The Women’s Health and Healing Center offers lymphedema care, breast cancer rehab, pre/post natal services, and pelvic floor rehab.
Breast Cancer Services
Women who have undergone a lumpectomy or mastectomy are at risk of developing lymphedema, abnormal posture, myofascial restrictions, pain, and upper extremity weakness. With our specialized Breast Cancer Rehabilitation program, patients are evaluated and treated for lymphedema, range of motion restrictions, and deficits with participation in daily activities. We provide guidance on obtaining appropriate compression garments as well as education on lymphedema prevention, self-massage, prosthetic options and total body strengthening. Our goal with treatment is to restore function and to improve our patient’s quality of life.
Pelvic Floor Services
Pelvic floor services in which our certified occupational therapy staff have specialized training include: incontinence, bowel problems, sexual issues including sexual pain, and pre/post-pregnancy related issues. Treatment of these issues includes biofeedback, electrical stimulation, manual techniques and specific exercise programs to help improve patients’ quality of life by reducing symptoms and pain. Our team instructs patients in pelvic floor strengthening and muscle awareness that can significantly decrease stress and urge incontinence. Our therapists utilize state-of-the-art, computer-aided biofeedback and electrical stimulation to provide the necessary strengthening and increased muscle awareness that results in symptom reduction.
Lymphedema Services
Our team can treat any upper extremity, lower extremity, abdominal, or head/neck swelling utilizing a combination of specialized massage, compression garments, and specialized pump systems. Patients are also educated on lymphedema precautions, signs/symptoms, and contraindications, as well as proper skin care, self manual lymphatic drainage techniques, and completion of decongestive lymphedema exercises.
Our lymphedema team utilizes a hands-on, specialized massage to facilitate movement of the lymphatic fluid out of the affected area. This massage consists of proximal clearing of both the superficial and deep lymphatic systems, gentle, rhythmical movements from the distal to the proximal aspect of the extremity. We provide lymphedema compression garment fitting and education on skin care and home maintenance equipment which can prevent further exacerbation of symptoms and appropriate home management of lymphedema.
Pre/Post Natal Services
Many women experience back pain, pelvic pain, and incontinence during pregnancy, with some of these issues continuing after pregnancy as well. Many women also suffer from painful intercourse, abdominal separation (diastasis recti), and scarring after pregnancy. Our certified occupational therapy staff have specialized training which includes proper fitting of mother-to-be belts, incontinence management, diastasis recti prevention and management, pelvic floor strengthening, scar tissue massage, lymphatic drainage, and proper stretching and exercise techniques to regain core strength. The Women’s Health & Healing Center provides education on specialized exercises tailored to rehabilitating a woman’s body following pregnancy, as well as massage techniques for scar tissue, lymphatic drainage, mastitis and blocked milk ducts to help decrease stress and improve quality of life during and after pregnancy.
