Women have special health needs. That's why the physical therapy department at The Nebraska Medical Center developed the Women's Health Program. The discomforts associated with pregnancy, urinary incontinence, osteoporosis or lymphedema are all uncomfortable conditions a woman may experience at some time in her life. The Women's Health program can help minimize or even relieve the symptoms associated with these conditions.

"Women's health physical therapy allows patients to take a more active role in managing their health," says Lori Schmaderer, physical therapist with The Nebraska Medical Center. "It is an excellent compliment to standard obstetric and gynecologic care."

The program offers therapy for a variety of conditions including:

• Pregnancy-related pain - includes evaluation of the spine and pelvis, individualized exercise programs and use of pregnancy belts to support the lower back and abdomen
• Incontinence therapy - focuses on strengthening the pelvic floor muscles with Kegel exercises and use of biofeedback.
• Osteoporosis - therapy to achieve postural corrections, activity modification and specific weight-bearing exercise programs to minimize their risk of fractures.
• Edema - a lymphedema certified physical therapist will work with patients to manage edema that results from removal of lymph nodes and to regain functional use of their affected extremity.