Pregnancy Physio Treatment

Pregnancy is a time of great excitement, but it can also bring up many questions about the changes your body is going through. You may experience aches and discomfort in areas that you’ve never felt before, and this can be unsettling. Fortunately, physiotherapists are trained to address these concerns and can provide safe and effective treatments to relieve your discomfort.

Whether you’re dealing with back pain, pelvic pain, or any other type of pregnancy-related discomfort, a physiotherapist can help you understand what’s causing it and develop a customised treatment plan that works for you. And because physiotherapy is a safe and non-invasive form of treatment, you can rest assured that you and your baby are in good hands.

Physiotherapy can help with many pregnancy related issues such as:

• Back pain or neck tension
• Rib pain
• Sciatic pain
• Hip discomfort or tailbone pain
• Pelvic girdle or pubic symphysis pain
• Any other muscle or joint problem you maybe experiencing (e.g foot pain)
• Wrist conditions such as Carpal Tunnel or De Quervains tenosynovitis
• Pelvic floor education and strengthening
• Urinary incontinence or vaginal prolapse
• Exercise & Clinical Pilates programs – strength and conditioning preparing for delivery and the postnatal period
• Postnatal – 6 week pelvic floor checkup

What You Can Expect

Our initial one-hour pregnancy physio assessment allows us to take a thorough history of your pregnancy and all the factors contributing to your area of concern. All assessments are conducted in a private and supportive environment. We have a pregnancy pillow, so if required treatment can still be done very comfortably with you lying on your stomach or your side.

Your assessment and treatment with a physiotherapist may include some or all of the following:

• Hands-on manual therapy such at trigger point release and mobilisations
• Massage therapy as required
• Education about why you are having this issue and how to manage it during pregnancy
• Explanation about the impact of hormones and posture on the body during pregnancy and how physio can help alleviate this
• Assessment and education on your pelvic floor to minimise problems including pelvic floor pain, incontinence and prolapse. We can teach you how to lift your pelvic floor correctly using real-time ultrasound so you can see how your pelvic floor lifts
• Prescription of support/compression belts or leggings if required
• Advice on when to use heat vs ice
• Modify activities and positions you should avoid to decrease your pain
• Information about using a TENS machine for pain relief during birth
• Introduction to Clinical Pilates
• Home exercise program

Clinical Pilates during pregnancy:

At our clinic, we offer Clinical Movement Therapy/Clinical Pilates (CMT) programs that are tailored to your unique needs and incorporate clinical pilates exercises to target your entire body. Our highly trained physiotherapists create a personalised program for you, which is regularly reviewed and adapted throughout your pregnancy.

Clinical Pilates can have a positive impact on your overall well-being by improving your strength, mobility, posture, and movement control. It’s especially effective in addressing common pregnancy complaints such as hip, pelvis, and back pain. Additionally, CMT can assist in the recovery of your abdominal muscles after birth, helping them regain their original strength and function.

By working with our team, you’ll receive comprehensive support throughout your pregnancy journey. Our goal is to help you feel your best, so you can fully enjoy this special time in your life.

Benefits of Clinical Pilates during pregnancy include:

• prevention of lower back & hip pain
• improved balance, strength and posture
• assists with injury prevention and weight management
• upper body strength (for all those late night feeds!)
• establish/consolidate a healthy lifestyle
• strong muscles that you need to use for pregnancy, labour, and newborns
• getting your body ready for childbirth and improved recovery time post-birth
• pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscle strength

Following an initial assessment, you can join any of our group classes (3-4 people) as all clients receive an individual program, alternatively private sessions can be arranged – and may be booked easily online.

It is a good idea to check with your GP before commencing any exercise program and we recommend you have an initial assessment with our Women’s Health Physiotherapists before starting to check your pelvic floor muscle activation and strength.

About six week’s following birth, we recommend you have a 6-week pelvic floor checkup and, if you would like to bring your newborn along with you, we also have a pilates class just for ‘New Mums’.

To make an appointment with a pregnancy physio in Claremont simply click here to make a pregnancy appointment or call us on (08) 9384 1555.