Ground Floor, Chateau RoyaleCnr Sixth Avenue & Memorial AveCotton Tree, MaroochydoreQLD 4558
Maroochydore Sports & Spinal is located on the beautiful Cotton Tree on the Sunshine Coast, conveniently located near Alexandra Headland, Mooloolaba and Cotton Tree.
Sports & Spinal Physiotherapists use hands-on treatment and exercise therapy to manage a wide variety of injuries and complex pains.
Women’s Health Physiotherapy (also referred to as pelvic health or pelvic floor physiotherapy as men are also affected with pelvic concerns!) is the area of physiotherapy that deals with conditions relating to the bladder, bowel, pelvic floor, and pelvis, as well as pregnancy-related conditions including mastitis and lower back pain.
Our Physiotherapists are trained in pelvic floor assessment and treatment, and work closely with local specialists, surgeons, GPs and other health professionals to ensure that the treatment you are being provided is of the highest level and supported by current evidence.
Maroochydore Sports & Spinal is NDIS registered and accepts Medicare rebates and HICAPS health fund claims. EFTPOS and credit card facilities are also available for payment.
Some of the areas and conditions that our Women’s Health Physiotherapists can assess and treat include:
- Pregnancy & Postnatal Pelvic Girdle or Coccyx Pain
- Pregnancy & Postnatal Lower or Mid Back Pain
- Rectus Abdominis Diastasis (RAD or DRAM, Tummy Muscle Separation)
- Postnatal Pelvic Floor Assessments (including post third and fourth-degree perineal tears)
- Return to Exercise Assessments
- Mastitis
- Bladder Issues – Stress Incontinence, Urge Incontinence/ Overactive Bladder Syndromes, Bladder Pain Syndromes (including Interstitial Cystitis) and Retention
- Bowel Concerns – Constipation, Faecal Urgency, and Incontinence
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Pessary fittings
- Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia)
- Persistent Pelvic and Vaginal Pain (including Endometriosis driven pain)
- Pre and Post Gynae Surgery Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Advice
- Pre and Post Prostatectomy Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Advice
We like to allow 60 minutes for your initial appointment (this may vary in some circumstances) to ensure that there is enough time to take a detailed and thorough history and to allow plenty of time for discussion, education, treatment and questions.
Your initial appointment will involve some form of assessment, but this will depend on the condition you are seeking treatment for. Where appropriate, this may consist of an internal vaginal or rectal exam upon consent, but this will be discussed in more detail at your appointment where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the reasons behind the assessment. Other assessment methods may include real-time ultrasound, biofeedback and musculoskeletal screening.
After your assessment, your Physiotherapist will be able to discuss with you the diagnosis and the options for treatment. This may involve a variety of things including (but certainly not limited to): pelvic floor muscle re-training, bladder and bowel management strategies, and strength and exercise programs. You will always leave our rooms with a good understanding of your diagnosis and with a comprehensive plan in place to target an improvement in your symptoms.
What Do I Wear?
Whatever you feel comfortable in! However, if you’re attending for a pain related condition, leggings or loose comfortable pants are recommended.
Do I need to bring anything?
Any relevant scans, letters or reports, as well as current medication lists. Sometimes we will also require a full bladder if we are planning on using the ultrasound machine for assessment, but the reception staff will let you know prior to your appointment.
No other stage of life stresses the pelvic floor more than pregnancy and childbirth. Even caesarian births affect the pelvic floor as it still stretches and bears the weight of the pregnant uterus for nine months. Maintaining pelvic floor strength and function throughout your pregnancy and postnatally is essential.
Pelvic Girdle Pain
Pelvic Girdle Pain is very common during pregnancy due to the major changes that occur within your body both physically and hormonally. A combination of hands-on treatment, strength and conditioning and mobility work is used to treat these aches and pains throughout pregnancy.
Women’s Health Classes
Exercise in pregnancy has been shown to reduce complications such as gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia and is a great way to reduce and treat pelvic girdle pain. Our classes are specific to postnatal concerns and they achieve all of the above in a supportive class environment, where little ones are welcome! Our classes are run across several Sports & Spinal clinics.
Click here to find your nearest Women’s Health class.
Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy is a blessing and is a thrilling, special time in your life that should be cherished. However, it can also be a physical and emotional rollercoaster, which is why it is so important for mums-to-be to take some time out to relax, be pampered and ease the aches, pains, and tension that come with pregnancy.
At Sports & Spinal we have a special pregnancy massage cushion, enabling Mums-to-be to be massaged while laying on their stomach. Our massage therapists use a specific massage oil blend to massage your entire body focusing on the areas that most need work.
Postnatal Follow-Up
A pelvic floor check is an essential part of your postnatal recovery and is highly recommended prior to returning to exercise to prevent any long term complications. Our Physiotherapists work closely with our Exercise Physiologists to ensure new mums are building their pelvic floor strength as well as their general strength and fitness to support their lifestyles and health and fitness goals.
The term pelvic floor refers to the group of muscles that sit at the base of the pelvis. Their job is to provide support to the pelvic organs; bladder, vagina, uterus and rectum, as well as maintain continence.
