Runaway Bay Sports & Spinal is located on the northern end of the Gold Coast in the heart of Runaway Bay.
Conveniently located near: Biggera Waters,Β Labrador,Β Southport,Β Paradise Point,Β ArundelΒ andΒ Helensvale.
Womenβs 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 PhysiotherapistsΒ areΒ specially trainedΒ inΒ 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.
We provide holistic treatment plans and are with you every step of the way. To see how we can help you on your journey, click the book now link below.
Runaway Bay Sports & Spinal is NDISΒ registered and accepts Medicare rebates and HICAPS health fund claims. EFTPOS and credit card facilities are also available for payment. Parking is also available onsite.
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 & PostnatalΒ 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 β Stress Incontinence, Urge Incontinence/ Overactive Bladder Syndromes, Bladder Pain Syndromes (including Interstitial Cystitis) and Retention
- Bowel Concerns β 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 theΒ pelvic floorΒ more thanΒ 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. MaintainingΒ pelvic floor strength and functionΒ throughout your pregnancy and postnatally isΒ 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
PregnancyΒ 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.
AtΒ Sports & SpinalΒ we have a specialΒ pregnancy massage cushion, enabling Mums-to-be to be massaged while laying on their stomach. Our massage therapists use a specialised 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 βnot quite making it in time!β
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 womanβs 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 specialised to suit your needs. PLUS babies aged under 1 year are more than welcome to come!Β
How to join our Women’s Health classes:
You will need to attend a screening assessment with one of our Womenβs 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 Womenβs 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 ClassesΒ
- 3x Women’s Health ConsultsΒ
- 1x Annabelle Trends water bottleΒ
- 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,Β Sippy Downs, Springfield and WynnumΒ Sports & Spinal clinics.
services & FACILITIES
- On-Site Parking
- 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
Marina Melnikoff
Musculoskeletal & Women's Health Physiotherapist
Lucy Taylor
Musculoskeletal & Womenβs Health Physiotherapist
Marina Melnikoff
Musculoskeletal & Women's Health Physiotherapist
Marina has completed a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with first-class honours. She has since gained knowledge and experience in a range of areas for musculoskeletal injuries, TMJ treatment and dry needling.
Over the years, Marina has also pursued post-graduate courses in Womenβs and pelvic health. She can treat a range of conditions including bladder and bowel dysfunctions, pelvic organ prolapse, pre and post-natal treatment, pessary fitting, pelvic pain syndromes, and pelvic girdle pain.
Marina has an extensive background in different sporting fields such as gymnastics, powerlifting and CrossFit. She believes in helping people stick with the training they enjoy and educating them on effective injury prevention strategies. She enjoys living an active outdoor lifestyle, including spending time by the beach, diving, and running with her energetic Border Collie.
Marina is available for General Physiotherapy and Women’s Health appointments at our Runaway Bay and Broadbeach clinics.
Lucy Taylor
Musculoskeletal & Womenβs Health Physiotherapist
Lucy graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) at the University of Queensland, where she also conducted research alongside a world-renowned Physiotherapist. Lucy is passionate about delivering holistic patient-centred care and establishing individualised rehabilitation programs so that you can achieve your goals and return to the things you enjoy in life sooner. Lucy is devoted to continuously expanding her skill set and knowledge so that she can provide superior treatment to every patient.
Lucy can assist with questions and concerns related to pre and post-natal incontinence, pelvic floor muscle strengthening and relaxing, endometriosis, menopause, pelvic pain conditions and other bladder and bowel dysfunctions. She has also completed advanced training in pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, birth choices and pessary fitting. She is very passionate about delivering you the latest research-based treatment and empowering you with the knowledge and exercises to achieve your goals.
Lucy is available for Women’s Health Physiotherapy appointments at our Broadbeach and Runaway Bay clinics.