Desert Springs Physical Therapy - Silver City, NM

Women’s health is a specialty within the field of physical therapy that addresses conditions that occur across the lifespan and affect primarily women.

HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED ANY OF THESE HEALTH CHALLENGES?

• Pain or dysfunction associated with pregnancy or postpartum

Pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for a newborn cause physical changes that are unavoidable, but the pain or dysfunction associated with these changes can be treated. With the changes that occur during pregnancy a women may develop: low back pain, tail bone pain, pubic bone pain, pressure or heaviness, hand or wrist numbness or swelling, sacroiliac pain, calf cramps, headaches, incontinence, or sacroiliac pain.

Physical therapy can provide manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, supports, and education about special techniques and movement strategies to relieve symptoms and prevent further problems.

Pain is not a normal part of motherhood!

• Urinary incontinence

The involuntary loss of urine is a social and a hygienic problem that can be the result of many things including pelvic floor muscle weakness and poor bladder habits. Incontinence affects between 15-25 million Americans – 15% of adults.

Of the women between 30 and 59 years, 26% have problems. Many women restrict fluids to avoid losing control of their bladder. Greater than 50% of nursing home residents have incontinence.

Physical therapy treatment assists patients to restore pelvic floor muscle strength through exercise and biofeedback training to teach the correct way to perform Kegel exercises. Treatment also provides education regarding normal function, stress management, and good toileting habits.

Incontinence is not an inevitable part of aging (or motherhood)!

• Pelvic pain or dysfunction

Pelvic pain encompasses a large variety of diagnoses (eg. chronic yeast infection, chronic urinary tract infection, irritable bowel syndrome, vestibulitis, vulvodynia, dyspareunia) and similarly is manifested with a large variety of symptoms (eg. burning, itching, rawness, aching, pelvic pressure, back pain, abdominal pain, tailbone pain, urinary urgency and frequency, pain with sexual intercourse, discomfort with tampon use).

Chronic pelvic pain can often be attributed to musculoskeletal dysfunction such as muscle spasm, joint dysfunction, abnormal postures, weakness, decreased flexibility or any combination of these. If an imbalance occurs within any of the 80 muscles that attach to or extend from the pelvis, symptoms may arise and pain cycles may occur.

Everything in the body is connected and one area of dysfunction can create a different area of pain or dysfunction.

Physical therapy treatment can resolve many problems and can improve the others with manual techniques, therapeutic exercise, relaxation training with biofeedback, postural education, and movement strategies.

• Post surgical pain or loss of function

Muscle spasms, weakness, decreased flexibility and/or scar adhesions may result in discomfort and inefficient movement habits following medical procedures such as C-section, episiotomy, hysterectomy, breast surgery, or abdominal surgery. Physical therapy treatment can help.

Ann Estensen, coming the last quarter of 2007, MS, PT is a rehabilitation specialist focusing her practice on the special needs of women of all ages.

She will thoroughly evaluate all aspects of your condition including medical history, posture, muscle strength, flexibility, and habits, to create an individualized program that is designed to meet your specific needs and goals.

Ann is passionate about educating the community and guiding her patients along their personal path to wellness.

To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call Ann at Desert Springs Physical Therapy at 505-534-1187.