We see it almost every day—ads on TV and social media encouraging women to lose that baby weight and get “back in shape”. However, it’s equally, if not more important to get back in shape internally. Luckily, physical therapy is not just for those who have just had surgery or broken a bone: it can help treat women whose pains and problems result from giving birth as well. So, new parents, if you are looking for solutions to help your body recover from giving birth, remember that you need to heal from the inside out. Consulting a physical therapist before you begin an exercise regimen is a great start to postpartum healing. You definitely do not want to make your postpartum aches and pains worse!
Up to 70 percent of people who are pregnant or have just given birth struggle with low back pain. Other common issues include long-lasting musculoskeletal pain, urinary and/or fecal incontinence, scarring, perineal or episiotomy tearing, and pain with intercourse. Many of these issues stem from the pelvic floor, which is a group of muscles that support the abdominal organs and the openings of the vagina and anus. The pelvic floor undergoes a lot of stress during childbirth and can become weak, achy, and dysfunctional as a result. Some more serious postpartum issues associated with pelvic floor dysfunction include prolapse, a condition in which organs supported by the pelvic floor, such as the uterus, slip or fall out of place due to pelvic muscle weakness. While Kegel exercises are often verbally given as an exercise to perform, studies show that many women are performing them incorrectly. In fact, many women who are experiencing intense pelvic pain should often avoid performing Kegel exercises as they could make their pains worse.
This is where physical therapists who specialize in work on the pelvic floor, like those at Rebalance Physical Therapy, can help! Rebalance clinicians are experts in treating postpartum problems, aches, pains, and injuries. We use specific manual or hands-on techniques to assess the body holistically and treat the areas that have changed after giving birth. Specific trigger point, myofascial release, and joint techniques are used to improve the musculoskeletal tissue and joints to increase blood flow in the tissues connecting all bones, muscles, and organs around the pelvis. These techniques will also help increase scar tissue elasticity and help realign the hips and pelvis after they have endured the pressure of delivery. Through methods like soft tissue mobilization, in which the therapist uses pressure to move a muscle from a shortened to lengthened state, even the pain and appearance from scarring associated with childbirth can be treated. Rebalance therapists will also teach you exercises to relieve discomfort on your own as well as exercise modifications that fit your unique needs.
It may be challenging to find time for yourself while caring for a newborn, but you deserve time to bounce back from your pelvic aches and pains! Contact Rebalance Physical Therapy to begin healing your post-baby body and recover from the inside out!
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