Pregnancy and Physiotherapy

 Pregnancy can significantly affect your overall daily functioning. A woman’s body goes through incredible physical and hormonal changes before and after delivery. For years, discomfort associated with pregnancy has been accepted as a normal part of the process. Today, many physicians recommend physiotherapy to relieve the discomfort experienced by pregnant women and help prepare the pregnant body for an easier delivery and recovery process.

The role of Physiotherapy in Pregnancy

As Physiotherapy is a profession treating problems associated with muscles, joints, bones and circulation, it can be used to work collaboratively with pregnancy to ensure stronger, healthier core stability muscles and posture throughout. Many if not all of the exercises recommended by the Physiotherapist can be done at home on a regular basis for a fitter, more birth prepared pregnancy.

Even regular tasks such as sitting, walking, standing and working can be difficult when pregnant. Almost all women experience musculoskeletal discomfort during pregnancy, and as many as 25% of all pregnant women experience temporarily disabling ones. This is due to the tremendous changes undergone by the body during any healthy pregnancy.

With physiotherapy, techniques can be learned to help relieve the following conditions:

• Lower back pain caused by a shift in the mother's centre of gravity as the baby grows
• Neck pain and headaches due to changes in posture
• Tightness and pain in the hamstrings and heel cords caused by a flattening of the feet
• Arm pain or tingling caused by nerve compression associated with an increased chest diameter
• Bladder leakage during pregnancy and after delivery due to strained pelvic muscles
• Stretching of the abdominal walls leading to back pain and difficult delivery due to ineffective abdominal contractions.

Between four to six sessions are typically attended to teach physiotherapy techniques, such as:

• Pain management for pain relief
• Exercises to improve strength and mobility
• Exercises to help postural alignment and body balance
• Techniques to aid joint and soft tissue flexibility
• Stress relief and relaxation training
• Trial of maternity back braces and orthopaedic support for the lower back
• Recommendations for sleeping positions
• Postpartum rehabilitation

Once a woman is familiar with the specific recommendations made by her therapist, she can incorporate them into her exercise routine to maintain wellness and stay healthy during and after pregnancy.