Common Health Concerns Physical Therapists See
Women undergo many changes at every stage of life, and the most common reasons women reach out to physical therapists are concerns related to osteoporosis, incontinence, and back pain related to pregnancy. These health problems can be caused by hormonal changes, weight gain, postural changes, and altered movement patterns, changes in the body that create an imbalance affecting the whole system. Physical therapy has real benefits for countering the symptoms and effects of both osteoporosis and incontinence in women.
Managing Osteoporosis With Physical Therapy
Keeping bones healthy and strong gets harder as we age, and even more so for women moving through menopause. Osteoporosis is an excessive decline in bone mass that affects ten percent of adults over 50 and targets more women than men, making it one of the leading health concerns for women. The condition isn't necessarily painful on its own, but the stress of weakening bones can cause pain and, at times, injury.
Physical therapy can provide safe, effective exercise routines to strengthen postural muscles, improve balance and flexibility, and help prevent accidents and falls. A physical therapist can design a weight-bearing exercise program to improve bone growth and bone density, including everyday activities like walking, dancing, stair climbing, and gardening, along with higher-impact options like aerobics, hiking, and tennis that directly target the bones in your legs, hips, and lower spine.
Treating Incontinence With Physical Therapy
Incontinence happens when there's a loss of bladder control that causes leakage. Urinary incontinence is caused by weak or overactive pelvic floor muscles, and urinating eight times a day or feeling a strong, frequent urge worsens urinary function. Common triggers include childbirth, hormonal changes, pelvic fractures, muscle weakness, obesity, and repetitive lifting of heavy loads. There are several types, but most can be treated with physical therapy.
Physical therapy helps patients train the pelvic floor to grow stronger, relieving stress on the bladder, and sessions often include behavioral strategies to help enhance bladder function. With a custom, specialized program, patients can alleviate and further eliminate urinary incontinence, treatment typically runs about six to eight weeks.
When to See a Physical Therapist
Other common women's health concerns physical therapy can help with include constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence. When facing any of these health problems, it's important to seek consultation with a physical therapist.
Tribeca Physical Therapy helps women prevent injury and recover from pregnancy so they can keep enjoying life. We help women with common concerns like incontinence and osteoporosis through an assistive, one-on-one approach, specializing in services tailored to women's and pelvic health for long-lasting relief.