Women’s Health

Gemma has nearly 20 years’ experience of treating back, hip and pelvic pain, pregnant and postnatal patients, and pelvic floor symptoms. Gemma works in a very different way to most Physiotherapists, marrying the `orthopaedic’ principles of treatment with pelvic floor rehabilitation. Pregnancy and childbirth are the biggest cause of women’s health symptoms. But symptoms do not always appear straight away. Sometimes, it is not until a lot further down the line that symptoms come to light. This may be when starting to run around after a toddler or jumping on a bouncy castle. Perimenopause is another huge assault on the pelvic floor, and once menopause hits, symptoms can hit rock bottom!

Gemma enjoys working with ladies of all ages and is determined to help guide all women on how to improve their symptoms and meet their goals. Gemma has worked with mums who do not do any exercise but are just keen to be able to run around after their children, to Olympic athletes and all those in between.

Gemma is very passionate about the postnatal care of all women, but you do not need to have symptoms to come to see Gemma. Gemma believes that all Mums should have a ‘Mummy MOT’ to guide their postnatal recovery, to not only make sure they recover from the pregnancy, but to prevent symptoms in later life.

Gemma has received some excellent feedback from her clients but there is common theme and that is ‘I wish I had known about this sooner’. Gemma would encourage you to seek help sooner rather than later as often these conditions are far easier to treat the quicker you start to do something about them.

If you are suffering from any of the below, get in touch to find out how Gemma can help you.

The Mummy MOT is a specialist postnatal assessment recommended for all women following delivery – whether 6 weeks or many years after. Already part of every new mother’s standard postnatal rehabilitation in France, trained specialists assess the strength and function of the tummy and pelvic floor muscles to help prevent long-term childbirth related complaints.

The initial assessment is one hour for self-funding patients. It is completely confidential. Gemma asks a lot of questions at the initial assessment including questions about your problem, when it started and any treatment you have had so far. She will ask about your past medical history, obstetric history and any medication you may be taking. Gemma will do a full pelvic health screen with you, which asks a lot of personal questions including bladder/bowel/prolapse/intercourse symptoms, as well as any back/hip or pelvic pain. The better Gemma can understand your condition, the better she is able assess and treat it. She will ask you want your goals are and what you hope to get out of the sessions.

The assessment and treatment given will vary depending on the assessment findings. The assessment usually involved a digital vaginal examination to assess the strength and function of the pelvic floor. Follow up appointments are usually 6-8 weekly.

The Mummy MOT is a specialist postnatal assessment recommended for all women following delivery – whether 6 weeks or many years after. Already part of every new mother’s standard postnatal rehabilitation in France, trained specialists assesses the strength and function of the tummy and pelvic floor muscles to help prevent long-term childbirth related complaints.

Everyone! After having a baby, half of all women have a weakness in either their tummy or pelvic floor area – over a third suffer with chronic pelvic pain. This creates instability and poor core strength and results in altered transfer load, back pain, pelvic pain, bladder and bowel weakness.

A Mummy MOT helps women avoid these distressing and often embarrassing symptoms. Having an assessment by Gemma our trained Mummy MOT practitioner of your tummy gap and pelvic floor will enable the creation of a bespoke postnatal recovery programme plan devised especially for you, your lifestyle and fitness goals, including specific and safe postnatal exercises to regain stability and optimum function.