With a community as amazing as ours, it’s no surprise that we are surrounded by incredible women doing incredible things.
If you’ve ever met Caitlin Daley, you’ll know exactly why we adore her.

Caitlin is one of Newcastle’s leading women’s health and pelvic floor physiotherapists, helping women reconnect with their bodies, their strength, and their confidence.

Join this conversation that helps dispel the unspoken side of women’s intimate health as Caitlin shares her love of supporting women of Newcastle and The Hunter.

SkintifiX: What do you love most about working with women in Newcastle?

Caitlin: I really enjoy sharing those real life moments with my clients, the deep and meaningful chats, and the relationships that form over the years, sometimes treating their friends and family too which means a lot to have earnt their trust.

I find women in Newcastle are very pro-active about their health which I love to see. We have such a beautiful place to live in, so our clients are usually doing lots of different activities in their week, from ocean swimming to coastal walks and bike rides, Pilates classes, weights at the gym – the variety is awesome, and keeps rehab interesting.

SkintifiX: What’s something you wish more women knew about their bodies

Caitlin: That female physiology is not something that’s broken or faulty, our bodies are so highly intelligent and incredible.

There has never been a better time for women in health, with more and more funding going towards women’s health services and research.

I really wish for women to know that there is support for women’s health conditions, and you don’t need to be embarrassed by what you’re going through.

SkintifiX: Many women don’t realise how much hormonal shifts affect not just the body but confidence too — how do you help clients reconnect with their sense of strength and self?

Caitlin: Whether a woman is still having her cycle, is in peri-menopause, or is post-menopausal, the cycle or absence of it has such an immense impact.

There are over 400 receptors for our primary sex hormone (oestrogen) in the body. Changes in hormones impact everything; from our tendons, to our mood, and concentration.

I would say women’s health physiotherapists help clients reconnect to their sense of strength and self with our compassionate care, the shared experience (so many of our clients say “I thought I was the only one”), and knowledge about what we can do to improve their symptoms.

SkintifiX: Is it ever “too late” to start improving pelvic floor function?
Caitlin: I wouldn’t say there is never “too late”, there are just treatments that are more effective than others depending on each persons’ unique story and symptoms.

SkintifiX: Skin and pelvic health both change significantly with hormonal shifts. What parallels do you see between the two?

Caitlin: The first thing that comes to mind is the power of hydration. For skin hydration has obvious benefits in detoxification, but perhaps people aren’t aware that dehydration can lead to constipation which is a significant risk factor for the development of vaginal prolapse*.

I see huge parallels between skin and pelvic health in the sense that there is a lot of ‘noise’ online about the best new device or trend. Really we need good quality assessments, and then trusted professionals to help people.

 (*prolapse is the descent of one or multiple pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, bowel) into the vaginal space or external to it)

SkintifiX : How can we, as a community, better support women’s health through every stage of life?

Caitlin: I love this question!
Firstly I think we can support women by raising awareness for pelvic health conditions, through mediums like this we can share, educate, provide free resources etc.

We know that 1/3 Australians live with incontinence and 70% of them are women, and ¼ women have a pelvic pain condition, yet because of stigma reports suggest 60% of people would not speak to their doctor about their symptoms.

Even young athletes are experiencing pelvic health symptoms, statistics suggest up to 80% of gymnasts (who have not had children) will leak urine involuntarily.

The impact of this can range from inconvenient to career ending for athletes, and withdrawal from school sport in young girls has impacts that range from physical, social and mental..

I think we need more school initiatives speaking about pelvic and women’s health, and greater support from the government e.g funding for Physio for women experiencing postnatal concerns, pre/post gynaecological surgery, post menopausal strength training for bone health etc.

SkintifiX: Describe your perfect Newcastle weekend in three words.
Running at sunrise. If I’m allowed more words – it would be ocean swim, family, good food and pelvic health study!

Want to know more about Caitlin and the amazing way she’s helping our clients feel strong and safe in their bodies? You can find her at https://caitlindaleyphysio.com/