There’s a common myth that pain, discomfort, and even disability go hand in hand with pregnancy, and there’s not much women can do about it. Fortunately, that is a myth. While most women will experience some discomfort during pregnancy and the post-partum period, there are treatments that can combat some of it and make pregnancy a more enjoyable experience.
Healthcare providers at Beaumont offer physical therapy treatments and pain management techniques to help alleviate some of the discomfort of pregnancy. Whether you experience pain in your lower back, hip, or pelvis; tendonitis; joint pain; nerve pain; headaches; or other types of pain, physical therapy may offer some relief without medication.
Pregnant women’s ligaments grow lax due to hormonal changes and shifts in their center of gravity. If they had any previous muscle or joint problems, especially in the pelvic region, they’re more likely to experience pregnancy related problems due to muscle weakness, pain, and dysfunction. Physical therapy can help with these issues as well.
When working with pregnant women, physical therapists can perform some manual therapies, guide exercises, and offer assistance in the form of support devices. One of the safest and most effective forms of physical therapy during pregnancy (and after delivery) are stabilization exercises that can help build strength in the pelvic floor and core muscles. Strengthening and stabilizing these muscles help keep the pelvis and lower back where they’re supposed to be, which can keep some types of pain at bay and can reduce the risk of incontinence during pregnancy and after.
During early pregnancy, massage, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy can encourage relaxation and reduce pain.
Later in pregnancy, and even during the post-partum period, some women experience pelvic pain and dysfunction. There are four groups of muscles that support and stabilize the pelvic region (called the pelvic girdle). This area is made up of muscles, ligaments, and joints that help us move and provide support. When the muscles and ligaments that make up the pelvic girdle aren’t working properly, women can experience pain and other problems, such as urinary and fecal incontinence and pain. There are several exercises and some devices that can help alleviate problems with the pelvic girdle, and a physical therapist can guide an exercise routine to help women learn to do these exercises and use devices to reduce pain and improve health.
How physical therapy can help with pregnancy and post-partum pain and dysfunction
Physical therapy can benefit women during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the post-partum period. With physical therapy, women can, for example, strengthen their pelvic floor muscles, which can reduce risk of problems during pregnancy and after. Here are some examples of how PT can help:
- During pregnancy:
- Some women suffer from fluid retention during pregnancy that can be uncomfortable at best. Lymphatic massage can help reduce fluid buildup and the discomfort that comes along with it.
- Pregnancy can take quite a toll on the muscles of the pelvic floor. It’s not uncommon for women to experience some sort of incontinence during and after pregnancy, and many women have pain in the pelvic region as well. Physical therapists can help women strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which can help counteract the effects of pregnancy on the body. Pelvic floor physical therapy includes Kegel exercises, biofeedback, and movement strategies. These can be done before, during, and after pregnancy to keep the pelvic floor muscles strong and healthy.
- Labor and Delivery:
- Perineal massage can help during pregnancy, during labor and delivery, and after your baby is born. The goal is to help stretch the skin between the vagina and anus to prepare it for childbirth. Massage can make the skin suppler, which in turn can reduce the risk of tearing as your baby passes through the birth canal. The massage can also help prepare you for pressure on your pelvic floor muscles and perineum that occurs during labor and delivery. If you’ve practiced relaxing these muscles prior to childbirth, you may be able to relax them during delivery, which can actually speed up delivery and make childbirth less painful.
- Positioning can help women during labor and delivery. For example, some women get some pain relief if they lie on their side or get on their hands and knees rather than sitting up or lying on their backs. Physical therapists can work with women during pregnancy to understand positioning and try out different positions in advance so they come more naturally during labor and delivery.
- Breastfeeding: It surprises some women to learn that physical therapy can help with breastfeeding. PTs are experts in body tissue, and breast tissue is no exception. If women are having problems breastfeeding, a physical therapist may be able to offer advice and practical tips, recommend massage, and use ultrasound to check fluid transportation in the breast. Not all PTs are trained to work with breastfeeding women however, so if you would like to take advantage of physical therapy to help you with breastfeeding, make sure you ask in advance whether your PT can provide that kind of therapy.
- Hip issues: Hip pain is common during pregnancy. Physical therapy can help women adjust to their changing bodies by strengthening their muscles and teaching them how to move. Physical therapists will recommend exercises and help with stretches aimed at mobilizing the hip joint and releasing tension in the surrounding muscles.
- Back issues: One of the most common complaints during pregnancy is back pain. Physical therapists can help address back pain through exercises, massage, posture training, recommendations for sleeping positions, myofascial release, and other hands-on modalities.
Exercise during pregnancy
Unless pregnant women have medical reasons not to exercise during pregnancy, they should be exercising for at least 30 minutes every day during pregnancy. Exercise reduces risks of pregnancy complications, improves fetal health, and helps women recover and lose weight faster after pregnancy. Physical therapists can help with this by performing neuromuscular re-education to retrain muscles to work as they are intended. Focusing on core, back, and pelvic floor muscles provides significant benefits to pregnant women.
If you see a physical therapist during pregnancy, he or she will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan that addresses specific situation and any concerns you have. Then your PT will teach you how to perform regular movements, like squatting, bending, walking, and lifting, that minimizes muscle strain. He or she will also offer advice. For example, your PT may recommend aquatic therapy or massage for pain relief.
Post-partum physical therapy
Women’s health specialists recommend a pelvic health checkup after delivery. This is especially important for women who have had a perineal tear or an episiotomy. Any tear or cut to the perineum (the area between the vaginal opening and the anus) can cause scar tissue, which can lead to pain for years. But with the right therapy, this pain can be avoided.
Post-partum physical therapy usually focuses on pelvic floor strength and general strength and stability. PTs can also help women who have specific health conditions, whether they’re complications of pregnancy or not. They have the knowledge to evaluate women, perform tests, and develop individualized treatment plans that meet the unique needs of every patients.
Physical therapy at Beaumont
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant and would like to see a physical or occupational therapist, call Beaumont at 248-655-3191 today to make an appointment. In addition to physical therapy during and after pregnancy, we offer physical and occupational therapy, functional training, sports and orthopedic rehabilitation, oncology rehabilitation, and more.