Did you know that 1 in 3 women suffer from incontinence and 50 per cent of women over 50 have a pelvic organ prolapse (POP).
Both these conditions can affect women at any point in their lives but due to the hormonal changes associated with menopause, this is a time when these symptoms often become significant.
Jo Ardin, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist at Fairfield General Hospital said: “I lead a specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapy service in Bury. Feedback has told us that Physiotherapy has made a real difference to the lives of those affected by these conditions, which are often considered a taboo topic. We give our patients exercises to follow and empower them with strategies and tools to improve their condition and manage any ongoing symptoms effectively.”
Physiotherapy is a successful way of managing these conditions and is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a first line treatment.
Evidence has shown that 70 per cent of patients see an improvement in bladder incontinence in 3 to 4 months with effective pelvic floor muscle exercises, therefore reducing the need for further medical intervention and significantly improving quality of life.
Jo added: “We love hearing success stories and I recently met with one of our patients who said that she has returned to sport without any urinary leakage. We need to encourage people to be more open about their symptoms and conditions, as help is available and they do not need to suffer in silence. “
About Pelvic Health Physiotherapy
At the NCA we have a small specialist team who treat a variety of conditions including urinary incontinence, bladder urgency, pelvic organ prolapse, problems during and after pregnancy, pelvic pain conditions and painful intercourse, and faecal incontinence. They also see men with bladder, bowel, or pelvic pain conditions.
Click here for more information on Pelvic Health Physiotherapy at the NCA.
