Does Every New Mother Need Physical Therapy?

Have you or a woman you know experienced leaks when laughing? Contrary to popular belief, this is not normal. The U.S. is following in the footsteps of other countries when it comes to postpartum health. Sheltering Arms Institute’s pregnancy recovery services aim to prevent such issues as more women receive education and a referral from their doctor to see a women’s health physical therapist after childbirth.

After giving birth, it’s common for women to experience issues such as urinary incontinence, diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles), and pelvic pain. The hormone relaxin increases before delivery, which allows the pelvis to stretch. This causes other joints in the body to become unstable, which makes new mothers more susceptible to injury. Additionally, women endure the musculoskeletal stress of caring for their infants, which affects the posture of the mid-scapular, shoulder, and pelvic regions.

“Most moms are in pain after birth, and they just figure it’s common and normal, but there is a treatment for it. They don’t have to live with it,” said Marianne Ryan, an award-winning physical therapist in New York City. Physical therapists can help new mothers learn to use correct body mechanics and decrease stress on their already overstretched muscles and ligaments. For example, using a changing table prevents a mom from leaning over and can decrease stress in the upper and lower back.

A recent study published by the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology journal found that approximately 85 percent of women report experiencing pain during intercourse following childbirth, with nearly a quarter still experiencing discomfort at 18 months postpartum. “Not only do we do nothing in the U.S., but also if a woman goes to her physician, particularly her obstetrician, with these complaints after the delivery, it’s written off as ‘Well, you just had a baby,’” said Stephanie Prendergast, co-founder of The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles and author of “Pelvic Pain Explained.” 

Oftentimes, women mistakenly believe that they are contracting the pelvic floor muscles when they are using the hip or abdominal muscles instead. Prendergast cited a study in the “Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery” journal which found that 23 percent of women who claimed to know how to perform Kegel exercises did not do them correctly. Understanding the proper techniques for pelvic floor-strengthening exercises is key for preventing hip, back, and incontinence issues in the future.

“Obstetricians and gynecologists are not specifically trained to identify pelvic floor or abdominal problems like physical therapists are,” said Prendergast. A women’s health therapist can address issues, including, but not limited to, muscle weaknesses, postural misalignments, sensation deficits, or coordination problems.

At Sheltering Arms Institute, our women’s health therapists can design a treatment plan specific to each person’s needs, utilizing technology like biofeedback sensors and electrical stimulation to help women strengthen the pelvic floor after childbirth. To learn more about these services or schedule an appointment, visit https://shelteringarmsinstitute.com/conditions-services/pregnancy-recovery/ or call (804) 764-1000.

Source:

https://sacramentospine.com/files/pdf/Why-every-new-mom-needs-physical-therapy-_Fox-News.pdf