Men and women are physiologically different. For example, women have to deal with pregnancies that can take a toll on your body. Moreover, conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis are more common in women. Considering these differences, there’s a separate field in physical therapy dedicated to women’s health.
Physical therapy for women aims at letting women enjoy their lives pain-free. If you’re an active woman involved in sports and athletics, it is recommended that you consult a physical therapist to get a customized plan for yourself. This plan would help you target your pain areas for better mobility.
Here are five ways in which women’s health is different and requires special care.
1. Osteoporosis:
About 80% of total individuals with osteoporosis in the USA are women. When you have this condition, your bones become weak and brittle, making them more susceptible to fractures. While this condition is not curable, you can better manage it by getting dedicated physical therapy. Physical therapy can improve your strength and give you a better posture.
2. Urinary Incontinence:
Urinary incontinence occurs when you lose control of your bladder muscles, resulting in urine leakage. The major cause of this is childbirth or surgical trauma. You can get help from a trained physical therapist to tackle this issue. Physical therapy can focus on your post-operative rehab, increasing muscle control and decreasing or even resolving the issue.
3. Menopause:
A woman’s body goes through hormonal and physical changes during menopause. As a woman ages, it is important that she is able to maintain her bone and muscle strength. This is why it’s recommended to focus on physical therapy. Good physical therapy clinics have special programs for women post-menopause.
4. Osteoarthritis:
Women tend to be more susceptible to this condition. Arthritis can cause excruciating joint pain. As a woman, you must work towards pain and discomfort management and relief—which is best achieved through optimum physical therapy. All orthopedic doctors would only recommend physical treatment for this condition. But the key here is to stay consistent.
5. Breast Cancer:
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. Physical therapy can help you in both the pre and post-surgery stages. After the treatment, it aims at providing adequate care so that the side effects of chemotherapy can be reduced. Usually, therapy plans for breast cancer survivors include lymphedema treatment, manual therapy, and exercise.
Contact Your Physical Therapist Today!
It’s never too early to get in touch with a physical therapist. If you’re feeling symptoms such as slight knee, neck, or back pain, don’t ignore them. If you’re in Augusta, contact us for your physical therapy appointment. We offer holistic physical therapy and treatment for women.