Local physio Lorraine Boyce tells us why we should never shy away from looking after our 'down below' region.
Letterkenny physiotherapist Lorraine Boyce is leading the way with her passion for women’s health.
Lorraine is the founder of the only dedicated private Women’s Health Physiotherapy Clinic in Donegal. Through Down Below Physio, she helps women who have pain and pelvic floor problems and want to feel like their best selves again.
Lorraine Boyce – Down Below Physio
Lorraine’s work also involves tackling the stigma that surrounds women’s health. And she will be bringing this open attitude to the She Said Club event on Saturday 9th March at the Shandon Hotel.
Putting women’s issues front and centre on stage, Lorraine is set to be one of the many engaging talks of the day which is themed around ‘Self Care – Nourish to Flourish’ topics and treats.
Before this inspirational afternoon, DW caught up with Lorraine Boyce to hear about why we should all take care of our ‘down below’ area:
downbelowphysio.ie
Are you looking forward to She Said Club at the Shandon?
Absolutely! The event has a very positive ‘self-care’ message. It’s a gorgeous venue and I think the event be a lovely way for women to come together to mark International Women’s Day.
What is Down Below Physio?
Down Below Physio is a Physiotherapy Clinic which specialises in Pelvic Floor, Pregnancy and Postnatal treatment. I work with women who have pain and pelvic floor problems, who want to get back to their best selves and full fitness, through 1-1 treatments at my clinic and through my online fitness packages.
How important is it for women to look after their Pelvic Floor early on?
I can’t stress how important it is! Take note of any warning signs that things may not be right. If something is giving you bother, 1-2 treatments might resolve that now, rather than needing 10 treatments down the line when it’s a much bigger issue.
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What are the most common issues you treat?
Bladder and bowel incontinence, leaking with exercise is a very common issue. Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Chronic Pelvic Pain of any kind, Pelvic Girdle Pain in pregnancy, Tummy Muscle Separation after pregnancy.
What can be done to prevent problems caused by childbirth?
You don’t have to wait until your baby arrives to do pelvic floor exercises, you should do them all the time anyway and during your pregnancy, this makes a big difference. I think talking to other mums and listening to blogs by health care professionals like myself is really useful so you know what to look out for afterwards.
Do you think there is a stigma around women’s health?
Definitely, and while I do think it is getting better, I think women are still reluctant to speak about painful sex, bowel incontinence, constipation, perineal tears. These are still the taboo topics that women can be embarrassed about, and they can feel very alone dealing with these issues.
If so, what can we do to overcome it?
Talking more, to friends, to health professionals. If we only ever whisper about these issues in hushed tones, it adds to the stigma. And I’d encourage women to be proactive, seek out treatment if you think something’s not right, you don’t have to just put up with pelvic health issues.
downbelowphysio.ie
What do you plan to discuss at Donegal’s first She Said Club?
I will be advising how best to look after your pelvic health and talking about these “taboo topics”! It’s always fun to look at some of the items I use in my clinic for treatment such as pessaries and vaginal weights/cones etc and I’ll be talking about my new online Pelvic Floor Packages and how they can help you take care of yourself ‘down below’ from the comfort of your own home!
What steps do you take to look after your own physical and mental health? How important is self-care – to you and your patients?
I have definitely learned to manage my time, my workload and my stress levels much better since opening my own clinic years ago after an initial period of burnout. So I have first-hand experience of how important it is to take care of yourself first, before you can take care of anyone else. I set time aside for exercise and mindfulness daily, and good diet and sleep are so important.
For more about Lorraine’s clinic and online packages visit: downbelowphysio.ie
Follow Down Below Physio on Facebook: www.facebook.com/downbelowphysio
Twitter: @BoycePhysio
Instagram @downbelowphysio
She Said Club:
The She Said Club is set to be a great springtime event to inspire a refresh and mental declutter. The event coincides with International Women’s Day, so it’s the perfect chance to book an afternoon out with friends and celebrate womanhood.
Other speakers on the line-up include MUA Rachel Nugent, PT and nutritionist Lucinda Nolan and She Said Club founder Naomh McElhatton.
Tickets are still available, priced at £45, from https://ti.to/smart/nourishtoflourish
We’ll see you there!
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