Women in business 2019 38 Ashburton Guardian
www.guardianonline.co.nz
Saturday, May 25, 2019
“I just want people to feel better.”
PHOTO SUE NEWMAN 140519-SN-0005
Lesley Coffey Essential Physiotherapy Business owner
Lesley Coffey’s mission is to ensure every woman has the opportunity to have good pelvic health. The trained physiotherapist’s specialty is helping women regain strength and health in their pelvic floor. Those women could be pregnant mums or women for whom childbirth is a long time in the past. Many, she says, simply put up with issues such as stress incontinence, prolapse or general pelvic floor dysfunction, accepting that is their lot in life. It’s not, Lesley said. “My clinic is about all the things that can go wrong for women in their pelvic health, for women to understand that it’s not just part of childbirth. Don’t ignore your problem, there are things you can do about it.” The comments Lesley most often hears from clients is that they were so relieved to find there are things they could do to improve pelvic floor weakness. When Lesley started her classes and clinics for women she had two clients; within two weeks she was fully booked. Most people come through referrals from friends or through Facebook.
Lesley designs her exercise programmes around the individual needs of each woman. “It has to be an individual approach, even with classes. I like people to come in first for a one-on-one as that’s the only way I can make sure they’re breathing properly.” It was also important to understand what each woman’s goals were post-delivery. Some might want to run a marathon or get back to netball while others might just want to work on their mummy tummy, she said. She offers a range of options from pre and post-natal classes, to pilates and general physio treatments. She’s talked to GPs and practice nurses and said referrals are now coming from these areas. “And I get a lot of women coming saying ‘my friend has been to you’.” Her classes are limited to eight women so she can work individually with each and can encourage them where needed. “If you want me to kick your arse I will, but if you want to have a chilled session then you can.”
Many of the exercises in her pre-natal classes were based around the movements a mother would make every day – picking up and carrying a baby or a washing basket, swivelling in a car to a child in a rear seat. “In pregnancy you’re training for the biggest event of your life, then there’s the birth and you’re injured to some degree and then it’s about recovery and getting back to full fitness.” And that doesn’t happen overnight, Lesley said. “It’s very much an individual journey and a lot of people are surprised this is not a quick fix.” Not every issue can be fixed through physio and Lesley will always recommend a client seeks another opinion if the problem is something that’s outside her area of expertise. “I just want people to feel better.” Strengthening your pelvic floor won’t happen quickly and it won’t happen without some hard work, she said. “If you don’t take responsibility and accept you’re the one who has to do the work, it won’t get any better.”
Women’s Health complaints? Have you tried physio? Pregnancy & Post Natal
Bowel Issues
Stress related urinary incontinence
Pelvic pain
Urinary urgency, frequency and incontinence
General physiotherapy conditions including ACC, private and sports physio
Pelvic organ prolapse
CONTACT LESLEY TODAY FOR A PRIVATE CONSULTATION Essential Physiotherapy 86 East Street, Ashburton Call 021 911 973 or book online essentialphysiotherapy.com
Some take control of their own health, exercising at home instead of coming to class, but for others the small group exercise classes become part of their social network. It’s fabulously rewarding work, Lesley said, when she sees women who have had pelvic pain, bladder leakage, stress incontinence, frequency urination problems notice the changes start to happen. While her current focus is on pre and post-natal classes and physio, she plans to start working in the area of pre and postmenopause to help older women regain or maintain pelvic health into their older years. Lesley is a mother of one, with a large family of animals as well and some days she finds herself juggling childcare and client needs, but she’s happy to put in the hours in her studio to ensure women with pelvic health issues can start their journey back to health. The first step for many – seeking help – was often the hardest step, but Lesley said she does everything possible to help people feel at ease.