Physiotherapy for Women's Health

Join our personalised, one-on-one sessions to effectively manage Women's Health Conditions

What is Women's Health Physiotherapy?

 

Women’s Health Physiotherapy is a specialised area of physio that focuses on the unique needs of women during pregnancy, after childbirth, and throughout different stages of life. It addresses the changes your body goes through—helping you manage pain, restore strength, and move with confidence.

Why Choose Our Women's Health Physiotherapy Services in the Shellharbour Region?

We understand that every woman’s journey through pregnancy, post-natal recovery, and beyond is unique. Our team combines professional expertise with genuine care to provide personalised physiotherapy that supports women at every stage of life.

We create tailored treatment plans that focus on:

  • Reducing pain and discomfort during pregnancy

  • Supporting safe recovery after birth

  • Restoring strength, stability, and confidence in movement

  • Managing long-term pelvic and abdominal conditions with evidence-based strategies

Our physiotherapists stay up to date with the latest women’s health research, ensuring you receive the most effective and compassionate care. As a trusted local clinic, we’re dedicated to helping you feel supported, empowered, and ready to enjoy the activities you love.

Our Personalised Rehabilitation Programme

Our one-on-one physiotherapy programs are designed to support women through pregnancy, post-natal recovery, and beyond. Led by experienced women’s health physiotherapists, we focus on building strength, restoring core and pelvic stability, and managing pain with a personalised approach that fits your lifestyle.

Located in Shellharbour region, our clinic offers a safe, supportive, and private environment where you can focus on your health and recovery with expert guidance. Whether you’re managing pregnancy-related pain, recovering after birth, or looking to return to exercise safely, we’re here to help you feel strong and confident again.

Duration

Your first session is a comprehensive one-hour consultation, giving us the time to explore your full health history, understand your goals, and create a personalised treatment plan tailored to your stage of pregnancy or post-natal recovery.

Follow-up sessions are then used to track your progress, reassess your needs, and progress your treatment plan safely and effectively. This ensures you’re supported every step of the way—whether your focus is reducing pain, rebuilding strength, or confidently returning to movement.

Location

Sessions are conducted at RX Physiotherapy, located at 1/35 Shellharbour Road, Lake Illawarra, NSW 2528. Our modern facility is fully equipped to provide a comprehensive rehabilitation experience.

Frequency

This will be advised by your physiotherapist. We are focused on empowering you with the tools to manage your body long term. We aren’t focused on quick fixes. 

Our Approach to Rehabilitation

At RX Physiotherapy, we believe in a personalised approach to rehabilitation. Here’s how our programme works:

We begin with a thorough initial consultation to understand your unique needs, symptoms, and goals. This allows us to design a personalised women’s health physiotherapy plan—whether that’s easing pregnancy-related pain, supporting post-natal recovery, rebuilding core and pelvic floor strength, or managing long-term pelvic conditions.

Your progress is closely monitored throughout the programme, with regular assessments to ensure that the approach remains effective and adaptive to your needs.

Based on your assessment, we create a customised physiotherapy plan that focuses on restoring strength, improving stability, and supporting safe recovery. Each session is tailored to your stage of pregnancy or post-natal journey, addressing your unique challenges and goals—whether that’s reducing pain, rebuilding core and pelvic function, or confidently returning to exercise.

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What conditions / challenges do we treat

Each personalised rehab session is designed to maximise your recovery:

Pelvic girdle and lower back pain during pregnancy

Pregnancy often brings changes to posture and movement that can cause pelvic girdle or lower back pain. Our physiotherapists provide safe, tailored strategies to reduce discomfort, improve mobility, and help you move with confidence throughout pregnancy.

Abdominal separation

Diastasis recti, or abdominal muscle separation, is common during and after pregnancy. We offer expert assessment and guided exercises to restore core strength, promote healing, and support your return to daily activities.

Wrist and hand conditions

Hormonal changes and lifting demands can lead to wrist and hand pain, including carpal tunnel syndrome and De Quervain’s. Our treatment helps reduce pain, protect your joints, and keep you active in both parenting and everyday life.

Post- natal recovery and safe return to exercise

After childbirth, rebuilding strength and confidence is essential. We provide step-by-step guidance to restore pelvic floor and core health, ensuring a safe and gradual return to exercise, work, and the activities you love.

Note: These are just a few of the things we treat, get in touch to understand more!

Your Recovery Goals

Improved Pelvic and Core Stability

Strengthen your pelvic floor, core, and surrounding muscles to support your joints, reduce pregnancy or post-natal discomfort, and prevent strain during daily activities.

Enhanced Mobility and Function

Increase flexibility and movement capacity to make everyday tasks—lifting, carrying, bending, or exercising—easier and more comfortable.

Pain Management and Comfort

Learn techniques to reduce pelvic, abdominal, and musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy or post-natal recovery, helping you feel more confident and comfortable in your body.

Restored Strength and Confidence

Rebuild overall strength in your core, hips, and upper body to support recovery, improve posture, and regain confidence in movement after childbirth.

Expected Outcomes

Improved Quality of Life                        

Regain confidence in your body’s strength and movement, enabling a more active, comfortable, and fulfilling daily life during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Reduced Pain and Discomfort

Experience relief from pelvic, abdominal, or musculoskeletal pain through targeted physiotherapy strategies designed for women’s health.

