Physiotherapy: Women’s & Men’s Health

Our experienced work as part of a multidisciplinary team, with consultants and radiologists, specialized in bowel and pelvic floor dysfunction including Bowel Control/Faecal Incontinence and Constipation.

Bowel Control/Faecal Incontinence

This is described as the inability to control bowel movements. Though it is a very common issue, affecting nearly 12 million adults, it predominantly affects women and older adults. Symptoms for Bowel Control include bowel urgency and accidental loss of stole.

Constipation

Constipation is the condition where a person suffers from uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Generally, a person is suffering from constipation when small amounts of hard dry stool is passed, usually fewer times than three times a week. However, the frequency of stool passing can vary from person to person.

Many patients with pelvic pain have tight, overactive pelvic floors, gluteals and abdominals muscles. Pelvic pain can often come hand in hand with bladder, bowel and/or sexual dysfunction.

Our pelvic floor physiotherapy treats tension and trigger points within these muscles, restoring optimal function, which in turn reduces symptoms. We’ve learned that through education and self- management strategies, patients are empowered to understand and manage their symptoms.

Our physiotherapy team also work with patients suffering from endometriosis, interstitial cystitis or irritable bowel syndrome, using effective treatments to reduce pain and discomfort.

Here at Beacon Hospital, we offer a comprehensive pregnancy and postnatal physiotherapy service. Treatment may include manual therapy and soft tissue release, individualized exercise programs to address weak and/ or tight muscles, postural correction and activity.

Some of our antenatal conditions treated include:

Pelvic Girdle Pain

PGP is pain which is felt around the pelvic joints, lower back, hips and thighs. Around 1 in 4 pregnant women experience PGP throughout pregnancy. Each woman’s experience of PGP will differ, including levels of pain and symptoms. Some symptoms may include pain or discomfort over your pelvis, along your groin area, below your tummy and/or into your hips. This condition is also known as Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction.

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

CTS occurs when the median nerve to the hand is compressed as it passes through an opening between the wrist and palm. Compression may also be caused by swelling of the tendons and may result from repetitive motions such as typing.

As well as Rib pain, Thoracic pain and Neck pain. An additional service we offer here at Beacon Hospital is Postnatal Check Up’s for women. We would recommend this service after a pregnancy to assess the core/abdominals, pelvic floor and posture. This treatment is recommended to address weaknesses early on in the postnatal period.

Postnatal Check Up

Our specialist physiotherapists offer a 1-hour comprehensive assessment, attuned to postnatal women, at any stage from 6 weeks after delivery. This system address everything from back pain, abdominal weakness, bladder or bowel problems to prolapse and even dyspareunia. This also includes:

• Assessment of patients concerns
• Abdominal Assessment
• Pelvic Floor Assessment
• Postural Assessment

Prolapse is extremely common in women who’ve delivered babies vaginally. Pelvic floor physiotherapy has been shown to improve symptoms and increase the strength of the muscles which support the pelvic organs.

Our specialists in this area, work closely with our team of gynecologists in helping women with vaginal prolapse.

Pain during sex is very common. Approximately 1 in 10 women experience pain during or after intercourse. This can be a cause of tense pelvic floor muscles and increased sensitivity of the nerves around the vagina. Beacon Hospital’s pelvic health physiotherapists offers individualized treatment to address these issues with excellent outcomes for patients.

Patients can also suffer from decreased sensation, vaginally, throughout sexual intercourse. A tailored pelvic floor program will focus on strengthening the muscles. This has been proven to improve sensation by increasing blood flow & tone.

This treatment is advised for both men and women who suffer with urinary incontinence.

Our specialists here at Beacon Hospital offer treatments in line with the most up to date evidence and recent advances in over active bladders including pelvic floor exercises, bladder retraining and posterior tibial nerve stimulation.

We would recommend this service for those who suffer with the following:

• Stress Urinary Incontinence
• Urge Urinary Incontinence
• Overactive Bladder
• Male Incontinence
• Childhood Incontinence