The pelvic floor muscles can become weakened during pregnancy and childbirth, but they are can also be affected by constipation, a chronic cough and repetitive heavy lifting. Menopause can also influence how these muscles work.
Incontinence refers to the involuntary loss of urine. There are several different types of incontinence.
Stress Urinary Incontinence refers to the involuntary loss of urine with exercise, coughing, sneezing or movement such as rolling in bed or standing from a chair.
Urge Urinary Incontinence refers to the involuntary loss of urine with the urge to go to the toilet. People often describe this as ‘not quite making it in time!’
Fecal Incontinence refers to the involuntary loss of stool; liquid or formed.
The term prolapse refers to any movement of the pelvic organs from their original position. Prolapse is commonly seen in women following childbirth but can happen at any stage during a woman’s life. Common symptoms include feelings of bulging or heaviness in the vagina or anus, difficulty emptying the bladder and/or bowel and difficulty keeping a tampon in.
Our Women’s Health classes are designed for your specific needs in exercise and rehabilitation through all phases of life.
Benefits of joining our Women’s Health Classes include:
- Tailored and specific training to suit your needs
- Ran by qualified Women’s Health trained practitioners
- Pelvic floor strength, advice, and education
- Core strength, advice, and education
- Pregnancy and postpartum safe
- Prolapse and incontinence safe
- All over global and postural strengthening
- Socialisation
Whether you are pregnant, postpartum, recovering from pelvic surgery, or have generalized pelvic floor concerns, these classes are safe, targeted, and designed to suit your needs. PLUS babies aged under 1 year are more than welcome to come!
How to join our Women’s Health classes:
You will need to attend a screening assessment with one of our Women’s Health Physiotherapists before commencing classes to ensure it is safe for you to start and to ensure that you gain the most from the classes by developing individualised programs and setting personal goals.
Antenatally, this can be done any time after 12 weeks. Postnatally, this will be done after your 6-week check-up with your obstetrician.
Sports & Spinal also offer Women’s Health Physiotherapy for pelvic girdle pain, lower back pain, incontinence, prolapse, bowel function, and pelvic and sexual pain.
Our Women’s Health Package is your one-stop shop for all things Women’s Health!
The package is designed to ensure that you get the most out of your Women’s Health journey. Whether you are pregnant, postpartum, recovering from pelvic surgery, or have generalised pelvic floor concerns, our Women’s Health team can assist you.
What is in the package?
By joining our Women’s Health Package you will receive:
- 3x Women’s Health Classes
- 3x Women’s Health Consults
- 1x Annabelle Trends water bottle
- 1x Pair of Move Active Pilates socks
How do I book in and use my package?
- Contact your local Sports & Spinal Women’s Health Physio/ Clinic
- Purchase the package and book an initial or standard (standard if you are a returning Women’s Health client) consult
- Start your Women’s Health journey!
Not sure how to use your package to its fullest potential? Don’t worry, your local Women’s Health Physio will guide you on how best to use your consults and classes.
Where are the packages available?
You can purchase your Women’s Health Package from Broadbeach, Buderim, Caloundra, Chermside, Hervey Bay, Kawana, Maroochydore, Nambour, North Lakes, Redcliffe, Sippy Downs, Springfield and Wynnum Sports & Spinal clinics.
services & FACILITIES
- On-Site Parking (5 spaces)
- Street Parking
- Gym & Pilates Equipment
- NDIS Registered
- Medicare Rebates
- HICAPS Health Fund Claims
OUR TEAM
- Any
- Baringa
- Beenleigh
- Brisbane
- Broadbeach
- Buderim
- Caloundra
- Chermside
- Coolum
- Fraser Coast
- Gold Coast
- Gympie
- Hervey Bay
- Indooroopilly
- Ipswich
- Kawana
- Logan
- Maroochydore
- Morayfield
- Moreton Bay
- Nambour
- Noosa
- North Lakes
- Redcliffe
- Robina
- Runaway Bay
- Sippy Downs
- Springfield
- St Lucia
- Sunshine Coast
- Woolloongabba
- Wynnum
Emily Abbott
Women's Health & Continence Physiotherapist
Emily Abbott
Women's Health & Continence Physiotherapist
Emily graduated from Curtain University in Western Australia in 2018 with First Class Honours in Physiotherapy. She worked for a number of years in hospitals across a large variety of areas, including medical, surgical, orthopaedic, and neurological rehabilitation, maternity, paediatrics, musculoskeletal and intensive care. It was during these years that she developed a passion for Women’s Pelvic Health after her work across maternity wards and assisting women to recover after urogynaecological surgeries. She has since gone on to complete several postgraduate courses in Pelvic Health, including a Graduate Certificate in Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne.
Emily can treat and assist in antenatal and postnatal management, prolapse, poor bladder, and bowel control or incontinence, bladder and bowel pain, pelvic pain conditions such as painful intercourse, menstrual pain, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis and rehabilitation support for urogynaecological surgeries. Emily is also a Pilates instructor and runs women’s health Pilates classes.
Emily’s passion is to partner with women to create and facilitate holistic health, well-being, and empowerment, so they can lead the life they want to live without limitations.
Emily is available for Women’s Health Physiotherapy appointments at our Maroochydore, Sippy Downs, and Buderim locations.