Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Women go through various significant physical changes during their lifetime and at the Harrison Clinic we believe passionately about giving women the opportunity and the confidence to prioritise their own physical health.
If you are “putting up with” issues such as leaking, prolapse, pain, feeling weak or disconnected from your core, feeling as though you are losing flexibility or strength as you age, or have recently recovered from abdominal surgery there are many things which the Harrison Clinic can support you with.
During a women’s health appointment, you will be given the opportunity to discuss your personal symptoms and medical history, ask questions, have any relevant assessments performed that relate to your symptoms, and to develop a plan together with your practitioner to address your concerns.
Meet Our Women’s Health Professional
This appointment type is suitable for:
Pelvic Floor issues such as leaking, prolapse, pelvic pain, painful sex
Menopause specific physical conditioning – addressing your own physical needs and goals which could be related to pain, flexibility, strength, balance, posture and fitness.
The approach to each session will vary for everyone, but you can expect it to be a bespoke mix of hands-on manual therapy, exercises and homework between sessions to maximise the benefits of each treatment.
Women’s Health Appointment – 55 mins – £75
Please note; this consultation is not available through any health Insurance policy.
Diastasis Recti Rehabilitation
Diastasis Recti is the medical term for a “wider than before” gap between the left and right sides of the abdominal muscle wall. It can happen for many reasons, but it is mostly associated with pregnancy. As the baby grows and the connective tissue down the midline of the body thins and widens, each side of the rectus abdominis (“six-pack”) muscles separate further away. After pregnancy and with time, the gap reduces once more; but some people need a little help for the area to heal and strengthen fully again.
Strengthening the midline is important because any weakness in this area will reduce the overall effective strength of your core, breathing pattern and pelvic floor, and can be the cause of back pain, leaking, and doming or coning of the abdominal muscles during exercise.
An initial DR appointment lasts 85 minutes and will include a full New Mummy Assessment. This is a postnatal assessment covering pelvic floor engagement, breathing analysis and connecting your breath with your movement, a full diastasis check, muscular imbalance assessment, and an overall wellbeing and lifestyle assessment to check how you are really doing.
The session will also involve soft tissue work to release any areas of tension which may be pulling the abdominals away from your midline, such as a C-section or other abdominal scar, tight abdominal muscles used to gripping from pregnancy, and any other areas of the body feeling tight or asymmetrical. We will also work on breathing patterns, and you may need further hands on work around the ribcage and diaphragm.
Finally, we will create a bespoke set of exercises to do confidently and safely at home each day before your next appointment. These will combine strengthening exercises with pelvic floor and breathing work to reconnect your core to its fullest. You can expect to spend 5 mins a day on your homework, which may not seem like much but the regular challenge to your abdominal muscles will encourage the body to create more collagen and lay down connective tissue across your gap to strengthen it over time.
3-6 sessions are recommended for healing and recovery, but this can vary between individuals. Each follow up session will last 55 mins and we advise leaving sessions 2-4 weeks apart to allow for healing time in between. Reassessment will be completed at each follow up session to check on progress.
Diastasis Recti Rehabilitation – Initial Assessment and Treatment – 85 mins – £95
Diastasis Recti Rehabilitation – Follow up treatments – 55 mins – £75
Please note; this consultation is not available through any health Insurance policy.
C-section and hysterectomy recovery
Scars can be uncomfortable, tight, numb or painful, and massage is a wonderful tool for relieving both the physical symptoms of the scar and the appearance of it.
Scar therapy massage is a combined treatment of massage and other soft tissue release techniques that are used to reduce areas of tension, rigidity and adhesion that build up around and under your C-section, hysterectomy or any other abdominal scarring. Improving these will allow your body to move with more fluidity and suppleness and remove the feeling of being stuck or restricted in your movement.
An initial Scar Work appointment lasts 85 minutes and will include a full New Mummy or Women’s Wellness Assessment. This assessment covers pelvic floor engagement, breathing analysis and connecting your breath with your movement, a full diastasis check, muscular imbalance assessment, and an overall wellbeing and lifestyle assessment to check how you are really doing.
During the appointment we will also work on correcting your breathing pattern, reconnecting your core with your breathing and correcting your pelvic floor function. You’ll be taught techniques to work on your scar at home in between follow up appointments.
3-6 sessions are recommended for healing and recovery, but this can vary between individuals. Each follow up session will last 55 mins and we advise leaving sessions 2-4 weeks apart to allow for healing time in between. Reassessment will be completed at each follow up session to check on progress.
Note that your scar must be fully healed before hands on work can be done, so please allow 8 weeks post op before booking. If you have had an infection, it may take a little longer to heal before you can come, so please don’t rush.
It doesn’t matter if your surgery was 20 years ago, scars can be improved however long they have been there! Please give the clinic a call and ask to speak to Gemma if you have any questions before booking.
C-section and hysterectomy treatment – Initial Assessment & Treatment – 85 mins – £95
C-section and hysterectomy treatment – Follow up treatments – 55 mins – £75
Please note; this consultation is not available through any health Insurance policy.
Pelvic Floor Health
Women can very commonly experience changes in the function of their pelvic floor both after the stresses and strains of pregnancy and childbirth, and as we approach menopause due to the changing levels of hormones in our bodies. This can manifest itself in many issues such as stress and urge incontinence (leaking of pee or poo), prolapse, discomfort or pain. It is commonly thought that these issues must be due to weak or damaged muscles but often the pelvic floor muscles can be overly tight, as well as the surrounding areas of the body which connect into the pelvic floor such as the inner thighs, hamstrings and hip flexors.
Any amount of leakage, pain or discomfort is not normal and in many cases symptoms can be reversed or at least significantly improved without the need for invasive techniques such as surgery.
A Women’s Health Appointment can be tailored to address your pelvic floor symptoms and will involve a combination of (external) hands on manual therapy if required, exercise, stretching, breathing and postural work. You will be given homework to complete regularly in between your follow up sessions, and it is important that you are fully committed to this to achieve results.
A course of 6-8 sessions is recommended with 1-2 weeks between appointments to see the best progress, although individuals always vary. You can always call and ask to speak to a practitioner if you are unsure about whether this could help you.
Women’s Health Appointment/Pelvic Floor health – 55 mins – £75
Please note; this consultation is not available through any health Insurance policy.
New Mummy Assessment
Congratulations! In the whirlwind of having a new baby it is very easy to ignore the aches and pains your body is going through. You may be wondering what is normal, what is not, and all the time probably prioritising your little one over your own needs.
Our new mummy assessments put your health first so that you can understand where your postnatal body is currently at, so you can be in the best position to look after your little one. We will look at your pelvic floor engagement, breathing and how well you connect your breath with movement. We’ll also complete a diastasis check, look at your body for muscle strength, weakness and any areas of pain, as well as your overall wellbeing.
You’ll be given advice on postnatal recovery options suitable for you if you need them, and support or signposting for further help if required.
New Mummy Assessment – 30 mins – £40
Please note; this consultation is not available through any health Insurance policy.
