Women’s Health Physio and Pelvic Health

Women’s and Pelvic Health Presentations

Move Forward has a number of Physiotherapists experienced in the treatment of health issues specifically related to the pelvis and pelvic floor muscles. Women’s Health physio is offered by both our professional female and male staff. We will show you the care and respect required while treating these sensitive conditions but if you do prefer a female in these situations please let reception or your treating physiotherapist know.

When to see us for Pelvic Health Physiotherapy:

Incontinence & Pelvic Floor issues (ultrasound guided)
Ante natal & Post natal care
Abdominal muscle separation (RAD)
Pelvic organ prolapse
Pelvic pain
Pain with intercourse
Breast feeding / postural issues – including mastitis
Lower back, pelvic girdle, sciatic, postural, neck pain
Core muscle retraining
Return to safe exercise

Pelvic Floor and Continence Physiotherapy helps with:

Urine leakage when you exercise, laugh, cough, sneeze.
Frequency issues: The need to go to the toilet frequently
Urge issue: Trouble reaching the toilet in time
Difficulty emptying your bladder or bowel
Difficulty controlling wind or your bowel
Pre-operative and Post-operative management following surgery such as hysterectomy and prostatectomy

Services available at Move Forward locations

The below listed physiotherapists have additional training in real time ultrasound biofeedback for pelvic assessments.

Non Invasive Pelvic Health Assessment and Management

Available with Georgia Carpenter (Mt Hawthorn clinic), Janelle Juse, Emily Ebert and Sarah Paul (Butler clinic), Bridget Besch (Kinross clinic), Mikaela Kusin (North Beach clinic), Nikki Warburton (Hillarys clinic) and Cindy Lui (Quinns clinic).

Pelvic floor muscle check using real time ultrasound imaging
Pregnancy pelvic floor muscle check
Abdominal separation or RAD (rectus abdominal diastasis)
Pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy
Lower back, pelvic girdle, sciatic, wrist, postural and neck pain induced with pregnancy and post-natal. (Prescription of pelvic belt supports)
Core muscle retraining (real-time ultrasound guided and reformer Pilates based).
Return to safe exercise after surgery or childbirth

Advanced Pelvic Health Training

Available with Georgia Carpenter (Mt Hawthorn clinic), Janelle Juse, Emily Ebert and Sarah Paul (Butler clinic), Bridget Besch (Kinross clinic), and Nikki Warburton (Hillarys clinic).

Incontinence
- Bladder leakage and urgency
- Difficulty emptying the bladder or bowel
- Bowel incontinence and constipation
- Post hysterectomy incontinence
Pelvic organ prolapse
Pelvic Floor dysfunction (weakness, poor timing and overactivity)
Pelvic Pain (endometriosis, vulvodynia, vaginal pain, urethral, bladder or bowel pain)
Post-natal pelvic floor assessment
Pre and post-natal exercise prescription as your body changes. Post-natal Pilates classes available.
Exercise prescription and advice regarding osteoporosis in the post-menopausal client.

Complex Pelvic Health Presentations

Our principle women’s health physiotherapists who deal with complex pelvic health presentations are Georgia Carpenter (Mt Hawthorn clinic), Janelle Juse, Emily Ebert and Sarah Paul (Butler clinic), Bridget Besch (Kinross clinic) and Nikki Warburton (Hillarys clinic).

They have completed additional Continence and Pelvic Health training and have a great passion in treating these patients.

They are competent in treating all of the above conditions as well as;

Pessary fitting and management for pelvic organ prolapse
Sexual pain and complex pelvic pain
Bedwetting
Urine leakage post prostatectomy
Perineal ultrasound
Mastitis or blocked milk ducts (also available at our Hillarys clinic with Nikki Warburton)

To book a women’s health appointment please phone the clinics directly on book online and select “Womens Health” for the appointment as the initial session requires an extended 1 hour appointment to be scheduled by our reception team.

All pelvic floor assessments and treatments are provided in a private and confidential environment. Assessments can either be performed using non-invasive real-time ultrasound imaging (RTUI) or for a more comprehensive and accurate assessment, a vaginal assessment. We have brand new state of the art RTUI machines at our Mt Hawthorn, Hillarys, Jindalee, Quinns, Kinross and Butler clinics where our experienced female and male physiotherapists as listed above have advanced training in women’s health and pelvic physiotherapy.

Real Time Ultrasound Imaging- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Real-time ultrasound imaging (RTUI) is well known for looking at babies in utero and injured tendons around the shoulder. Physiotherapists also use RTUI to assess and retrain the deep muscles of the body that cannot be easily palpated during exercise.

Not to be confused with the treatment ultrasound that Physiotherapists commonly used for rolled ankles or sprained knees the RTUI is utilized as an assessment and training tool.

RTUI assists with the assessment of pelvic floor dysfunction and can be performed safely and non-invasively. Your breathing pattern will also need to be assessed as good diaphragmatic breathing is essential for ideal pelvic floor function.

Bladder volume can be measured, the client can watch their pelvic floor lift and fall as they contract and relax the muscles, and learn how to perform the exercises correctly. Research has shown that 40% of people with pelvic floor dysfunction push their muscles down rather than lift the muscles upwards. Repeating the incorrect contraction can lead to further pelvic floor problems so it is important to practice the correct pattern of contraction from the beginning.

Sometimes it is hard to get the right muscle contracting in the right way. Seeing the muscle working on the screen as you contract it and relax it can make learning the correct contraction so much easier.

Lucky to have a brand new state of the art RTUI at our Hillarys Clinic, Butler Clinic, Kinross Clinic, Quinns Clinic, Jindalee Clinic and Mt Hawthorn Clinic we are able to incorporate the RTUI into your treatment with extreme efficiency.

Mastitis and/or blocked milk ducts

Therapeutic Ultrasound – Different to the RTUI, therapeutic ultrasound can often unblock a clogged milk duct very quickly and is the same machine more commonly used for rolled ankles or sprained knees. If the ducts are not unblocked in a timely manner, true mastitis can result, with the client suffering a fever, rigors, and sharp pain in the breast. Mastitis can come on very quickly and is very uncomfortable, so it is best to seek medical and physiotherapy attention as soon as possible.

Pre and post natal exercise prescription

Your body goes through so many changes during pregnancy, so it is essential to exercise in a safe but effective manner to remain healthy and happy. As your body changes, weaknesses in your muscles or joints may become apparent that were not obvious before hand. Once your baby has arrived, it is time to ensure your pelvic floor is functioning well, and that your lower back is strong enough to allow you to carry your baby around. Your Move Forward Physiotherapist can devise a pre and post natal exercise program that is right for you.

Osteoporosis

Exercise Programs and Advice – As women age they become very susceptible to developing osteoporosis, or loss of calcium in the bones. A regular weight bearing exercise regime can decrease your bone density loss. This might involve a walking program, or even lifting light weights at home. A balance program can also assist in the prevention of falls, a common cause of bone fractures in older women. Your Move Forward Physiotherapist can advise you on exercise and lifestyle habits to keep you strong and healthy as you age. Able to utilize are on site gym at Quinns Physiotherapy or the advice of our Physiotherapists at any of our locations we are sure we can give you the optimum management for your exercise rehabilitation.

Visit our amazing Physio’s for more advice regarding Women’s Health Physiotherapy, the Real time ultrasound and management of all the conditions discussed above.

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