Pregnancy

Pregnancy-related Musculoskeletal and Pelvic Floor Conditions

Regain Strength and Confidence: Specialized Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Tailored to Your Needs

According to The International Organization of Physical Therapists in Pelvic and Women’s Health (IOPTPWH), the role of women’s health physiotherapist includes:

prevention, assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal dysfunction related to pregnancy
prenatal care during exercise
prevention and management of pelvic floor dysfunction
management during high-risk pregnancy, including bed rest/activity restrictions

Prenatal physiotherapy for back pain and pelvic girdle issues during pregnancy

Common musculoskeletal and pelvic floor complaints during pregnancy include:

Back pain
Pelvic girdle pain
De Quervain's tenosynovitis
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Leg cramps
Increased urinary frequency and urgency
Urinary incontinence
Constipation
vulvar varicosities

Pelvic floor muscle training illustration for pregnant women

Pregnancy CONDITION

Pregnancy-safe physiotherapy treatments for pain and pelvic floor dysfunction

There is good evidence that:

Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) both during pregnancy and after delivery can prevent and treat urinary incontinence.
Pregnant women experiencing pelvic girdle pain or low back pain who are prescribed stabilisation exercises and individualised education as guided by the physiotherapist significantly reduce their pain and associated disability.
Prenatal perineal massage is associated with a lower risk of severe perineal trauma during labour and postpartum complications.

If you are experiencing any of the above musculoskeletal or pelvic floor symptoms, are unsure about pregnancy-safe exercises, or do not understand when and how to perform perineal massage, we recommend booking an appointment to see us.