Women's Healthy Physical Therapy

Service Description

Kristyn Riley, Women's Health Physical Therapist at Memorial Hospital's Therapy and Sports Rehab Center specializes in treatment and therapy for many conditions that may be causing pain, discomfort, and disruptions due to pelvic floor weakness or dysfunction. A pelvic floor is made up of the muscles that support the urinary and reproductive tracts. These muscles also control your bladder and bowels. Functions include: support for your abdominal and pelvic organs, controlling your ability to hold or release contents of your bladder and bowels, sexual function, and posture. A women's health physical therapist goes through additional post graduate training to evaluate and treat musculoskeletal conditions specific to women, including: • Pregnancy and post-partum related issues • Pelvic pain • Urinary or fecal incontinence • Pelvic organ prolapse Pelvic floor muscles can become stretched during childbirth, weak with aging, or hypertonic with increased stress. If you experience any of the following, you may benefit from seeing a women's health PT: • Leaking of urine or feces when you cough, sneeze, jump, or perform any other form of exercise • Frequent need to urinate, strong urgency or feeling of incomplete ability to empty your bladder • Any leaking of urine, unrelated to movement or activity. • Pain with intercourse or gynecological exam • Pregnant and experiencing back pain, pubic symphysis pain, hip pain, or round ligament pain • History of childbirth and have diastasis recti (when your belly sticks out because the space between your left and right belly muscles has widened) or problems with a c-section scar • Pelvic pressure or prolapse During your first consultation with Kristyn she will ask a variety of questions regarding your symptoms, family history, and health history. Then she will perform a physical exam of your posture, lower back and SIJ movement, abdominal muscle function, and hip muscle flexibility. An internal assessment of the pelvic floor may be needed to assess the following: • Muscle Tone • Flexibility • Pain • Prolapse • Coordination • Strength, Endurance • Patient's Ability to Voluntarily Contract or Relax A treatment plan typically consist of 1-2 visits per week over a span of 8-12 weeks. Many patients reach their goals within just 4-8 in-person visits. Ask your doctor for a referral to Kristyn Riley, Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in Women's Health Physical Therapy.