Pregnancy and Postpartum
Pregnancy and childbirth significantly stress the core and pelvic floor, often leading to muscle pain and dysfunction.
Pelvic floor muscles support your uterus, bladder, and bowel, crucial for bladder/bowel control, sexual function, and pelvic stability. Imbalances—tightness or weakness—can cause:
Stress Incontinence: Leakage during impact due to weakened pelvic muscles.
Urinary Urgency: Sudden urge to urinate, typically from overly tight muscles.
Urinary Hesitancy: Difficulty initiating urine flow, often due to tight muscles.
Bowel Incontinence: Difficulty controlling gas or bowel movements, usually from childbirth injury. Physical therapy effectively addresses this.
Diastasis Recti: Separation of abdominal muscles. PT effectively treats mild cases.
Perineal Pain: Pain between vagina and rectum due to tears, episiotomy, or muscle tightness.
Pain with Intercourse (Dyspareunia): Postpartum pain during sex, commonly from birthing injuries, treatable through physical therapy.
Pubic Symphysis Pain: Misalignment of pubic bones during pregnancy or childbirth, causing significant pain. PT restores alignment and stability.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP): Weakening pelvic muscles causing organs to shift, potentially leading to leakage or pressure. PT strengthens muscles to reduce symptoms and prevent further displacement.
How We Help: Pelvic floor physical therapy addresses pregnancy and postpartum pelvic issues. For weak muscles, neuromuscular retraining helps regain control. For tight muscles, manual therapy alleviates pain and muscle impairments. Your personalized treatment plan begins with a thorough assessment tailored specifically to you.
What to Expect: Your first visit includes a medical history review and a detailed pelvic musculoskeletal exam, evaluating posture, alignment, muscle health, and strength. An internal exam, if you're comfortable, assesses pelvic muscle function in a relaxed setting. Treatment through manual therapy begins immediately, offering relief and functional improvement. Most patients see meaningful improvement after the first visit—and significant progress by the third.