Pregnancy Physiotherapy
Pregnancy is an exciting time in your life but can come with its challenges for your body. Lower back pain, pelvic pain, bladder leakage are all common problems for many women during pregnancy.
Here at Fountain Gate Physiotherapy, our physiotherapists are able to treat and manage a number of pregnancy related conditions.
Why physiotherapy?
It is useful to see a physiotherapist or myotherapist during your pregnancy because:
- it can help to prevent muscle and joint pains;
- improve your recovery after the birth;
- able to help with treating specific problems that can occur during pregnancy such as Sacroiliac Joint pain, pelvic instability, back pain, carpal tunnel;
- manage joint and muscles changes as you progress through the trimesters;
- and also to give advice on managing diastasis or splitting of the stomach muscles that can occur during pregnancy.
What can happen?
Due to the hormonal changes that occur and the increasing weight of the baby you are at risk of developing a range of issues. This can be pains that last only for the duration of the pregnancy to pains that can stay after the birth.
Therefore, by seeing a physiotherapist early and starting suitable exercises you can help to stop or reduce these pains.
Problems that you may face can include:
- Pelvic girdle pain such as sacroiliac joint pain (SIJ)
- Urinary leakage because of pelvic floor dysfunction
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse due to weakening or overstretching
- Neck, mid back and rib pain
- Lower back pain
- Abdominal muscle separation
- Mastitis or Blocked Milk Ducts
- Plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome
How can physiotherapy help?
Your physiotherapist has a number of different treatment options including soft and deep tissue massage; joint mobilisations; dry needling; braces or supports; strength and stretching exercises; taping; advice on posture and lifting.
Your physiotherapist may also suggest joining a small sized rehabilitation group for the rest of your pregnancy and after the birth.
These methods work together to help:
- increase abdominal and pelvic floor strength;
- improve flexibility and posture;
- increase muscle strength;
- also to reduce incontinence and pelvic floor pain.