How Pelvic Floor Therapy Helps Pregnant Women

Giving birth to a baby is the most extraordinary things that the human body can do. It also is an extreme physical trauma in which our bodies require time and help to recover. During pregnancy, a woman's body changes constantly for nine months with a grand finale of a beautiful child and physical trauma to the pelvic floor. Many women don't think about their pelvic floor until after they have had their baby and are experiencing issues with pain or bladder control. But waiting until after childbirth isn't the most beneficial time to start thinking about the health of your pelvic floor. The professionals at Peak Physical Therapy Scituate, MA are here to help mothers prepare for a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and recovery through our pelvic floor therapy in Scituate, pregnancy and postpartum rehab.

What is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor is made up of the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue that support the urinary and reproductive tracts and are what control the bladder and bowels. In women, the pelvic floor keeps your bladder in place in the front and the vagina and rectum in the back, and your uterus in place at the top of the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor muscles attach to your tail bone and pubic bone. If the muscles in the pelvic floor are weak or don’t work as they should, this is called pelvic floor dysfunction.

How Does Pregnancy Affect the Pelvic Floor?

During pregnancy, the pelvic floor stretches little by little to make room for a growing baby. Over time, the muscles become weakened from carrying the newly added weight.  Instead of bouncing back to provide support, the weakened muscles may not return to their optimal location. Mother's may notice it becomes harder to control their bladder, especially as the pregnancy progresses into the second and third trimesters. This is because a weakened pelvic floor makes it difficult to squeeze the muscles necessary to prevent urine from escaping the bladder. This leaking happens mostly when you cough, sneeze, lift objects or exercise. Mothers may also find that they can’t wait when they feel the urge to pass urine. This can become embarrassing, difficult to manage, and sometimes painful. However, many cases of a weakened pelvic floor can be assisted or even corrected with the help of pelvic floor physical therapy Scituate MA from Peak Physical Therapy.

What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

Pelvic floor physical therapy in Scituate MA is a treatment for problems related to the pelvic floor. This specialized therapy includes exercises that can help relieve symptoms like pain, discomfort, and disruptions to your quality of life.

Pelvic floor therapy Scituate MA through Peak Physical Therapy begins with a thorough insight into the patients history, which includes past surgical and medical history, medications, and sexual, gynecologic or obstetric history. An orthopedic examination is performed, with a concentration on the lumbar spine and hips, gait and posture. This assessment usually includes an evaluation of both internal and external muscles, however internal examinations and therapy does not appeal to some, in this case our therapists are sensitive to the needs of every individual and do not begin with internal therapy until a patient is ready.

This evaluation helps to determine the creation of an appropriate care plan. Specific exercises such as relaxing and lengthening muscle exercises may be necessary to relieve some symptoms. In other cases, strengthening exercises are appropriate to achieve maximum treatment. Through this tailored treatment plan, your physical therapist can manipulate the pelvic floor muscles to restore their strength and function. Ultimately, the therapy helps to ease pain and associated symptoms, and restore normal functioning.

Women's Pelvic Health | Peak Physical Therapy Scituate MA

There are many issues that relate specifically to women in which physical therapy Scituate MA can help. At Peak Physical Therapy & Sports Performance we have dedicated programs for these conditions. We offer these services in multiple locations, and even have a private women’s health center in Norwell. The physical therapists have specialized training in women’s health and wellness and can address these needs with individualized and discrete care. Appointments are one-on-one 45 minute sessions and covered by insurance! To learn more about receiving pelvic floor therapy Scituate MA can help you, please visit our website or contact Peak Physical Therapy today.

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