Getting back into sport (and sex!) after Pregnancy, with the health of women’s health physiotherapy
On Monday 3rd August, I was fortunate to find myself in sunny Brisbane and I took the opportunity to interview Lori Forner, Women’s Health and Continence Physiotherapist. I wanted to ask her all the basics about what these clinicians do and how they help women.
The interview is broken into 2 parts:
- What Women’s Health Physiotherapists actually do, how they rehabilitate the pelvic floor muscles and the outcomes that they can achieve
- A couple of case studies that Lori has kindly put together to demonstrate how physiotherapy treatment has enabled these clients to return to important activities
Who is this video for?
- Any health or fitness professional who deals with the antenatal or postnatal population (including GPs, physiotherapists and personal trainers)
- Anyone who suspects or knows that they have some kind of pelvic floor problem and isn’t sure if physiotherapy can help
- Women who want to run or play sport again after giving birth
The video breakdown
My intention was to interview Lori for about 30-40 minutes, but there was so much good stuff that we managed to talk for over an hour! I have put the video breakdown below, so that you can skip to the relevant section if you prefer. Obviously I think all of the information is important but if you would just like to learn about prolapses, for example, then skip straight to that section
| Start | Introduction | About Lori and the interview topics |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Minutes | What a Women’s Health Physiotherapist does | • The demographics of the clients that Lori treats • Some of the other conditions that they treat that perhaps the general public is less aware of • Some of the common complaints that they see in the pregnant and postnatal population • How it can help women who have overactive pelvic floor muscles relax and have a better birth experience |
| 16 Minutes 35 Seconds | What Is Normal In Those First Few Weeks After Having A Baby? | • At what point should things settle down and continence be established? |
| 19 Minutes 45 Seconds | The Assessment Process | • When a client comes to see a WH physiotherapist, what are some of the questions they will ask? • What do they do in the actual physical assessment? • Real time ultrasound or internal examination? |
| 27 Minutes | Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation | • Some of the useful gadgets that can help • Progression of pelvic floor exercises – from basic muscle contractions through to exercises on one leg and with bands. • The importance of going beyond basic kegels and helping women return to function |
| 37 Minutes 17 Seconds | Prolapses | • How common are they? • What are some of the risk factors? • How does pelvic floor muscle retraining help reduce symptoms and even potentially the grade of prolapse? • Who needs surgery and what is the recurrence rate after surgery? |
| 45 Minutes | Pessaries | • What are they and how do they work? • What do they look like? How often do you use them? • Who can fit them? • How can they help with symptoms of prolapse or incontinence? |
| 51 Minutes | When Can I Run or do Sport Again?! | • Why the answer is so difficult • Some of the variables you can manipulate when getting back into running |
| 56 Minutes | Case Study #1 – Pain With Intercourse | • Client who had painful intercourse, even prior to pregnancy • How relaxation, trigger point release and advice enabled this client to enjoy intercourse again |
| 1 Hour 2 Minutes | Case Study #2 – Postnatal Weak Pelvic Floor | • Client who had a grade 3 tear and stitches who was keen to get back into bootcamp (?!) At 4-weeks postnatal • How the use of pessaries and pelvic floor rehabilitation enabled this client to get back into the activities that she enjoyed |
| 1 Hour 10 Minutes | Details About Lori Forner | • How to find Lori in Brisbane: Ground floor, 280 Adelaide St, Brisbane • loriforner.com for more information about Lori and to access her podcast with Antony Lo (The Physio Detective) |
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