Rising community awareness on women's health issues is evident.

Medically...

• Did you know that many illnesses are prevented and treatable if caught early enough?
• Do you stay on track with your physicals?
• Do you know when you should have routine check ups for wellness to maintain a healthy you?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends the following schedule of checkups for common illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke.

Despite the well documented benefits of a physically active lifestyle, over 25% of American adults report that they never engage in regular recreational physical activity.⁴

Health Experts Recommend:

• Eating a balanced diet
• Get adequate rest
• Exercise on a regular basis without negative results
• Pace yourself physically, emotionally, and intellectually

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, and the American College of Sports Medicine have provided women with exercise recommendations. These guidelines are aimed at improving the health and well being of women.

• Both suggest an accumulation of 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise a day, for most if not all days of the week.*
• A woman's overall health, including obstetric and medical risks, should be evaluated before prescribing any exercise program. (ACOG 2002)

* In the absence of either medical or obstetric complications, pregnant women also can adopt these recommendations..

What actually happens when we exercise?

Cardiac and respiratory responses increase at the onset of exercise to meet the increased oxygen demands of exercising muscles and simultaneously maintain oxygen levels/viability of other vital tissues. Exercise, regardless of type, intensity, or duration, requires an energy expenditure that is greater than resting energy expenditure. To increase energy expenditure, oxygen is needed by the working muscles to transform stored chemical energy (mainly fat and carbohydrate) into the mechanical energy of movement. The regulation of metabolic and cardio respiratory function is further influenced by hormonal and endocrine changes, especially during pregnancy and post partum.³

Common physical conditions our therapists at Rehabilitex can help!

• Obstetric Dysfunction (orthopedic and high risk)
• Fibromyalgia Osteoporosis/Osteopenia
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Low Back Pain Issues
• Pregnancy and Exercise Health and Wellness

What is Obstetric Dysfunction? (Orthopedic and high risk)

Pregnant women may suffer from pain due to changes in posture, weight, hormonal changes. These women are at high risk of developing new pain problems during pregnancy, and even following the birth of their child. When these women already have a current condition, these problems may increase and persist during and following the birth of their child.

Click here for more information on pregnancy and exercise

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition with persistent and widespread musculoskeletal pain along with specific tender points.

Common Symptoms

• Generalized stiffness
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Cognitive impairment

Click here for more information on Fibromyalgia

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is an ill defined syndrome that presents itself for no apparent reason with a sudden/gradual onset of unexplained symptoms such as that appear to be flu like in nature, but can last from 6 months or never go away. It occurs 2- 4 times more often in women than men. Cause is unknown.

Early Symptoms (similar to influenza)

• Headache
• Tender lymph nodes
• Muscle and joint pain/ache
• Inability to concentrate

Common Lasting Symptoms

• Strong Fatigue (that comes and goes, or never stops)
• Too tired to do normal daily tasks
• Easily exhausted
• Reduced energy/vigor over the years
• Profound weakness

Useful Links

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• American Assosciation for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

What is Osteoporosis/Osteopenia?

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become thin and brittle due to decrease in bone mass resulting in fragile bones that are more susceptible to fractures with or without trauma.

Osteopenia is a condition in which there is evidence of reduction in bone volume below normal levels. This is an early sign of potentially developing Osteoporosis if prevention/intervention are not initiated.

Low Back Pain Issues?

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Pregnancy and Exercise Health and Wellness?

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Women's Health Physical Therapy

Women's Health Physical Therapists specialize in using their clinical training to evaluate and treat female clients' physical conditions regardless of their current medical health. Treatments are individually designed after a thorough evaluation to promote and enhance optimum health and wellness.

Physical Therapy Indications

The purpose of physical therapy treatment is to educate you in symptom management options, increase strength, increase body awareness, learn principles of joint protection and be able to immediately apply the training to every day activities of daily living (increasing overall quality of life with minimal symptom flare up). Overall goal is to educate you on an appropriate safe individualized home program that you could do on your own once discharged from our services

Here at Rehabilitex your treatment may include some (or all) of the following options:

• Symptom management training to teach self reductive pain techniques
• Modalities such as hot/cold packs, electric stimulation for immediate pain relief
• Relaxation training
• Functional stretching
• Therapeutic exercise and positioning
• Posture training for sleeping and daily living
• Body mechanics training
• Assist in the acquisition of soft supports for the spine and/or pelvic girdle area
• Patient education for specific home exercise program training

 

Wouldn't it be wonderful to learn how to increase/maintain your overall quality of life with minimal pain problems!!

Click here to contact us for more information

Other Common Conditions

Physical Therapy may be able to help you with the following problems as well. If you are suffering from Dysmenorrhea, Incontinence, Pelvic Floor Pain/Tension, or Lymphedema, we can refer you to a specialist in the (Cleveland area). To find a therapist more locally, click here for more information.

• Dysmenorrhea
  Reduction or cessation of menstrual cycle.

• Incontinence
  Loss of bowel or bladder control. This may be due to weakness of pelvic floor muscles. Rehabilitation includes electrical stimulation, biofeedback and exercise, (possibly with the use of vaginal weights).

• Pelvic Floor Tension/Pain
  This problem can be caused by the sling of muscles that supports the uterus, bladder and rectum. Rehabilitation includes pelvic floor relaxation training, manual therapy, and biofeedback.

• Lymphedema
  Persistent swelling of the arm or leg. This occurs if lymph nodes become damaged blocking lymphatic flow. Rehabilitation includes exercise, massage, and compression garments are possible

Click here to make an appointment at Rehabilitex.

1. American Physical Therapy Association Section on Women's Health
2. (Committee Opinion No. 267) Washington, DC. American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) January 2002. Exercises During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. volume 46(2) June 2003 pp496-499
3. O’toole, Mary L PhD. Physiologic Aspects of Exercise in Pregnancy. Clin Obstet Gynecol, vol 46(2) June2003 pp379-389
4. Ning Y, Williams MA, Dempsey JC. Correlates of recreational physical activity in early pregnancy. J Matern-Fet Neonat Med. 13(6):385-393 June 2003