Women’s Health

My life as a physiotherapist started when I was at school at the age of 15 on a careers guidance day, and an algorithm was presented to me. I had to follow pathways and answer all sorts of questions regarding working with people or animals, was I sporty or not, and lots of other questions. At the end the careers advisor came to the conclusion that a young, sporty girl who likes being with people should try work experience at her local hospital in the physiotherapy department. Hence I started my exploration in to the world of physiotherapy. After a few weeks of work experience with all sorts of different patients, I decided this really was the choice for me!  

After training in central London and many years of work in the NHS in London with a variety of experience I chose to follow post graduate training in musculoskeletal medicine.  This opened my eyes to a vast world of variety to helping people overcome whatever was troubling them. I experienced the world of private physiotherapy both inside a big hospital and in the sunny climes of north London based from Hampstead. 

After many years of work, I entered the world of pregnancy three times and had wildly different experiences each time! Hence my interest in Women’s Health began to blossom. Bringing my own three children into the world with my own experience of pregnancy and post pregnancy problems plus those that come along a little bit later in life has shown me how just a little bit of advice, care, treatment and management can make that difference to how you as a mum feel; and are therefore able to run your own, your partner’s, your children’s and your whole lives. If you are operating below par, then how can you possibly run everyone else’s lives too- and we all know that life as a mum is rewarding but relentless , and it isn’t always easy to find time for you!

There are many times in life when we all think –ouch, ah, ow, or we think oh this is troubling me but I’ll ignore it and it will disappear! We’ve all done it! And then after a while, the symptoms have either disappeared or we blot them out and then they recur, so after a while we seek help. This is where physiotherapists often see people. Maybe it would be better to seek help earlier, then appropriate advice and management could help to solve the symptoms and prevent recurrence.

So why come to see a women’s health physiotherapist? What can we help with? Have you had those days when pregnant or post pregnancy when part of your body whether it is your back, neck or somewhere else is just niggling away whilst you go about your daily routine? For some this may be niggling or for some function debilitating pain. Why be uncomfortable or in pain during your pregnancy when you don’t need to be? For others dysfunction with their waterworks may cause an annoyance which people tend to hide away. 

A physiotherapist can offer a full assessment and guide you to help which may completely stop the symptoms or provide management techniques which can markedly reduce the impact on your life. And then the world of what you want to do may open up in front of you.

Why not come to see us and see just what we can offer? Just that little bit of help may make the difference to a comfortable pregnancy or being able to do those activities that you really want to!

Sandra Watts

Women’s Health and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist