Physical Therapy
Postpartum Physical Therapy
at girl fit
Your physical therapist will ask about your pregnancy and delivery experience, how your baby is feeding, how you and your baby are sleeping, what activities you want to get back to, and any difficulties or pain you are having.
Your physical therapist will then check your posture, breathing mechanics, flexibility, and strength. She will check for diastasis and your ability to engage your core. She will assess the healing/mobility of your C-section scar if applicable and instruct how to contract and relax your pelvic floor muscles. She will also further assess any other area where you are having pain.
Based on findings from the evaluation your PT will create a home program of several exercises specific to your needs.
Now what?
Girl Fit Physical Therapy offers pregnancy and postpartum physical therapy services. If you are pregnant or recently had a baby and would like assistance navigating the changes your body has been undergoing, please reach out to us at framingham@girlfit.com to learn more and/or to schedule an appointment.
What is Postpartum Physical Therapy?
Postpartum physical therapy focuses on treating women after giving birth. This population requires special consideration given the unique demands on their body and the change in skeletal alignment, muscle structure, and hormones that can affect function and cause pain.
During pregnancy the abdominal muscles lengthen and the rib cage widens to make space for the growing baby. After delivery these changes often mean the new mom will have a hard time engaging and contracting her stomach muscles. This creates a lack of abdominal strength that can make it difficult to care for your baby and can lead to back pain or other issues. Learning to reconnect to your core is a very important first step on the road back to postpartum exercise and once mastered will make all future exercises much more effective. Do not skip this step! Your physical therapist will teach you how to coordinate an abdominal contraction with your breathing to make it the most beneficial and make sure you are able to manage internal pressure safely.
The pelvic floor muscles are located in the pelvis, like the bottom of a bowl. They help to support our organs, control when we go to the bathroom, and work with our abdominals and hip muscles to stabilize our pelvis and lower back. During pregnancy, they are under increased stress as they have to handle the weight of the growing baby and they can also sustain injury during delivery. It is important to retrain these muscle groups in the postpartum phase to ensure proper function.
**Please note, at this time Girl Fit Physical Therapy is not offering Pelvic Health services including internal vaginal assessments or treatment. If internal pelvic health physical therapy is something that has been recommended for you, we are happy to provide a list of appropriate referrals.