Prolapse Management: Episode 70 with Leah Bryans

Hello & Welcome to this episode of the podcast, where we're talking about all things prolapse, with advanced practice women's health physio (& pilates teacher!) Leah Bryans​In today’s conversation we discussed the evolution of our roles as physiotherapists, particularly in pelvic health. Leah shared her journey from not realizing the extent of what physio could do to becoming more confident in managing conditions like prolapse. ​We talked about the importance of continuous learning, collaboration with other professionals, and understanding the individual needs of patients, and of course I had to hop on my soapbox about the shift from being mechanics to educators, focusing on facilitating patient progress rather than fixing issues. ​We’re both keen to emphasise the need to consider patients' overall health, including their bladder and bowel function, fluid intake, and diet. We also highlighted the significance of assessing patients' pelvic floor movement and identifying risk factors for prolapse​We discussed the potential benefits and challenges of using pessaries for postnatal women, and noted that some women may be hesitant to try pessaries due to psychological barriers, while others may not be seen early enough in primary care or public systems to receive this treatment​We also discussed the importance of building confidence and gradually increasing strength in patients, particularly those with pelvic health issues. ​It’s important to remember the the need for a low-threat approach to exercise, focusing on breathwork, relaxation, flexibility, and proprioception at first. We also highlighted the benefits of Pilates as a gateway to heavier lifting and osteogenic activities. ​The conversation concluded with the importance of education in helping patients manage their conditions, including the use of tools like the femmeze for splinting during bowel movements.Leah teaches a prolapse management course with Suzanne Carney (@anatomy-_physiotherapy) and they have an upcoming event in May - contact them for details!And if you’d like to learn more about my online courses, please visit CelebrateMuliebrity.com Until next time, Onwards and Upwards! Mx #celebratemuliebrity 🥳💗