Musculoskeletal conditions Women’s health and urogynaecological conditions Neurological problems

The women’s health physiotherapy outpatient team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, comprises of 5 experienced senior physiotherapists who have all undertaken specialist post-graduate training. Each therapist has developed their own area of expertise so that the caseload can be further divided into specialist areas:

• urinary incontinence
• chronic pelvic pain
• birth related perineal trauma
• antenatal and postnatal musculoskeletal
• breast cancer and oncology rehabilitation

 

We work closely with consultants and are experienced in managing complex problems. In addition we work collaboratively with the pain clinic for their chronic pelvic pain patients and with oncology for their patients currently undergoing treatment.

All patients are treated holistically to improve quality of life. Our patient centred advice and treatment is evidence based and led by our comprehensive clinical experience.

 

Treatments offered include:

• manual therapy
• directed exercise programmes
• core stability / pilates
• hydrotherapy
• biofeedback
• muscle stimulation
• acupuncture
• TENS
• ultrasound

 

Pelvic floor rehabilitation

The Addenbrooke’s women’s health physiotherapy team has been instrumental in the development of the female urology pathway and is one of the centres who offer the specialist intervention for Cambridgeshire urogynaecology patients.

 

Referral conditions Include:

• urinary incontinence:
• stress urinary incontinence
• urgency
• urge incontinence
• mixed incontinence
• pelvic organ prolapse
• perineal trauma following childbirth (urinary and bowel symptoms)
• perineal dysfunction associated with dyspareunia or vulvodynia
• chronic pelvic pain management 

 

Specialist assessment will involve a digital examination to enable an individual, objective pelvic floor exercise regime to be prescribed. When appropriate, pelvic floor stimulation, biofeedback, defecation dynamics and bladder training may be recommended. If, after three months there has been no significant improvement in symptoms. We have direct access to a consultant review and urodynamics assessment, set up as a ‘one stop shop’.

 

Antenatal and postnatal musculoskeletal service

The musculoskeletal service offers one to one assessment and treatment for the following conditions:

• pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain (PGP)
• lumbar and thoracic pain
• diastatis recti abdominus (DRA)
• pregnancy related carpal tunnel symptoms
• rib flare

 

In addition to individual assessment, we offer a specialist information and advice class for antenatal pelvic girdle pain at 13:30 on the first and third Tuesday of the month.  The class is held in the outpatient physiotherapy department at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.  Patients are welcome to attend this class without prior referral from a health care professional.  Due to the nature of this rapid access class, we would recommend that patients attend the class as the first line of treatment for pelvic girdle pain before a formal referral for individual assessment is made.

 

We also offer a postnatal specialist information and advice session at 13:30 on the last Tuesday of the month.  The session is also held in the outpatient physiotherapy department at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.  This session is appropriate for women up to six months after the birth of their baby who are experiencing musculoskeletal or continence symptoms directly related to childbirth.

 

The session is an ideal opportunity to check for diastasis recti abdominus and provide further exercise advice to optimise postnatal recovery.

 

Other outpatient services offered:

VBAC classes (vaginal birth after caesarean) are offered to appropriate patients after obstetric review.  The class is run by a specialist obstetric physiotherapist and includes information and practical advice for encouraging an active vaginal birth. This class is booked by the obstetric service.

 

Outpatient musculoskeletal physiotherapy input is available for breast cancer patients experiencing upper limb problems following their cancer treatment. Treatment, recovery advice and exercise counselling is provided by one of our team who is a qualified cancer exercise specialist.

 

For further information on our services, please contact the Addenbrooke’s women’s health physiotherapy team on 01223 217 422

 

 

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