Enhanced Daily Function and Movement

Stronger core, hips, and pelvic floor muscles make everyday activities—lifting your baby, bending, walking, or exercising—easier and more comfortable.

Better Long-Term Physical Health

Improved stability and strength reduce the risk of future aches, injuries, or strain, supporting ongoing wellness throughout pregnancy, post-natal recovery, and beyond.

Listen to Our Podcast

Join physiotherapists as they share practical tips, recovery strategies, and the latest developments in hypermobility rehabilitation. With personal experience and professional expertise, April offers a unique perspective on managing these conditions. Tune in to stay informed and empowered on your journey to better health.

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Dr. April Patterson

Physiotherapist

Dr. April Patterson graduated from Bond University with a Doctor of Physiotherapy degree. April established RX Physiotherapy in 2019, where she has been dedicated to providing top-notch care to her patients.

Dr. April Patterson has a unique perspective on physiotherapy as she has personally experienced conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hypermobility, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues. Her own struggles with these conditions have fueled her passion for understanding and treating them, allowing her to empathize with her patients on a deeper level. Dr. April Patterson is dedicated to tailoring treatments to meet the unique needs of each individual under her care.

With a commitment to ongoing professional development, Dr. April Patterson stays abreast of the latest advancements in physiotherapy, ensuring that her patients receive the most effective and evidence-based treatments available. Her holistic approach to patient care encompasses not only physical rehabilitation but also focuses on empowering individuals to manage and prevent further issues.

In her spare time you can find her hitting the gym, cooking or spending time with her two dachshund children and partner.

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Ms. Laura Flemming

Physiotherapist

Laura has been a dedicated physiotherapist for over five years, beginning her career at Wollongong Hospital before moving to Sydney, where she broadened her skills in a private practice and community setting. In this time she obtained her certification as a Level 1 Strength and Conditioning coach. Additionally, she supported junior representative soccer teams in the St George area. Now based in the Illawarra, she is looking forward to supporting new patients.

Laura’s approach centers on enhancing her patients’ quality of life through understanding their goals and intentions and providing effective pain management, manual therapy, patient education, strength training, and personalised exercise programs. Her experience includes managing acute and chronic injuries, strength and endurance training, post-operative rehabilitation, falls prevention, and neurological rehabilitation for conditions including stroke and brain injury. She implements evidence-based treatments and utilises a holistic approach aimed at empowering individuals with injury management and prevention.

In her free time, Laura can be found hiking up mountains, writing music, playing soccer, or training for the occasional triathlon or running event.

Mr. Trent Cooksley

Physiotherapist

Born and raised in Wollongong, Trent grew up immersed in sport—playing soccer for the Woonona Sharks, as well as tennis, golf, swimming, school footy, cricket, and AFL. By age 13, he had focused his attention on golf, eventually earning a place in the IAS Golf Program during his final year of high school. His talent on the course led to a scholarship to study and play college golf in Abilene, Texas, USA. It was during this time—after experiencing a few injuries and being treated by his athletic trainer—that he discovered a passion for physiotherapy. 

Trent has a strong interest in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy, working with clients of all ages—from kids to adults. He has a particular passion for acute injury management and supporting golfers through injury and performance. Outside of the clinic, he enjoys spending time on the golf course, catching waves, or relaxing with friends.

 

Ms. Emily Yorkston

Physiotherapist

Emily graduated at the end of 2020 and began her career in Orange, NSW, where she gained broad experience in musculoskeletal, neurological, orthopaedic, and paediatric physiotherapy. 

She developed a strong foundation in client-centred care through outreach work in rural communities and leading allied health teams. 

Emily has a particular passion for hypermobility (HSD, EDS ect), Jaw/TMJ dysfunction, and sports rehabilitation. 

She loves working with clients on long-term goals, guiding them through strength and conditioning programs that restore both function and confidence. 

After time spent travelling and expanding her life experience, Emily returns to physiotherapy with fresh energy, a deep commitment to ongoing learning, and a collaborative, team-focused approach.

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Mr Reece Nikitaras

Physiotherapist

Reece Nikitaras is deeply passionate about optimising human movement and enhancing quality of life through targeted rehabilitation and evidence-based therapeutic techniques. His journey into physiotherapy was driven by a genuine desire to help individuals overcome physical barriers and reach their full potential.

As an avid runner, Reece brings both personal insight and clinical expertise to the treatment of running-related injuries. He is particularly dedicated to helping runners recover from injury, prevent future setbacks, and elevate their performance. Reece has developed a comprehensive running assessment protocol designed to identify biomechanical inefficiencies and areas of weakness, allowing for tailored interventions that support long-term improvement and injury prevention.

Reece also holds a strong clinical interest in knee rehabilitation, with an in-depth understanding of knee biomechanics and the complex nature of knee injuries. He implements highly specialised, results-driven treatment plans to restore function and accelerate recovery in clients dealing with knee concerns.

Always eager to stay at the forefront of his field, Reece consistently seeks out new knowledge and incorporates the latest advancements in physiotherapy research into his practice. His commitment to continuous learning ensures he delivers the highest standard of care to every patient.

Outside of the clinic, Reece enjoys travelling, spending time at the beach, and playing a round of golf.