What the Hell is a Women’s Health Physio?!

WellnessFitness
Written By Dominique Williams

Let’s face it

the health of Women has been uncomfortably placed on the back burner in the Healthcare system for - well… ever! To the point where the majority of the female population think many of the problems they’re suffering with are actually normal!

Well, guess what - they are NOT. Further more (here is the real shocker), there are actual dedicated and specialised Healthcare Professionals who live, breathe and think Women’s Health!

You read it right - people who are dedicated to FEMALE HEALTH ONLY and we are not only talking about the Gynaecologists of the world either.

So? The Women’s Health Physio, what’s the deal?

Check out the infographic above which is also shared on our instagram.

Women’s Health Physio’s (WHP’s) are Physiotherapists who have studied a Bachelors or Masters degree in Physiotherapy and then further specialised (via ALOT of further education) into the field of Women’s Health and Medicine.

In general, Physiotherapists have to do a series of rotations in many different areas of Human Health care, before specialising: Musculoskeletal & Orthopaedics (bones, breaks, sports injuries, joint pains, amputations, etc); Respiratory & Cardiovascular (Chronic diseases affecting the lungs, ribcage and general breathing mechanics); Neurology (Neuromotor diseases which affect the nervous system, e.g Parkinsons, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Brain and spinal cord trauma). Other fields they may experience are Oncology (cancer), Geriatrics (Elder population), General Practice and Paediatrics (Babies & Children).

After these rotations, the Physiotherapist will then take further specialist education into Women’s Health, this covers areas such as:

  • Gynaecology (Pelvic floor, Hysterectomy, Endometriosis, PCOS, Menopause, reproductive health, issues with sex, prolapse of the uterus)

  • Urology (Bladder incontinence, prolapse of the bladder/bowel, bowel incontinence)

  • Antenatal Care (Musculoskeletal pains., neck, back, hip, pelvis, etc., safe exercise during pregnancy, optimising a healthy birth experience / reducing complications)

  • Postnatal Care (Musculoskeletal pains., correct rehabilitation post-birth, returning to exercise after pregnancy, caring for surgery wounds such as C-section scar mobilisation, healing diastasis recti (tummy gap)

  • Medical approach knowledge (Hormone replacement therapy, pain medication, treatment for vaginal dryness, surgical options, referral to other specialists)

  • Adjuncts (Pessary fitting, Neuro/BioStimulation equipment, probes and vaginal/anal dilators, vaginal and anal examinations)

The Women’s Health Physiotherapist Clinical Assessment

Your Women's Health Physio will look at a whole host of things to assess your issues:

  • Your History (why you’ve come to see a WHP, where you feel issues began, your pregnancy/brith experience, childhood and or trauma history, physical and mental health goals).

  • Your Physique (Posture, muscle balances, muscle strengthen and flexibility, how you breathe - breathing is the culprit of many Women’s Health problems, such as incontinence, internal vaginal assessment of the pelvic floor and organs, internal anal assessment of the bowel sphincter).

What about Treatment?

Your Women’s Health Physio will have many tricks up their sleeve with regard to a treatment approach:

  • Pelvic floor training

  • Breathing mechanic training

  • Bladder / bowel training

  • Meditation

  • Massage / mobilisation

  • Education classes

  • Adjuncts (equipment and additional services)

  • Tailored exercises (muscle strength, flexibility, balancing)

  • Graded exercise plan (especially important after birth)

The treatment is highly specialised and tailored for your body

What does the Research say?

A study by Howard et al 2018 explored how women feel about Women’s Health Physiotherapy Services:

98% were satisfied with the quality of WHP treatment

98% felt that their main problems and concerns were answered

100% were satisfied with the level of knowledge provided by the Physiotherapist

98% said they were satisfied with seeing a Physiotherapist instead of a GP

A large scale study carried out by the Department of Health & Social care explored how Women feel about the UK Healthcare System - 100,000 women responded.

Results:

63% wanted more help with Gynaecology conditions

55% wanted more help with fertility, miscarriage and postnatal support

48% wanted more help with Menopause

47% wanted more help with Menstrual cycle

39% wanted more help with Mental Health

Women reported that their symptoms are not taken seriously and must advocate for themselves over several months/ years, to finally be heard. They also reported that they were given limited treatment options and poor education after diagnosis.

Below are some statements from the female participants:

Respondent (aged 40 to 59) [spelling errors corrected]:

[…] trying to discuss possible menopause symptoms, including hot flushes, told I was too young so it was just the weather. No one cared about the effect on my life.

Respondent (aged 25 to 39):

At my 6-week postnatal check, they rolled this together with baby’s 8-week check. There wasn’t enough time to discuss my concerns (scar healing, contraception preferences) properly.

Respondent (aged 25 to 39) [spelling errors corrected]:

No real support or information re: pelvic floor rehabilitation post pregnancy. Suffered diastasis recti but no information given post pregnancy about this or about rehabilitation that might be needed for pelvic floor, which is given automatically in some countries.

In summary…

Women’s Health Physiotherapists are highly specialist clinicians who focus on many aspects of Women’s Health. Whilst they are not medics, they have a wealth of knowledge and skills in treating a multitude of health conditions a woman of any life stage may experience.

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below

Dominique Williams