Did you know that in France, The Netherlands and Australia it’s actually customary to see a physical therapist post partum? Just as with many other surgeries, delivering a baby can contribute to musculoskeletal impairments that can be addressed by a physical therapist before they lead to chronic issues years later. It’s not surprising how high the statistics are of symptoms in the late post partum period when you account for new lifting demands: a growing baby, a car seat, a stroller, more laundry baskets, etc. All on an already impaired body!
Common post partum impairments include pelvic floor weakness and pain, prolapse, bladder urgency and frequency, diastatis recti, abdominal weakness, low back pain, and scar tissue adhesions.
Here’s the stats:
- At 10 months post partum, nearly 6% of women still report c-section scar pain
- 42% of women still have stress urinary incontinence at 1 year
- 37% of women that reported back pain during their pregnancy still reported back pain at 18 months post partum
Don’t be a statistic! Take care of your body with physical therapy.
You might be wondering when you can start physical therapy post partum. The answer is a little vague.
An evaluation during pregnancy can give you tips about safe initial exercises and lifting, so you are prepared to help treat symptoms early. In the post-partum period, you can begin therapy between 3-6 weeks depending on fatigue, health, severity of symptoms and the preference of your physician. You do not need a prescription or referral in most states to start physical therapy and calling up your local physical therapist with their Women’s Health Speciality (WCS) can help guide what is appropriate for you.