Moms and expecting moms should not have to deal with pain that is considered “normal” during pregnancy or postpartum, there is an alternative.
I’m Keely Nolte, Doctor of physical therapy at F.I.T. Muscle and Joint Clinic and I am currently in the process of becoming a certified pregnancy and postpartum corrective exercise specialist. My goal is to help women seeking guidance throughout their pregnancy and postpartum journey feel equipped and empowered to navigate the changes of their bodies.
You may be asking, what does pregnancy and postpartum care incorporate?
Here at F.I.T., safe and conservative manual therapy techniques are utilized to address musculoskeletal issues related to pregnancy and postpartum management such as Active Release Technique (ART) or Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM). Whether you are dealing with hip, pelvic, sacral or other muscle pain, these techniques can be very effective in reducing pain and discomfort.
In addition to addressing pain, exercise-based intervention is provided to allow women to stay active during pregnancy and provide postpartum patients with guidelines to return to activity safely following delivery. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women who are physically active during pregnancy can decrease pregnancy related disorders and improve postpartum recovery time. Physical therapy can help pregnant women increase muscle strength in the back, hips, core and pelvic floor to prepare for the physical demands of delivery. Regardless of where you are in the pregnancy journey, accommodations for the various changes that occur during each trimester are an integral part of therapy, ensuring safety for both Mom and baby.
Therapy postpartum not only addresses pain, postural changes and body positioning and mechanics but it helps moms reconnect and strengthen their body following delivery. This is crucial when transitioning to the new demands of motherhood including lifting, carrying, feeding and changing. Postpartum can be a difficult time for many women as they are adjusting to a new body following delivery. Following clearance from an OB, physical therapy can address core and pelvic floor issues, restore loss of muscle strength and function and address postpartum pain.
Some of the topics addressed in a therapy session may include, diaphragmatic breathing, pelvic floor strengthening/relaxation, diastasis recti, posture, c-section recovery, low back and pelvic pain, and maintaining and returning to activity.
Pregnancy is an amazing part of a woman’s life. We want to raise the standard for women’s health and fitness, because all women deserve to be better than before.
If you’d like more information, you can contact Keely at [email protected] or 913-745-4064.
