The pelvic area is an integral part of the body that serves many purposes, especially in the female body. Pelvic pain can happen at different points throughout your menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, after giving birth, and even as a result of an underlying condition such as endometriosis. During pregnancy and after giving birth, it’s pretty common for women to experience urinary incontinence and pelvic pain.
Pelvic floor therapy is one way women can fight back against pain and discomfort as their bodies adjust during and after pregnancy. This kind of specialized therapy focuses on strengthening the pelvic floor’s ligaments, tendons, and muscles. It can also help with the symptoms of endometriosis and urinary incontinence.
Are you currently pregnant or expecting to deliver your child soon? Prenatal and postnatal physical therapy could help make both of these experiences smoother for you.
Give Synergy Physical Therapy a call today to schedule an appointment. You deserve to enjoy this special part of life, free of pain.
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is common during and after pregnancy. This is because the muscles of the pelvic floor may become weaker.
If you’re struggling with urinary incontinence, a physical therapist can help determine the root of your problem. Instead of simply treating the symptoms, your physical therapist can focus on the cause and focus on strengthening the muscles under your bladder. This will help treat and eliminate your incontinence issues.
Exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, known as Kegels, can sometimes help people with stress incontinence. Kegels can also help people with urge incontinence. Sometimes bladder retraining can also help; this process involves gradually increasing the interval time between trips to the bathroom, working up to longer and longer intervals between bathroom stops.
Therapy for prenatal and postpartum pain
There are many reasons why you may experience prenatal or postpartum pain, especially in the pelvis and back regions. Some common causes of pain are as follows:
Changes in posture.
When you’re pregnant, your center of gravity changes. To compensate for this, most women will adjust their posture and how they move, sometimes without even realizing they are doing so.
Changes in hormones.
During pregnancy, your body releases a hormone known as “relaxin.” This increases joint laxity (looseness) in the pelvic area. This is your body’s natural way of preparing for birth; however, this hormone causes ligaments in the spine to loosen, resulting in less stability and more risk for the pain to ensue.
Increased weight.
Women typically gain 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. This puts extra stress on the spine, and the growing baby in your uterus also puts extra pressure on the nerves and blood vessels surrounding your back and pelvis.
Separation of muscles.
As your stomach continues to expand throughout your pregnancy, extreme stress is put on your abdominal muscles. With continued expansion, these muscles can separate along the center, in a condition known as “diastasis recti.” This may cause a muscle imbalance that places more stress on the spine, which may result in back pain.
Our physical therapists offer both pre- and postnatal treatments for pregnancy-related pain relief. At your initial appointment, you will be greeted by one of our experienced and dedicated physical therapists. They will perform a physical evaluation to assess the nature of your symptoms.
Your medical history and any health risks will also be discussed and considered before creating a treatment plan. After your evaluation, your physical therapist will put together an individualized program for you aimed at providing relief pelvic pain, and allowing for a smooth pregnancy and/or recovery from childbirth.
Treatment plans typically involve gentle therapeutic exercises, stretches, and manual therapy. These are all done to relieve pain, strengthen your core muscles, and improve posture. Your physical therapist may also suggest additional methods, such as massage therapies, to provide other relief and optimum function as deemed necessary.
Expecting and new mothers unite!
Call Synergy Physical Therapy today if you’re experiencing pre-or postnatal pain or pelvic discomfort. Our therapists utilize the most advanced techniques for providing our patients with the relief they’ve been seeking for so long. We’re here to provide you with the assistance you need; call today to schedule an appointment.
