faces them. A ‘you’ with balanced hormones, freedom of movement and without stress.

In addition to ongoing care for your body, an osteopath, physio and chiro is a great support if you are thinking about starting a family. Some studies have shown that stress is part of an unwelcome cycle when it comes to conception. It can cause issues in conceiving, which then increases stress. Removing the physical tension from your body and leaving you free from stress can help to increase fertility. And this is where an osteopath, chiropractor and physiotherapist can help.

Women’s health conditions we can help you with you include:

Pelvic floor dysfunction
Urinary incontinence (including stress, urge and mixed incontinence)
Pelvic organ prolapse

Pelvic pain
Pre and post-natal care
Overactive bladder

Bowel incontinence and constipation
Severe period pain
Mastitis

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

The ‘Pelvic Floor’ relates to a group of muscles that extend like a sling from the pubic bone to the tail bone and make up the floor of the pelvis. The Pelvic Floor muscles have 4 very important functions in the female body:

Support the pelvic organs
Play a role in bladder and bowel control
Required for normal sexual function
Help to stabilise the pelvis and spine

There are many different types of factors which can cause ‘dysfunction’ within the normal workings of the pelvic floor, some of these which we see at Northern Spinal include pelvic/lower back pain, pregnancy, childbirth, gynaecological surgery, menopause, constipation, obesity, ageing, inactivity and chronic coughing or lifting.

At Northern Spinal our women’s health specialists can work with your to develop a range of management strategies to aid in the reduction and resolution of your pelvic floor dysfunction. These may include exercises designed specifically for the pelvic floor, education and a variety of lifestyle changes.

Pregnancy Pain

Over the course of a pregnancy, a woman’s body must be able to adapt to both the structural & hormonal changes that occur to accommodate a growing baby.

The gradual increase in weight causes a shift in the body’s center of gravity and this exaggerates the normal spinal curves. The release of hormones softens the supporting ligaments & muscles of the pelvis. These changes place added stress particularly on the low back and pelvis.

Any old injuries, underlying muscle tightness, joint restriction or pelvic instability will impair a woman’s ability to adapt to these changes and may result in pain & discomfort.

Lower & mid back, buttock & leg pain (sciatica), are some of the most common complaints associated with pregnancy.

Treatment is important at the following stages:

During pregnancy – to help the body adapt to the postural demands of the growing baby. Maximizing pelvic mobility can also help to minimize the chances of a problematic labour. Different treatments in different stages of pregnancy can improve circulation, reduce stress to postural muscles, decrease oedema and increase relaxation.
Post-natal – to help the woman recover from the birth. Treatment is aimed at gently easing sore and tired muscles and rebalancing the pelvis.

Osteopathy, Physiotherapy & Chiropractic Care can also help relieve back pain from breast feeding and lifting the baby.