When you hear the news that one is expecting a baby, a flood of excitement, happiness, and anticipation fill the air. This is great news! But there may also be a part of you that groans in sympathy at the thought of the nine-month trek through various aches and pains, unsettled stomach, and the thought of gaining weight so quickly (How will you ever get that off?). Whether this sneaky thought crosses your mind due to personal experience or hearsay from friends, the truth is that these pains can be a reality during some pregnancies. But, there is hope to ease the aches and pains, ease delivery, and help you get back into shape…the answer is Physical Therapy!
Approximately two-thirds of women experience some kind of pain during their pregnancy. Tasks such as sitting, walking, dressing, and household duties can become increasingly difficult due to the growing size of the baby. The growing size of the baby causes a shift in the center of gravity of the pregnant woman which may cause a variety of aches and pains including low back pain, neck pain, headaches, numbness and tingling down the arms or legs, tight muscles, and of course incontinence (leakage of urine)…just to name a few!
It really is amazing that through all this, you are still so overjoyed and excited that you just deal with these situations because they are only temporary. Right? The truth is that some prenatal aches and pains can remain after the birth of the child for varying amounts of time. That is why more and more women believe physical therapy can be an important part of a healthy pregnancy and return to prior level of function. Physical therapists that specialize in this area of care work to help the pregnant mom adapt to the tremendous changes she’s experiencing in her body. A trained physical therapist can help your pregnancy be more enjoyable by easing the pain with a variety of gentle tools. This is an attractive option to most expectant mothers because it involves no medication, which could harm the baby. Physical therapy also uses well-researched and proven techniques to treat while also allowing the mother to take an active role in managing her pain conservatively.
Here at Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, we are pleased to offer this type of therapy to the community by a trained Women’s Health Physical Therapist. OSPTI uses specialized techniques to help pregnant women manage their pain. Expectant moms can also be taught how to exercise safely to improve their cardiovascular health, strength, and mobility. Improved balance and postural awareness, fitting with proper braces, improved delivery results and overall continence are some other areas addressed by working with a Women’s Health Physical Therapist. OSPTI is also pleased to offer women in the community a chance to find their most optimal birthing position for improved delivery results for both mom and baby!