A chronic condition, namely endometriosis, is marked by the presence of tissue that looks like the lining of the uterus outside the uterus, which results in pain, inflammation, and sometimes infertility. In the case of most women, the management of endometriosis means living with intense pain during menstrual cycles.
The management options are usually through medication and surgery, but physiotherapy from the right women’s health physiotherapist provides a highly effective, non-invasive method to ease pain and enhance the quality of life for women suffering from endometriosis.
Physiotherapy treatment targets the root cause of pain, which can be muscular imbalances, tension, and movement patterns in the pelvic region. Techniques for women with endometriosis include physiotherapy that addresses the pelvic muscles and surrounding tissues, which are often tense or painful due to chronic inflammation.
Pelvic floor muscles are significant in the support of organs such as the bladder, bowel, and uterus. In the case of endometriosis, these muscles become tight and painful, causing discomfort and pain in the pelvic region. Pelvic floor therapy is the practice of exercises and manual techniques that help to release tension in the muscles so that they function better. The relaxation of the pelvic floor will ease the pain and improve bladder and bowel control in women, making them more comfortable with their daily activities.
Myofascial release deals with the fascia, a connective tissue that holds up and covers muscles all around the body. Adhesions, which are bands of scar tissue, form between organs and tissues as a result of endometriosis, usually causing pain and restriction of movement. The therapy stretches and releases the adhesions in a gentle way to reduce stiffness and discomfort. This technique also helps to improve circulation, promoting healing and reducing inflammation in the affected areas.
Stress and anxiety levels are raised in women with endometriosis due to constant pain. Women’s health physiotherapists encourage women to indulge in breathing exercises and diaphragmatic breathing, where the nervous system is calmed down and muscle tension is relaxed. Diaphragmatic breathing can help women maintain better control over responses to pain and improve the oxygenation of the body, which is important for muscle recovery. These may lead to a reduction in total pain levels and facilitate the process of relaxation.
The typical location of tense muscles around the hips, abdomen, and lower back is a result of the way the body defends against pain by tensing in those areas. A physiotherapist can individualize specific stretches and mobility routines to focus on those areas. Soft stretches, like hip openers and lower back stretches, improve the range of motion and reduce tension in these areas while helping establish better alignment. Increased movement in these areas may help relieve the discomfort that makes it so difficult to do things every day.
The pain of endometriosis is controlled through posture and muscle strength. Poor posture is brought about by weak abdominal and pelvic muscles, straining the body and causing more pain. Physiotherapy includes posture correction exercises and core strengthening routines that improve stability and reduce pressure on the pelvic area. With these strengthened muscles, women gain better control over their movements, minimize pain and increase endurance.
Physiotherapy, in the case of endometriosis, benefits a woman beyond her relief from physical discomforts but also towards psychological restoration. A woman will discover how her body works with pain with sessions conducted with an experienced women’s health physiotherapist who can help empower the woman to be able to control the symptoms. It involves a holistic approach to controlling pain by looking at physical and psychological dimensions.
Physiotherapy, to a woman, has turned out to be helpful in promoting improved sleep, higher mobility, and pain-free periods and sexual activity. It provides a woman with a personally devised, non-invasive treatment, which will suit the needs of an individual so that long-term management can become relatively easier and more comfortable.
The condition is complex, and physiotherapy provides some solutions in the form of addressing the pain and physical limitations created by endometriosis. Pelvic floor therapy, myofascial release, and other exercises directed at the affected areas will help women find relief from symptoms of endometriosis and improve their well-being.
Dr. Leena Daware is a highly accomplished physiotherapist and senior practitioner at Sion LTMG Hospital, Mumbai. She has special expertise in pelvic rehabilitation, with empathetic care and effective solutions for women suffering from endometriosis.
