Physiotherapy is frequently used to treat clients with pain, stiffness, muscle weakness, instability and reduced mobility following an injury or because of a chronic illness such as arthritis. A woman’s body goes through enormous changes during pregnancy and it can significantly affect your overall daily functioning. In many cases discomfort in pregnancy is a normal accepted process. In some cases it can be more than that and physical therapy to relieve the discomfort experienced can help and prepare the pregnant body for an easier delivery and recovery process.
Regular tasks such as sitting, walking, standing and working can sometimes be difficult when pregnant. Almost all women experience some kind of discomfort during pregnancy, and as many as 25% of all pregnant women experience temporarily disabling problems. With physiotherapy, techniques can be learned to help relieve the discomfort, we can help with the following pregnancy related problems:
What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy or physical therapy, is the application of gentle manipulation or massage to promote healing. If muscles become stiff a physiotherapist can help to stimulate the blood flow within the muscles and allow the deposits of lactic acid build up to drain away naturally. If mobility becomes restricted, resulting in pain, physiotherapy techniques can help alleviate the source of the pain and promote restored wellbeing. Carried out by primary healthcare professionals, who have extensive training and knowledge of the body’ anatomy, it’s function and it’s ability to move freely, allows individuals to develop a level of comfort reducing reduce the pain experienced as the body changes during pregnancy leading to a healthier lifestyle and a happier pregnancy.
Why use physiotherapy?
“Relaxin” a hormone produced naturally in women, sees raised levels occurring especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. It is thought to help soften and loosen certain parts of the body, to help make ligaments more flexible and mobile, especially important for the back and pelvis, as having a new found bump appear at the front of the stomach, can help mum’s to cope with this extra weight. The Pubic Symphysis (pelvic bone located at the front of the pelvis) and the sacroiliac joints (located in the back of the pelvis) also experience more flexibility during pregnancy, and allows the bones at the front of the pelvis to expand making it easier for the baby to be born. However, when these changes start to take place, pregnancy pain and discomfort can and does sometimes occur. It will vary from person to person and be different in subsequent pregnancies. This is the most common problem in pregnancy in the early stages.
As the pregnancy advances and the weight of the baby increase other problems can occur. It is an ever changing process. By using expert management techniques during and after pregnancy, physiotherapy can help alleviate many pregnancy related problems, and may also help to quicken up the recovery process too. With a managed approached to pregnancy mum’s are not left with pregnancy associated pain and pelvic floor problems years after birth.
In learning to understand how to work with your body, through the various changes which occur during pregnancy, physiotherapy ultimately helps with the overall transitional period leading to a happier, healthy, problem free pregnancy and beyond.
With our dedicated physiotherapists this is my: clinic is able to offer you a ‘one to one’ physiotherapy exercise and treatment plan, tailored to your individual needs.
You don’t have to live with pain during pregnancy!
Book your appointment now.
What areas do we treat?
By attending physiotherapy sessions during pregnancy, and receiving physiotherapy techniques to specific target area’s, understanding the importance of exercises to do at home, and by recognising the body’s changes which are taking place, physiotherapy can help relieve the most common discomforts in mum’s to be:
Back ache
Neck pain
Joint pain
Incontinence prevention and treatment
Sacroiliac joint disorders
Symphysis pubis problems
Posture advice & Ergonomics and
Advice on lifting and carrying baby
Pelvic floor exercises
Abdominal exercises
Pre & post natal exercise advice
This list is exhaustive, by having a detailed consultation with a physiotherapist; thisismy: can help determine how physiotherapy can help you.
this is my: pregnancy physiotherapy
Initial consultation gives you a full assessment and a treatment plan outline. We will advise you regarding your condition and how physiotherapy can help. We will discuss the number and frequency of appointments that you may require. The remainder of your session will be used for treatment. You will probably be given an exercise programme to follow between treatments. Allow 40—60 minutes for an initial consultation and follow-up is usually 20 to 40 minutes.
We aim our recommendations and exercise programme so that it can easily be incorporated into your everyday routine to maintain wellness and lead to a happy healthy pregnancy.
Our aim
this is my: expert team of physiotherapists will evaluate, discuss and where appropriate select the appropriate treatment depending on your condition and functional goals.
Each step of your diagnosis and treatment will be assessed and discussed with you so that we know that our advice and treatment programme is achievable.
We will plan a tailor made programme that will meet your needs and fit your lifestyle.
