Due to hurricane damage, the Havelock location is closed until further notice. Havelock therapists Hannah Zhang, Sarah Hall and Judy Hickes are available to see patients at the New Bern location. Please call the New Bern location at (252) 636-9800 to discuss your care.

Why women should find a women’s health physical therapist

Women’s Health Physical Therapist

There are certain health issues that are more likely to affect women than men. Many of these issues involve a problem in the pelvic area. Medical professionals consider the pelvic area to extend from below the stomach to the upper legs. This area of the body contains a group of muscles called the pelvic floor. It’s also the home of important body structures like the bowel, bladder and reproductive organs. 

Women’s health physical therapists have the ability to help women deal with issues that affect the pelvic area. They can provide effective treatment for pelvic issues women might be struggling with. 

Three issues a women’s health physical therapist can help women treat

An increasing amount of medical research shows that women are more vulnerable to some medical conditions than men. An example is that women are twice as likely to develop anxiety. Studies also show that 80% of the Americans with osteoporosis are women. 

Additionally, women are more likely to develop certain issues in the pelvic area. This increased frequency is one reason why women should find a women’s health physical therapist. Three of the pelvic area conditions these specialists can help with include: 

  1. Chronic pelvic pain — It’s estimated that 1 out of every 7 women is affected by chronic pelvic pain. Your women’s health therapist can help reduce your pain with multiple therapy techniques. One particularly effective method is myofascial release. A medical study of this technique reports that 63% of participants who had it reported significant improvements in their pain. 
  1. Urinary incontinence (UI) — This condition is often the result of weak pelvic floor muscles. A medical survey also reports that more than 51% of women had UI while it affected only about 14% of men. However, medical research shows that physical therapy can be very helpful for women with this issue. One study reports that women who had pelvic floor therapy had 75% fewer leakage episodes after three months of treatment. 
  1. Constipation — Overly tense pelvic floor muscles can lead to constipation. Research on this condition shows that about 21% of women have constipation while only 8% of men do. Physical therapists can use a technique called biofeedback to help women with constipation. One medical study reveals that 80% of participants who had biofeedback had significant improvement in their symptoms. These patients also indicated they had less trouble relaxing their pelvic floor muscles. 

Find a helpful women’s health physical therapist at Peak Performance

Are you looking for an effective women’s health physical therapist? You’ll find one at Peak Performance. You’ll also find clinics that offer free screenings. This service can help you start your therapy process with less fuss. In addition, our team excels at building personalized therapy plans for a variety of women’s health and pelvic area issues. 

Contact us today for more information about women’s health physical therapy or to schedule your free screening.