August 2008

Women's Health Issues

Mountain River Physical Therapy takes pride in the physical therapy services it offers. Positive patient outcomes are essential. Our staff is dedicated to furthering the practice of physical therapy. One way MRPT is able to achieve this is by extending the types of services offered. Women’s health is one specialty of physical therapy that focuses on health issues related specifically to the female population that can occur throughout a lifetime. This area of physical therapy has grown in recent years as more and more women are recognizing the importance fitness and wellness. Women are becoming more aware of the need to pay more attention to their bodies during work, recreation and throughout life. It is great to see women being more proactive about their health care needs.

There is specialized training for physical therapists which enables them to evaluate and treat female clients with a variety of medical conditions. All treatments are individually designed after a thorough evaluation. Common problems that can be addressed through physical therapy include but are not limited to: osteoporosis, incontinence, lymphedema, prenatal and postpartum musculoskeletal pain, pelvic pain, fibromyalgia, and incontinence. All that is needed to start physical therapy is a referral from a physician.

Cancer is a disease that affects nearly every American is one form or another. Cancer survivors benefit from physical therapy services in numerous ways. In general, physical therapy can improve generalized deconditioning that can result from both the disease process and the treatment. Therapy can restore endurance, range of motion and strength. A more specific condition often addressed is lymphedema. This is a protein rich swelling of the arm or leg but can also occur in the trunk. It often occurs after mastectomy when lymph nodes are damaged or removed. It can occur following an infection or when scar formation blocks lymphatic flow. Lymphedema can occur at any time after an injury or insult to the lymphatic system. Treatment includes exercise, manual lymph drainage massage, compression wrapping/bandaging, and compression garments. Education is an important part of treatment as well.

Prenatal and postpartum musculoskeletal pain is a group of symptoms that may or may not have been present prior to pregnancy but changes in posture, weight or hormonal factors can affect the body. Common complaints include low back and mid back pain, pelvic pain, and pain in wrists/hands. Treatment includes posture and body mechanics education, manual therapy, strengthening and maternity supports. Normalizing musculoskeletal problems along with patient education is a very successful treatment approach for these women.

Pelvic pain can be due to pelvic floor weakness or increased muscle tone. Pelvic pain can also be caused by other related muscle, joint or nerve problems. You may experience difficulty sitting, pain during intercourse, pain in hips or lower abdomen. Treatment can include pelvic floor relaxation training, manual therapy, exercise and biofeedback. As is a common theme with successful outcomes, patient education is an important aspect of therapy.

Incontinence affects both male and female clients. Incontinence is the loss of bowel or bladder control resulting in involuntary loss of urine or stool. Incontinence is an area of health care that many Americans consider taboo. It is often difficult and embarrassing to discuss this issue but is one that can be effectively treated conservatively. Pelvic floor muscle weakness may be one of the causes. Incontinence may be classified as stress, urge or mixed. Treatment includes a thorough review of a bladder diary, patient education, bladder retraining, electrical stimulation, biofeedback and exercise.

Osteoporosis and fibromyalgia also affect both male and female clients but it is more common in the female population. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become thin and brittle causing them to break more easily. Treatment can include: instruction on proper body mechanics and posture, exercise, fitting of braces or orthotics, and modalities such as electrical stimulation and moist heat. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition with persistent and widespread musculoskeletal pain along with specific tender points. Other symptoms may include generalized stiffness, fatigue, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. Treatment focuses on pain reduction and increased function through stretching and strengthening exercises. Modalities such as heat or cold and posture/body mechanics education are used. Aquatic exercise has also proven effective.

If you have any questions regarding any of the information on this website, please feel free to contact us through email or phone. We as a staff are more than willing to take time to answer any questions you may have to the best of our abilities. Thank you for taking time to see what Mountain River Physical Therapy is about and what we can do for you.