A women's health osteopath can assist and manage many different conditions experienced by women through manual treatment (release work, joint mobility, realignment/rebalance and relaxation) as well as exercise prescription and guidance, and lifestyle and ergonomic advice.
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Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an exceptional experience for those with wombs but can pose a problem with some individuals. A woman’s body makes necessary accommodations and changes to allow for the growth of a baby like changes in spine alignment, pelvic girdle widening, and stretching of the abdominals. This can increase the amount of strain on your joints and muscles and may lead to pain, discomfort and reduced mobility and/or function.
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Osteopathy for pregnancy (and postpartum) women aims to create a better environment in the expecting mother’s body for the baby by releasing areas of restriction in the muscles, joints and connective tissues and by promoting mobility and flexibility in areas that require more room and mobility as the baby grows.
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Your osteopath can assist you with managing common pregnancy-related conditions and issues such as:
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Migraines and headaches
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Upper back and neck pain
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Rib sprains
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Lower back pain
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Sciatica and nerve pain
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Pubic symphysis pain
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Pelvic girdle pain
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Pelvic floor tightness and pain
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Carpal tunnel syndrome
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Urinary urgency and incontinence/leaking
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Plantar fasciitis
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Pelvic Health​
The pelvis is the bony ring that protects and houses your reproductive and abdominal organs and it connects the lower limbs to the axial skeleton. It is an area of the body that can experience additional stress and load when the other parts of the body aren’t working as well as they should due to external stressors or chronic health conditions. Your pelvic floor is a set of muscles that support your pelvic organs from below and functions like a trampoline (not a passive sling!). Many different conditions and circumstances can influence the function of the pelvic floor (not all of them are related to being pregnant!) which can affect a women’s function and quality of life.
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At ASCEND, we can assist you with various issues relating to pelvic health by addressing any areas of restriction or tightness, improving joint mobility of the pelvis, spine and hips, as well as exercise prescription to help the function of your pelvic floor and pelvic muscles.
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Common pelvic conditions that your we can assist you with include:
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Urinary or faecal incontinence and/or incomplete emptying
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Urinary urgency or stress incontinence
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Constipation
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Painful sex
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Pain in the perineal (genital) region
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Endometriosis and period pain
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Lower back pain
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Pelvic girdle pain
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Coccyx/tailbone pain
Menopuase ​
Perimenopause is the time of a woman’s life that leads up to her final period. It affects women usually from the age of 40 and can last 3-10 years. During this time, your sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone drop significantly which causes widespread symptoms across the entire body such as:
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Widespread joint and muscle pain
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Frozen shoulder and shoulder pain
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Night sweats and hot flushes
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Brain fog and forgetfulness
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Increased anxiety and depression
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Mood swings
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Disturbed sleep
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Migraines and headaches
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Painful sex
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Reduced function and increased risk of falls due to the decline in muscle mass and power
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Increased risk of bone fractures due to the decline in bone density
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We can assist you with managing your menopause symptoms by treating your musculoskeletal system with manual techniques (soft tissue and connective tissue release, joint mobility and body balance) as well as helping you implement lifestyle changes in regards to your diet, exercise and sleep regime.
