Published on 14 Jan, 2025

Women’s Health Rehabilitation Unit

Physiotherapy for women’s health is one of the treatment methods for problems affecting the pelvic area and the muscles of the pelvic floor. The causes of pelvic pain are either due to problems in the reproductive system or the urinary system, and this pain usually increases with pregnancy, injuries, inflammation, and erosion of the joints. When might a woman’s health physiotherapy be needed?

1. Pelvic and lower back pain

52% of women suffer from back pain with pelvic pain, 82% of them started back pain and then pelvic pain followed.

Increased contractures in the lower pelvic muscles cause pelvic joint stiffness (SIJ) Pain from    pelvic muscle stiffness points extending to the lower back, buttocks, and inner thigh are

2.Pregnancy period

During pregnancy, many physical and functional changes occur in many organs of the mother’s body systems. The nature of breathing becomes superficial due to the elevation of the diaphragm muscle. The displacement of the center of gravity up and forward affects the change in the position of the body. The expectant mother may show an increase in flexibility and loosening of ligaments throughout the body due to the hormonal changes.

Physiotherapy during pregnancy contains:

  • Teaching the mother the types of breathing and the appropriate time to use each type during childbirth.
  • Teaching the mother the appropriate positions for her body and correcting the posture after birth.
  • Exercises to stimulate blood circulation Use relaxation techniques and stretching exercises
  • Strengthening the abdominal and pelvic muscles during pregnancy and postpartum
  • Exercises to move the lower spine, pelvis, and joints in the pelvic area.

3. Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence is involuntary leakage of urine from the urethra, usually occurs when there is a sudden rise in intra-abdominal pressure, such as when sneezing, coughing, or engaging in physical activity.

Causes:

  1. When the acceleration of contraction of the pelvic muscles is less than the rate of rise in abdominal pressure (sneezing, coughing), a delay in closing the urinary opening occurs
  2. Weak pelvic muscles where there is not enough force to close the urinary opening
  3. When the pelvic muscles are stretched, they are unable to contract during coughing to produce enough tension to close the urinary opening.
  4. When the pelvic muscles are such as the trampoline they are exposed to a sudden stretch, they bounce back more quickly, i.e. when sneezing or coughing, the pelvic muscles contract towards the urine canal, but they return quickly, and the urine canal opens quickly

4. Genital prolapse:

Genital prolapse is the descent of the vagina or uterus through the pelvic floor below the normal level.

Types of prolapse:

• Vaginal prolapse: Prolapse of the anterior or posterior wall of the vagina.

• Uterine prolapse

The main cause of genital prolapse is weakness of the supporting organs of the uterus and vagina (ligaments and pelvic muscles), and the main cause of this weakness is usually childbirth.

5. Physiotherapy after surgery

There are many problems for which the appropriate solution is surgical operations. After surgeries, physical therapy is needed to prevent complications such as:

  • respiratory problems
  • blood clotting in the leg veins
  • abdominal muscle separation)

Physical therapy can help you to:

  • Manage your pain levels and regain function
  • Improve surgical outcomes
  • Help patients regain strength more quickly
  • Reduce the length of hospital stays

Physical therapists are trained medical professionals who specialize in assisting patients to restore their strength, range of motion, and activity. To do this, they may help patients engage in special exercises, techniques, and stretches, and many utilize specialized equipment to help them perform their activities of daily living.