Women's Health Physiotherapy includes treatment for conditions that exclusively affect women. This includes obstetric (ante/post natal) and gynaecological problems. Women's health conditions we can help with include:
- Pelvic girdle pain or pregnancy related back pain
- Diastasis recti (or separation of the abdominals)
- Ante and Post natal exercise
- Pelvic floor screening (this forms part of the New Mum MOT and does not include a physical examination)
Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)
Previously known as symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), PGP is a descriptive term for symptoms of pain in the joints of the pelvis. These are the pubic symphysis and sacro-iliac joints.
Pain in these joints is very common during pregnancy (affecting up to 70% of women in some studies). Symptoms can range from mild discomfort on certain movements to severe pain with all activities. Those with very severe symptoms may need to use crutches or a wheelchair for a period of time. Only around 20% of women will suffer severe symptoms and many resolve after birth with only around 7% of women suffering post natally.
Physiotherapist, Emily, specialises in the treatment of PGP both with physiotherapy and Pilates based rehabilitation exercise. We work in association with the founders of The Pelvic Partnership, a charity offering advice and support for sufferers of PGP. All the techniques used are gentle and non-invasive and specifically designed for the treatment of pregnant and post natal women. We offer advice on the use of support belts and stabilising exercises and can discuss the best options for labour. Treatment can be started immediately after childbirth if the pain persists or occurs at this time.
Diastasis RectiDiastasis Recti
Also known as "separation" of the abdominal muscles this is the stretching and thinning of the soft tissue in the centre of the abdomen which divides the right and left half of the abdominal muscles. It occurs in the 3rd trimester and is considered a normal effect of pregnancy as it occurs in 66% of women. It should return to normal by 6 weeks post natally. In some cases it does not return to normal within this time. This may be due to the diastasis being very large during pregnancy (due to a large baby, multiple pregnancy or several pregnancies in succession), or by incorrect use of the abdominal muscles post natally.
Physiotherapist, Emily, specialises in the treatment of Diastasis Recti and is trained to assess the degree of separation and teach the correct exercises to help resolve it. She will monitor your progress and can give advice about when you are able to return to exercise safely.
We also offer our New Mum MOT service, a post natal health check for new mums to help optimise recovery following childbirth.
Find out about our New Mum MOT
I’m so pleased that Emily was recommended to me via the private antenatal group I attended earlier this year. I went to see Emily during the latter stages of my pregnancy to assist me with the pelvic girdle pain I was experiencing. Emily gave me a thorough assessment and tailored exercises to work on at home. She is knowledgable in both pre and postnatal care for women, providing plenty of practical advice. I always find my sessions with Emily extremely valuable, she is an expert without ego and makes you feel completely at ease, so much so, that there’s no one else I’d consider seeing for my postnatal care, especially when in my experience the NHS have provided very minimal postnatal support.
October 2023
I went to see Emily for a New Mum MOT after having my second child, she was very knowledgable and more in depth than when I had seen the midwife! Emily talked through any concerns and put me at ease, answering all my questions. Emily gave me some great exercises to follow up at home - would thoroughly recommend to any new mum. I wish she had been around when I was pregnant as would have loved to have tried her prenatal Pilates classes!
May 2023
Governing bodies
