What is Women's Health Physiotherapy?
A women's health physiotherapist focuses on treating issues related to obstetrics and gynaecology for women at any time of life – from the teenage years through to the 90’s. Although women's health physiotherapy is most often associated with treating conditions during and after pregnancy, it's actually so much more.
Women's health physiotherapy can help whether you are pregnant, a new mum, recovering from gynaecological and pelvic surgery, experiencing pelvic pain or continence problems. Our specialists are here to help you improve your health, fitness and general wellbeing.
We treat a wide variety of conditions including:
The Mummy MOT®
The Mummy MOT® is a specialist postnatal examination provided by specially trained women’s health physiotherapists for mums after both vaginal and C-section deliveries, no matter how long ago this was. The aim of the appointment is to assess your pelvic floor, abdominal muscles and check for any prolapses to see how you are recovering after childbirth. Your specialist physiotherapist will then provide you with treatment and exercises to aid your recovery and return to exercise and fitness.
The Mummy MOT® includes:
- A discussion about your medical history, and an in-depth history of your pregnancy, delivery, and presenting symptoms and/or challenges.
- Assessment of your breathing, posture, balance, movement, and strength. This includes performing a series of basic exercises. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing you can easily move around in. Most of the assessment will be completed in your underwear.
- Checking your tummy to see how your abdominal muscles/tummy gap is healing (Diastasis Recti) and to check for any hernias. If you have had a C-section, your scar will be checked. If time allows, the session may also include some treatment, such as scar tissue massage.
- An internal pelvic examination to check for any pelvic organ prolapse, assess your pelvic floor function and to ensure you can perform your pelvic floor exercises properly.
- At the end of the session, we'll review our findings and go through the exercises that are appropriate for you. Your home exercise program will then be emailed to you, including videos and instructions, so it's easy to remember and follow.
We recommend booking anytime after 6 weeks postnatal.
Practitioners: Hannah Shanks and Carmen Lech
Price: £110
Booking time: 60 minutes
*Please note we cannot invoice insurance companies for the Mummy MOT® as this is an additional specialist appointment
Pregnancy Health MOT
A Pregnancy Health MOT is a specialist examination provided by our women's health physiotherapists for pregnant women. The aim of the appointment is to identify and treat pain or issues you are having during your pregnancy. Your specialist will provide advice on birthing positions along with exercises and advice specific to you and your pregnancy. This appointment is safe for women at any point during their pregnancy.
A Pregnancy Health MOT includes:
- A discussion about your medical history, and an in-depth history of your current pregnancy depending on your trimester, any previous pregnancies or deliveries and presenting symptoms and/or challenges.
- Assessment of your pelvis to identify movement issues and/or any pelvic or back pain. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing you can easily move around in. Most of the assessment will be completed in your underwear.
- Discussion and advice around safe birthing positions if you are experiencing any pelvic girdle pain.
- Explanation of pelvic floor exercises to practice throughout and post pregnancy.
- Hands-on treatment to relieve presenting symptoms.
- At the end of the session, we'll review our findings and go through exercises that are appropriate for you. Your home exercise program will be emailed to you, including videos and instructions, so it's easy to remember and follow.
You can book a Pregnancy Health MOT at any time during your pregnancy.
Practitioners: Hannah Shanks and Jenny Travell
Price: £110
Booking time: 60 minutes
*Please note we cannot invoice insurance companies for a Pregnancy Health MOT as this is an additional specialist appointment
Our Women’s Health Physiotherapists
HANNAH SHANKS MCSP
Hannah graduated with a BSc Hons in Physiology with Sports Biomedicine before completing an MSc in Physiotherapy from Kings College London in 2013. She is a Chartered Physiotherapist with over seven years experience, working in Sports and Orthopaedic medicine in a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence. Hannah’s underlying philosophy is that “exercise is medicine”, whilst maintaining the traditional hands-on approach. Hannah works holistically to treat the body as a whole in order to resolve pain, and restore movement, strength, and function. This may include a combination of manual therapy, acupuncture, taping, electrotherapy, education, and exercise prescription.
