How can you manage menopause with physiotherapy?

Menopause is the cessation of the menstrual cycle due to complete (or near-complete) depletion of eggs from the ovaries and a drop in female sex hormones, i.e. estrogen and progesterone. Transitioning into and through menopause can have many physical, psychological, and social effects on a woman’s life. Guidance and advice from a women’s health physiotherapist can make it easier to cope with the changes easily, and reduce the discomfort caused by these physical changes. Here are some of the ways in which physiotherapy can help women going through menopause:

• Exercises improve bone strength & density: Weight-bearing exercises, including weight lifting, and body weight exercises, promote the deposition of calcium in bones thereby improving bone strength and preventing or reducing the severity of osteoporosis. Additionally, strength training enhances muscle strength, which has been shown to improve balance, reduce bone loss, increase lean body mass and reduce fat percentage.
• Exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease: The declining levels of estrogen puts post-menopausal women at risk for cardiovascular disease. This risk can be minimized significantly through moderate to high-intensity exercise like jogging, swimming, HIIT, and running when prescribed according to the needs of every individual. These exercises are also known to naturally boost estrogen levels, thereby helping with other menopause symptoms such as hot flashes.
• Control of weight gain: Many women experience sudden weight gain due to fluctuating hormonal levels. Regular exercise and a healthy balanced diet help prevent this weight gain, which has a host of health benefits like reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, improved metabolism, and an overall feeling of well-being.
• Pelvic exercises to control incontinence: Women going through menopause are at risk of developing incontinence due to weakened pelvic floor muscles. A physiotherapist can prescribe exercises to train & strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, to ensure optimum functioning.
• Reduce stress and improve sleep: Relaxation and breathing techniques help alleviate stress levels by producing calming effects.

Get in touch with our expert physiotherapists if you have questions and for guidance on how to deal with menopause effectively. Women’s health experts on our team will answer all your queries and prescribe an exercise program that is tailored to your needs!