Physiotherapy for women’s health consists of several types
incontinence
Vaginal prolapse
Chronic pelvic pain in women
1- Urinary incontinence
the definition
It is the loss of bladder control where urine leaks due to pressure on the bladder (eg: coughing, sneezing, laughing, or physical activity), Urinary incontinence occurs due to the physical changes associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Weakness of the pelvic floor muscles leads to the bladder descending to the bottom of the pelvis. This makes it difficult for the sphincter to squeeze tightly enough.
Types of incontinence in women :
Stress incontinence: Occurs when coughing, sneezing, or physical activity.
Urge incontinence: It occurs when the desire is strong and urgent, or urgent to urinate.
Mixed enuresis: Occurs when both stress and urge incontinence occur.
Functional enuresis: occurs when there is a physical disability, or external obstructions.
Transient incontinence: be a temporary condition.
Stress incontinence :
It is caused by pressure on the bladder (eg: coughing, sneezing, laughing, or physical activity), It may also be caused by physical changes with pregnancy and childbirth. As the weakness of the pelvic floor muscles leads to the descent of the bladder to the bottom of the pelvis, making it difficult for the sphincter to squeeze tightly enough, causing urine leakage. Urinary incontinence can also occur without the bladder moving downward. If the wall of the urethra (urethra) is weak.
Urge incontinence :
It is caused by involuntary bladder contractions as a result of abnormal nerve signals that cause spasms in the bladder. Causing thus a strong and urgent desire, or an urge to urinate, Damage to the spinal cord, brain, or bladder nerves and muscles may lead to involuntary bladder contractions (eg: alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease brain attack, and others). There are also stimuli that lead to enuresis, for example drinking a small amount of water, or touch the water, or hear the running water, Or being in a cold environment even for a short time.
Mixed enuresis :
Occurs when symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence are present.
Functional enuresis :
Occurs due to a physical disability, or external obstructions, or mental problems, That delays getting to the toilet in time
Transient enuresis :
It is usually caused by medication or is a temporary condition. For example, a urinary tract infection, excessive caffeine intake, chronic cough, constipation, Mental impairment.
Factors that lead to the possibility of developing urinary incontinence :
heredity.
getting old.
Birth defects in the urinary tract.
pregnancy.
Birth.
Chronic cough.
Menopause.
Neurological problems.
Obesity.
diabetic.
Pelvic organ prolapse.
Symptoms :
Many women experience minor urine leakage occasionally. Others may lose small to moderate amounts of urine more frequently.
Physiotherapy for urinary incontinence patients
enuresis can be treated, Through several things such as medication and the installation of a vaginal support device, However, these methods must be integrated with physical therapy based on:
Doing Kegel exercises: These exercises help to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. It is best for treating cases of stress incontinence.
Perform bladder exercises.
Electrical stimulation device: To stimulate the nerve feeding the pelvic muscles.
Magnetic field therapy: It works to grip and strengthen the pelvic muscles without pain.
Use of the Biofeedback device
2- Vaginal prolapse
the definition
some women suffer, at some point in their lives; relaxation of the vaginal muscles, As a result of weakness and prolapse of the posterior or anterior wall of the vagina, This leads to vaginal prolapse. i.e. falling from its normal position in the body, It is the passage or canal that connects the outer part of a woman’s body to the uterus. known as the birth canal. This causes many problems and pains.
Symptoms of vaginal prolapse
in most cases; Women do not show direct symptoms due to vaginal prolapse. But symptoms appear on the affected organ, Symptoms common to most women with vaginal discharge may include the following:
Feeling of fullness of the vagina with something.
Note the bump at the opening of the vagina.
Sensation of heaviness or pressure in the pelvic area.
Feeling bloated when sitting.
Low back pain that improves when lying down.
Needing to urinate more than usual.
Difficulty in complete defecation or emptying of the bladder.
Recurrent bladder infections.
Abnormal bleeding from the vagina.
Involuntary urine leakage when: cough, or sneeze, or laugh, or sexual intercourse, or exercise.
Abnormal pain during sexual intercourse.
Types of vaginal discharge
There are several types of vaginal descent:
Anterior vaginal prolapse: It occurs when the bladder drops into the vagina.
Posterior vaginal prolapse: When the wall separating the rectum from the vagina weakens; The rectum swells and impacts the vagina.
Uterine prolapse: The cause of vaginal prolapse may be weak uterine muscles. The uterus begins to prolapse or fall into the vagina.
Cervical collapse: The cervix has an arched shape. It is considered the strongest area surrounded by muscles. But when the cervical muscles weaken, That roof begins to loosen and then fall completely into the vagina.
Causes of vaginal prolapse
About a third of the world’s women suffer from varying degrees of vaginal prolapse. Although there are no direct causes for vaginal prolapse; However, women are more likely to have vaginal discharge during the following cases:
- Natural childbirth.
- Approaching menopause.
- overweight; What affects muscle hardness?
- birth defects from birth, For example, the inversion of the bladder to the outside.
- Vaginal prolapse after hysterectomy.
- Frequent coughing as a result of lung disease.
- chronic constipation, Which results in frequent straining to have a bowel movement.
- Fibroids that may appear in that area of the body.
Natural treatment for cases of vaginal prolapse
– Strengthening the trunk muscles
– Strengthening the pelvic muscles through exercises called Kegel exercises. Where these exercises depend on tightening the pelvic muscles for a few seconds and then releasing them. This is repeated 10 times. It can be repeated 4 times during the day.
– Using devices such as biofeedback, laser and electrical stimulation
3- Chronic pelvic pain in women
the definition
Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the area below the belly button and between the hips that lasts for six months or longer. There are many causes of chronic pelvic pain. Pain may be a symptom of another disease or it may be a standalone condition.
If it turns out that your chronic pelvic pain is caused by another health problem, Treating this problem may be enough to remove the pain.
However, in many cases, the single underlying cause of chronic pelvic pain cannot be identified. In this case, the goal of treatment is to reduce pain and other symptoms and improve quality of life.
Symptoms of chronic pelvic pain in women
Severe, constant pain
intermittent pain
Severe pain or cramps
Pressure or heaviness in the depth of the pelvis
Pain during sexual intercourse
– Pain during defecation or urination
Pain when sitting for long periods
Causes of chronic pelvic pain in women
(Endometriosis): It is a condition in which tissue from the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. Where these tissue deposits respond to the menstrual cycle, As with the endometrium — thickening, and flaking and bleeding every month due to the rise and fall of hormone levels. Because it happened outside the womb, Blood and tissue cannot exit the body through the vagina. instead, blood and tissue remain inside the abdomen, This can lead to painful cysts and fibrous bundles of scar tissue (adhesions).
Musculoskeletal problems: conditions affecting the bones, joints and connective tissues (musculoskeletal system) — such as fibromyalgia, or tense pelvic floor muscles, or inflammation of the pubic joint (pubic symphysis) or hernia — which can lead to recurring pelvic pain.
Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease: This disease can be contracted if one of the conditions caused by a long-term infection, mostly sexually transmitted, In the appearance of scarring affecting the pelvic organs.
ovarian remains: after surgical removal of the uterus, the ovaries and fallopian tubes, A small part of the ovary may be inadvertently left inside, leading to painful cysts later on.
Fibroids: These noncancerous uterine growths may cause a feeling of pressure or heaviness in the lower abdomen. They rarely cause acute pain unless their blood supply is cut off and they begin to die (decay).
Irritable bowel syndrome: Symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome — flatulence, or constipation or diarrhea — a source of pelvic pain and pressure.
Painful bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis). This condition is associated with recurrent pain in the bladder and the need to urinate frequently. You may feel pelvic pain when your bladder is full. This pain improves temporarily after emptying the bladder.
Pelvic congestion syndrome: Some doctors believe that enlarged varicose veins around the uterus and ovaries may lead to pelvic pain. But, Other doctors largely rule out pelvic congestion syndrome as a cause of pelvic pain because most women with enlarged pelvic veins do not experience pain associated with it.
Psychological factors: exposure to depression, or chronic stress, Or having a history of sexual and physical abuse may increase your chances of developing chronic pelvic pain. Emotional stress increases the severity of the pain. Living with chronic pain causes emotional stress. These two factors often create a vicious cycle.
Physiotherapy for chronic pelvic pain in women
Stretching, massage, and other relaxation techniques may improve chronic pelvic pain.
A physiotherapist can help you with these treatments. It helps you develop coping strategies for pain. Sometimes a physical therapist targets specific points of pain with a medical device called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). TENS sends electrical impulses to nearby nerve pathways.
A physiotherapist may also use a psychological technique called biofeedback. These help you identify areas of tight muscles so that you can learn to relax those areas.