Since having her baby in 2017, Hannah has developed a strong interest in Women’s Health. She is a Mummy MOT® Practitioner and passionate about helping mums recover and achieve their goals from their 6-8 week post natal check and beyond. She is also qualified in Women's Health Acupuncture which can help conditions such as:
- Over active bladder & bowel
- Incontinence
- Pelvic pain
- Endometriosis
- Pregnancy
- Sickness during pregnancy
- IBS
- Overactive pelvic floor
- Vulvadynia and menopause
In her spare time, Hannah enjoys Yoga, walking her dog, and is a bit of a health and fitness fanatic! She thrives off empowering others, loves being by the sea, and spending time with family and friends.
CARMEN LECH MCSP
Carmen qualified in 2009, with a BSc Physiotherapy (Hons) from St George’s University, London. Following this she went on to work in patient care across several top London teaching hospitals before starting clinical research into the effects of exercise on lung disease.
Driven by her passion for all things Women’s health, Carmen has additional training in Post-natal conditioning, anti and post-natal Pilates (APPI), and is a Mummy MOT® Practitioner. She has a special interest in yoga as medicine, pelvic health, and the menopausal years.
Carmen believes in ageing well and empowering the individual in attaining personal goals and personal health. In her practice she utilises strength and conditioning and breathwork to aid mobility and function.
As a clinician she recognises that pain is multifactorial and the impact that this can have on a person’s life. Her aim is always to improve overall quality of life. She believes in patient-led treatments and the interactive relationship between mental wellbeing and physical rehabilitation.
She uses adjuncts such as myofascial release: scar, remedial, and sports massage to assist in reducing pain and improving functional movement. With a strong belief in the therapeutic benefits of manual therapy she incorporates this skill set, and the importance of education into all treatment sessions. Working hard to support her patients at all times.
Carmen fully supports the individual in achieving personal, relevant goals by providing guidance and support whether it be physical fitness, or a return to activity following injury, illness, or the post-natal period.
She has a good understanding of the importance of lifestyle management and exercise rehabilitation and will incorporate these effectively into your treatment using the full breadth of her expertise.
Whatever your injury or concern, Carmen will provide a thorough assessment and an evidence-based treatment plan, all developed and based on your specific requirements.
When Carmen is not working she’s gardening, raising two small amazing humans, or cycling and exploring the city.
JENNY TRAVELL MCSP
Jenny qualified BSc Hons as a Physiotherapist in 2013 and has been practising as a musculosketal physiotherapist since 2015 as well as teaching 1:1 and group clinical pilates classes.
Since the birth of her daughter in 2019 she has developed a deep interest in pre and post natal care and in currently working as part of an NHS based pelvic health physio team. Jenny has experience in treating the following conditions
Before pregnancy:
- Stress Urinary Incontinence
- Over active bladder
- Hypertonic pelvic floor
Pregnant women:
- Pelvic girdle pain
- Carpal tunnel
- Thoracic pain
- Sciatica
- Stress urinary incontinence and Urinary Urgency
Post-natal:
- Pelvic organ prolapse (mild to moderate severity)
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Pelvic girdle pain
- SUI/ urinary urgency
- Rectus Diastasis
- Back pain
- Episiotomy/ second degree tears
Also PFM weakness in the menopausal period
AGA BIALUCHA
Aga is a Polish physiotherapist awaiting her UK registration with HCPC and working as a physiotherapy assistant and massage therapist in the meantime. She currently offers clinical remedial massage including deep tissue, clinical pregnancy massage and lymphatic drainage for post mastectomy recovery
Aga has extensive knowledge and a broad range of massage approaches including sports massage, deep tissue, rolfing, lymphatic drainage and myofascial release.
She qualified with a Masters degree in Physiotherapy in Poland in 2018 where she started practicing as Physiotherapist before moving to the UK. During her postgraduate practice she treated a range of musculo-skeletal conditions including those related to degenerative diseases, work-related injuries, sports injuries and rehabilitation and post-surgical rehabilitation. Alongside her physiotherapy training she has attained qualifications in fascial manipulation by Stecco, trigger point therapy and kinesiology taping.
In her free time, Aga practices yoga and swims. She also loves reading books and practicing her sewing skills.
Aga is passionate about human body and recognises how a little tension in the wrong place can influence posture and movement.
"I think everyone deserves to know that a relaxed body leads to better quality of life."
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