Female Focus
Putting women's needs first
What to expect?
A specialised assessment and management program from a friendly and experienced women's health Physiotherapy.
specialist.
We treat women of all ages including mums, menopausalausal women, sedentary individuals to active athletes.
We tailor your assessment and treatment to your needs, situation and lifestyle.
This service is only available at our Burnley Clinic
Steph Doney - Women's health clinical Specialist
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Steph qualified in 2005 from The University of Manchester, and early into her career she had the opportunity to work in Women’s Health along side her musculoskeletal role. This involved treating pain associated with pregnancy and the after effects, as well managing incontinence and urgency. Steph found this role rewarding and soon ignited her passion.
Steph was then offered the further opportunity to further her Women’s Health experience in her new trust and there worked jointly with Consultants and Midwives to treat a variety of conditions.
Steph has completed a variety of courses on managing pain in pregnancy, diastasis recti and incontinence, prolapse and post-menopausal issues. She is also a Fit Back and Bumps Instructor and a certified Mummy MOT clinician.
Alongside her Women’s Health role has worked as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist for Manchester Rugby Club, Burnley Academy and has recently completed a Master Module in Upper Limb conditions. In her NHS role she still continues to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions as a senior clinician.
Having 3 children herself, a full time working mum and keeping healthy with CrossFit and the love of the outdoors, Steph understands and is passionate helping other facing the challenges that’s can be experienced return to your goals post pregnancy and beyond.
Urinary Incontinence
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Half the female population will experience urinary incontinence at some point in their lives
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Only one in 5 will seek help for their urinary incontinence
Stress incontinence is leaking when you cough, sneeze, jump or with exercise
It frequently occurs after child birth and menopause.
Urge incontinence is leaking when you don’t make it to the toilet in time.
Urgency is the need to pass urine quickly and suddenly and more often than normal.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse is when the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments weaken to allow the womb or bladder to move out of place. This can also lead to incontinence.
Diastasis Recti
This is a stretching of the stomach muscles in pregnancy and is normal.
60% of women may present with a diastasis recti post pregnancy.
Occasionally the muscle do not recover well on their own.
You are often left with a tummy that appears pregnant and ‘bloated’
and you may notice a bump appear when you try and sit up.
Because the stomach muscle is stretched it can often feel weak.
A structured rehabilitation programme can help
Pelvic Girdle Pain
This is pain experienced in the pelvis/back/hips and legs during pregnancy.
It can make simple tasks quite difficult such a walking, dressing, stairs and getting in and out of the car, it can even make sleep more uncomfortable.
1 In 5 pregnant women experience discomfort during pregnancy.
Understanding how pelvic girdle pain is caused, treatment and how you can help yourself, may help to speed up the recovery and reduce the impact on your life.
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Post Natal Recovery
The return to ‘normal life’ after having a baby is often a bumpy road.
The NHS 6 week check might not feel comprehensive enough for some women and you often have many questions about returning to life after pregnancy.
After vaginal deliveries you can have pain from tearing or episiotomy scars and sexual intercourse can be daunting.
After Caesarean Sections you may feel that the scar is sensitive, stuck and uncomfortable and cause a shelf on your tummy
You may have concerns about leaking or tummy muscle recovery before return to sports.
I can help with your individualised programme to return to sports
What is a Mummy MOT?
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A comprehensive postnatal check up by a qualified women's health physiotherapist.
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Assessment of posture, pelvic floor and stomach muscles.
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Exercises and treatment to help in your recovery and to return to exercise safely.
Mums need to bend, squat and lift so we provide clinical postnatal care and functional exercises for women after birth (no matter how long ago).
