Prenatal Physiotherapy

It’s no secret that pregnancy isn’t any walk in the park. In fact, 50-70% of pregnant women experience chronic back pain during their pregnancies (defined as a persistent pain lasting longer than 2-3 months) and many simply push through this discomfort. Pregnancy brings a slew of aches and pains, due to added stress, weight gain, hormone increases, and changes to the body’s posture and center of gravity.

Many women experience a decrease in physical activity during their pregnancies as well, due to their overall discomfort, in tandem with juggling their seemingly endless daily responsibilities of working hard and preparing for new life. Lack of physical activity can make pregnancies more difficult and can leave a mother’s body under-prepared for the strenuous birthing journey it is about to embark on. For more information on how we can help ease some of your pregnancy pains and help your body prepare for giving birth, request an appointment at Anatomy Physiotherapy Clinic today!

We offer consults mainly for lower back and sacro-iliac joint (SIJ) pain, which are very common (and usually very treatable) conditions due to pregnancy. However, many other pregnancy related conditions (i.e. rib pain, leg pain) can usually be treated quickly as well. Keep in mind that most often you do not have to suffer until the baby is born (or beyond). When in doubt, get it checked out.

What is prenatal physiotherapy?

When people hear the term “rehab,” they typically think of it in terms of recovery. However, that is not always the case. Certain rehab treatments can be performed in preparation for a physically demanding event, such as giving birth or undergoing surgery. Prenatal physiotherapy can help ease the stresses that your body is currently going through and help it better prepare for birth. By participating in prenatal physiotherapy, you can help make pregnancy, birth, and recovery much easier on yourself.

The factors adding up to your pain and discomfort can all be addressed through prenatal physiotherapy treatments. These treatments focus on the improvement of posture, flexibility, muscle strength, joint alignment, and nerve involvement. When these factors are all functioning in harmony at their peak levels, your stress, fatigue, and achiness will begin to subside.

What to expect with prenatal physiotherapy:

At your initial visit, our Ottawa physiotherapist will perform a thorough evaluation. He or she will examine common problem areas, such as gait, range of motion, posture, and overall mobility to determine what the best course of treatment will be for you. After your evaluation, our physiotherapist will create a specialized treatment plan, keeping in mind your medical history and any health restraints you may have.

A large part of prenatal physiotherapy includes neuromuscular re-education. Essentially, your physiotherapist will help you re-train certain muscles on how they are meant to work. The effects of pregnancy take a large toll on your body, especially when exercise is limited, and sometimes muscles need to be trained once again on how to function properly. This may include anything from back and core exercises to pelvic floor strengthening. Exercise is important during pregnancy, unless stated otherwise by your obstetrician. Women who exercise during pregnancy tend to recover much quicker, and their babies tend to be healthier.

Other forms of treatment may be suggested as well, such as manual therapy to mobilize joints and relieve stress and inflammation, or ergonomic training to make juggling your numerous daily responsibilities a bit easier. Your physiotherapist may also suggest some helpful home remedies to ease discomfort and promote a healthy pregnancy (many of which can be found in our ebook above!) Overall, prenatal physiotherapy will help in improving the factors that may be holding you back.

Request your appointment!

Pregnancy is hard work – it’s okay to get some help! Schedule an appointment with one of our Ottawa physiotherapists or registered massage therapists today, and find out how out prenatal physiotherapy services can benefit you. Anatomy Physiotherapy Clinic will help you make preparations for your new bundle of joy as smooth as possible!

Call our St. Laurent clinic at 613-680-4477, our Orleans clinic at 613-424-4488, our Westboro clinic at 613-909-8871 or our Stittsville clinic at 613-836-5844 to speak to one of our Ottawa physiotherapists or registered massage therapists. You can also click here to request your appointment online.