Should you consider physical therapy before, during, or after pregnancy? Potentially, you could use it for during all three stages. Physical therapists specialize in movement, strength, and regaining or optimizing function with less pain. Women’s Health Physical Therapists (WCS PT) take that a step further by specializing in caring for women throughout their life stages, including the very important childbearing years. Moms are great at taking care of their families, but often do not pay as much attention to their own needs. Addressing pain, weakness, and movement problems early will help moms improve not only their own care, but their family's care too.
Physical Therapy Before Pregnancy
Before you become pregnant, visiting your PT can help address prior back, neck, hip and other musculoskeletal problems and get you ready for some of the changes that can occur with weight gain, postural changes, and laxity in the ligaments. Beginning a fitness program before you become pregnant that you can continue as your pregnancy progresses is something that a PT specialized in pregnancy can assist with.
Physical Therapy During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, a Women’s Health PT can assess and treat pelvic ring, hip, spine and neck pain, and other muscular and joint issues. You should visit your PT if you are having joint and pelvic ring (SI) pain. Please do not think that it is normal and that nothing can be done about it – we do not want you to sit and suffer. Your PT can help you maintain and modify your fitness and strength program as pregnancy progresses and can help you deal with leg swelling. In some areas, the PT will work with the midwives and doulas to assist with childbirth education, positioning and breathing during labor, and muscle relaxation during delivery. Your PT can give you basic exercise and postural strategies for movement, lifting, and nursing positions after the baby is born.
Physical Therapy After Pregnancy
After the baby comes, your time is no longer your own. It took 40 weeks or so for all of the wonderful changes that go along with childbirth to occur, and now you need a recovery strategy. The muscles of the abdomen have stretch weakness, and you may have a diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA, or an abdominal muscle separation). While we could write a whole other article about DRA and the core muscles (the abdominals, pelvic floor, diaphragm, and back muscles), we will just say that seeing a PT and having your abdominals assessed before you begin a “core” program can help to prevent incorrect abdominal habits and problems in the future. Although incontinence (urinary leakage) is common after childbirth, it is not normal, and along with pain from episiotomy and C-section incisions, is something that your PT can help you with. Continence is dependent on muscle coordination, not just the strength of a kegel contraction, and it is important to get the muscles working together.
The topics above are only a few of the issues that a PT can help you with before and after pregnancy. Be your best advocate and be sure to get answers and help for your concerns. To find a physical therapist, visit APTA and follow the “Find a PT” link. You can search for a Women’s Health PT or look for other PTs who are not women’s health PTs but are experienced in helping moms care for themselves and their families.
Rebecca Meehan, PT, WCS, is a co-founder and owner of Embody Physiotherapy and Wellness Center in Sewickley, PA. Embody helps women regain missing functions, achieve their wellness goals, and maintain day-to-day performance for tasks of daily living.
