Services
Physiotherapy
Olivia Bredenkamp
Pregnancy and Post-natal
How can Physio Olivia help me during pregnancy and beyond?
This can be a challenging time of many body changes. Olivia not only looks after the pelvic floor, but also provides treatment for commonly experienced conditions unique to the pregnant and post-natal body.
The pelvic floor stretches 3 times its normal length during labour. This combined with potential tearing during vaginal deliveries and the strain placed on muscles during pregnancy, can lead to Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. Common symptoms include incontinence, pelvic pain and pelvic organ prolapse. Strong, fit pelvic floor muscles cope better with the growing weight of the baby and mend more easily after delivering the baby. It is recommended to see a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist to start pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy and again 6 weeks after delivering your baby to address problems early on.
Pelvic floor muscle training includes:
Strengthening of weak muscles
Normalising muscle tone and function
Common musculoskeletal conditions treated during pregnancy and the post-natal period:
Pelvic girdle pain
Back pain
Headaches and neck pain
Abdominal muscle separation
Weak, low tone abdominal wall
Carpal tunnel syndrome
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
General musculoskeletal aches and pains
Suffering from inflammatory conditions of the lactating breast is a common reason why mums cease breastfeeding. Olivia provides early intervention through education and therapeutic ultrasound to successfully manage:
breast engorgement
blocked milk ducts
non-infected mastitis
Navigating all the information out there can be daunting! Olivia works closely with you and your medical team to support you in your preferences all the way from pre conception, through pregnancy, the post-natal recovery period and beyond. Her aim is to empower you to feel confident and strong at any stage! This is achieved by providing individualised exercise plans to help maintain fitness during pregnancy, and to aid return to exercise or sport during the post-natal period.
Paediatric continence
Most children become dry during the day by the age of 4 without additional help. If a school aged child regularly wets the bed, soils or wets their pants, it is recommended to seek treatment. Treatment varies depending on the cause. Olivia has a special interest in treating common bladder and bowel dysfunctions in children including:
Bedwetting
Day time urinary symptoms- incontinence, urgency, frequency, postponement
Voiding dysfunction- post void dribble, incomplete emptying, detrusor sphincter dyssynergia
Recurrent urinary tract infections
Faecal incontinence (poo accidents)- loss of solid stool,
overflow incontinence of watery stools or smearsConstipation and incomplete emptying
Giggle incontinence
Pelvic Health
Why choose Physio Olivia for Pelvic health Physiotherapy?
The International Continence Society recommends supervised pelvic floor training provided by a specifically trained Physiotherapist as the first-line management for Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse in women. Olivia has undergone extensive post graduate training in Continence, Women’s health and management of Pelvic organ Prolapse, and gained years of experience in private practice to be able to provide this service. She believes that knowledge is power and enjoys educating women with the best available evidence.
Olivia provides treatment for conditions associated with pelvic floor muscle, bladder and bowel dysfunction for women of all life stages:
Urinary incontinence- stress, urge and mixed incontinence
Pelvic organ prolapse- Stage I-III uterine, bladder or bowel prolapse
Pelvic pain- Endometriosis, bladder pain, vulvodynia, pain with intercourse
Overactive bladder- incontinence, frequency, urgency
Recurrent urinary tract infections
Constipation
Faecal incontinence
Defecation dysfunction- incomplete emptying, obstructed emptying, straining
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
Olivia is skilled in Clinical Pilates, dry needling, taping techniques, the use of electrotherapy, exercise rehabilitation and more. She prides herself in being a “hands on” physio who provides treatment of the following for the whole family:
General aches and pains
Back and neck pain
Joint pain
Headaches
Sprains and strains
Olivia works closely with podiatrist Natalie Morgan to address foot problems which may be contributing to pain in the lower limbs and back.