What is the Difference Between a Women’s Health Physio and a Physio Who is a Woman?

I have patients come through who have been told to see a women’s health physio but unsure what the distinction is between a women’s health physio and a physio who is a woman.

The key difference is the area of training of physio.

Women’s health physiotherapists have additional training in pelvic floor conditions as well as pregnancy and postnatal conditions.

Jessie returned to uni to complete a post graduate certificate in pelvic floor to specialise. Pelvic health physiotherapists are also trained to assess the pelvic floor internally. Which means they are trained in vaginal and rectal assessments of the pelvic floor to make sure your home program is specific to you and your current pelvic floor strength.

Specifically women’s health physiotherapists are trained to assist with:

Pelvic floor conditions such as:

• stress incontinence

• urge urinary incontinence

• increase bladder frequency or bladder pain syndrome

• nocturia (waking in the night needing to empty)

• constipation

• anal incontinence

• leaking with running & sport

• persistent pelvic pain

• painful sex (dysareunia)

Pregnancy and Postnatal Conditions:

• pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain

• pelvic floor training in pregnancy

• preparing pelvic floor for birth

• perineal massage

• birth position education

• DRAM or abdominal separation rehab

• guiding return to intimacy and exercise after birth

We see a lot more than the above i.e painful orgasms etc but if we listed everything I can imagine it would be quite boring to read.

We hope that clears up why a women’s health physio is different to a regular physiotherapist.

Physio’s who are women tend to have musculoskeletal training and see conditions such as neck, back and knee pain. Jessie at Kin Physio started her career with this area of interest and enjoys using her sports and MSK skills in her rehab of pelvic floor conditions.