Post-Partum Physical Therapy: Why You Need It
Women go through a lot during pregnancy and delivery. They gain weight, their abdomen stretches, and their center of gravity changes. Their internal organs move to make way for the growth of their baby.
However, even with all those things, a lot of women fail to undergo physical therapy. Most don’t even know that they need one after giving birth.
If you are planning to get pregnant, currently pregnant or you’ve just given birth, below are good reasons why you need to book an appointment with a physical therapist now. You doctor can tell you when to start.
Reasons to See A Physical Therapist Post Partum
Because pregnancy takes an enormous toll on a new mother’s body, seeing a physical therapist is necessary. It offers the following benefits:
Pain relief
Most women believe that the pain they are experiencing during pregnancy will eventually go away after giving birth. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Women continue to experience sciatica, hip pain, and low back pain even after several years after the delivery process.
Helps return to previous physical activities safely
After the 6-week postpartum checkup, most women are given the clearance to get back to work. However, they don’t always receive proper guidelines as to how they can progress back to activity. Most of the time, they are just told to take things slowly and ease back into activity.
Seeing a physical therapist will allow women to safely progress back to their previous physical activity. They won’t have to guess what’s safe and what’s not and they won’t feel the need to push themselves to be as productive as before.
Manages incontinence
After giving birth, there are a lot of mothers who find themselves leaking urine or even feces.
If you are obese or you’ve just given birth to multiple children, you’re at an even higher risk. Age also increases one’s risk of incontinence.
A physical therapist can help treat incontinence even without doing any invasive procedures and treatments. There’s no surgery or even drugs involved.
Physical therapists encourage the proper use of pelvic floor muscle exercises to treat the conditions. These exercises strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor and make them a lot more effective in supporting the organs in the area.
Promotes better mobility
When you’re pregnant, a hormone called Relaxin causes ligament laxity which can last for about 3 to 4 months after childbirth. Apart from that, there are also postural changes that happen during pregnancy, such as shortened low back muscles and hip flexors. Those things can cause mobility issues.
Undergoing physical therapy should be able to solve those mobility impairments through stretching, soft tissue mobilization, and mobility exercises.
Promotes wellness for future pregnancies
Physical therapists can create a personalized treatment plan to meet your needs. Whether you’re an athlete or a couch potato who’s seeking to live a healthier lifestyle, they can help you prepare your body for future pregnancies and healthier life.
Helps assess of separation of abdominal muscles
Diastasis recti or the separation of the rectus abdominal muscles happens when there is increased pressure in the abdominal area and stretching of the abdominal wall of the uterus. This separation isn’t just unattractive but it also makes you prone to injuries.
Assessing a diastasis recti is actually easy. After lying on your back, you can place your fingers on your belly button, pointing towards your spine. Lift your head and try to feel for a separation.
If there’s a separation of one to two fingers, it’s still considered normal. A width greater than 2 to 2.5 fingers, however, is considered a diastasis.
For diastasis recti, correcting involves strengthening and retaining the core muscles. A physical therapist can help you with that.
What to Expect When Seeing A Physical Therapist
Postpartum physical therapy is similar to the other forms of physical therapy but they focus on your pelvic floor . In general, it involves therapeutic exercises, soft tissue mobilization, biofeedback, and deep tissue massage. It can also involve hands-on assessment and manipulation as well as proper posture and lifting techniques.
Tips for Seeking the Physical Therapy
Generally speaking, you have the right to pick your own physical therapist. You won’t have to ask your doctor to choose one for you. However, you can certainly ask for his recommendations if you feel that it will help your case.
In most states, physical therapists are easily available and accessible. You won’t need a referral or even a script just to see one.
If you feel uncertain about accessing a PT, you can call your insurance company and inquire about the PT benefits you are entitled to or if you need a referral just to access one.
In picking the best one for you, make sure that your physical therapist is qualified. He needs to be patient, credible, and knowledgeable about his practice and its application on postpartum women.
For a very specific issue, you need a physical therapist who has experience with it. He should also be comfortable in working with postpartum women.
Conclusion
Physical therapy isn’t just a luxury for new moms. In fact, with all the changes the body experiences during pregnancy and childbirth, seeing a physical therapist should be necessary.
Physical therapists can help you manage your pain, restore your muscles’ normal tone, and prepare your body to return to your previous level of activity. They can also help manage the most common effects of pregnancy, such as incontinence, scarring, and even separation of muscles.
With that, don’t hesitate to reach out to a qualified physical therapist after giving birth. You can search online or you can start looking at local physical therapists in your area and see which ones are qualified to work on postpartum cases. Referral from family and friends might help, too.
Remember, you won’t need a script just to see one. However, if you have insurance, you may want to give the company a call to check if you have PT benefits and how you can get a referral to see one.
