PREGNANCY

Our pregnancy team at Sarton Physical Therapy can help you control the discomfort and complications that occur before and after the birth of your child.

At Sarton Physical Therapy, our physical therapists have the experience, passion and training to meet the needs of a patient during pregnancy and after the arrival of a new baby.

Physical Therapy can reduce complications during and after childbirth.

Physical therapy should be a standard of care both during and after pregnancy. For example, in France every new mom is automatically referred to physical therapy for a few visits preventively before and after she delivers a baby.

At Sarton Physical Therapy, our physical therapists are trained to assist in the specific musculoskeletal needs of a patient during pregnancy and after the arrival of a new baby. When designing a treatment and exercise program for each patient, we closely follow the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines for exercise during and after pregnancy. Our practice focuses on both preventive care as well as specialized rehabilitation in the event of pre/postpartum musculoskeletal problems. We can address new problems that arise during the physical and psychological stress the body is under and/or help patients who have existing dysfunction that is exacerbated during pregnancy.

Our therapists enjoy working with patients and their physicians with the goal of ensuring a healthy, active, and comfortable pregnancy. Our prepartum services help women achieve maximum pelvic floor and musculoskeletal function to optimize delivery and prevent perineal tearing and other postpartum dysfunctions. We teach perineal massage and partner training for perineal massage to be completed routinely prior to delivery. Randomized clinical trials of perineal massage have shown its effectiveness in reducing tearing during delivery (1). Our goal is to help prevent tearing of the perineum during birth and prevent the need for an episiotomy.

Additionally, prenatal exercises can enhance body awareness, flexibility, and endurance. The pelvic floor muscles and core stabilizing muscles are intimately involved in the childbirth process. These muscles function at their maximum potential when they are lengthened, strengthened, and free of myofascial trigger points. Our physical therapists can individually examine each muscle internally and externally. If impairments are found, the physical therapist can treat the problems with manual therapy and exercise resulting in improved function and a safe foundation upon which a therapeutic exercise program can be completed. To ensure the best results, the therapists at Sarton Physical Therapy always spend an hour with each patient during every appointment.

Labor and delivery prep session:

Sarton Physical Therapy recommends a labor and delivery prep session that is typically done between the 34th and 36th week. Your therapist will meet with the you and your partner and/or birth support team to review labor positions with pelvic floor biofeedback, perineal massage techniques, pain relief techniques, and pelvic floor relaxation and breathing techniques.

Through education you and your partner will be given the knowledge to take control of your discomfort.

Common prepartum complaints that our Physical Therapists treat:

• Painful intercourse

• Low back pain

• Urine leakage due to strained pelvic muscles

• Separation of the rectus abdominus muscle (diastasis recti)

• Neck pain or headaches due to posture changes

• Colorectal dysfunction

• Sciatic, hip, sacral, pubic symphysis or tailbone pain

• Urinary urgency and frequency

• Tightness and pain in the legs due to the flattening of the feet

Our evaluation and treatment includes addressing the following areas:

• External and internal pelvic floor muscles – length, strength, motor control

• Connective tissue including fascial restriction and scar mobility

• Adverse neural tension

• Structure and biomechanics

• Functional limitations and deficits

Women can easily increase their potential for successful vaginal deliveries with less perineal tearing, levator ani avulsion and post-partum pain and dysfunction.

Let our expert Physical Therapists with advanced board certification in pelvic floor physical therapy help. Please contact Sarton Physical Therapy with any questions or to have your patients schedule an appointment.

Physical Therapy can dramatically improve recovery time after childbirth.

In many countries, physical therapy evaluations are mandatory in postpartum women to identify any existing impairments and to help restore muscle integrity and prevent future complications stemming from pregnancy and delivery that can otherwise lead to dysfunction and pain.

Our clinic is geared towards preventive health and is capable of providing rehabilitation in the event of postpartum musculoskeletal problems. The physical therapists at Sarton Physical Therapy are specifically trained to meet the special obstetric needs of women. We follow the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines for exercise during and after pregnancy and are trained to assist in all of the specific musculoskeletal needs during pregnancy and after the arrival of the new baby. 

Our postpartum services include a thorough musculoskeletal examination of the external and internal (when appropriate) pelvic floor muscle groups for length, strength, and motor control and creating an individualized Home Exercise Program to prevent and treat any impairments. This helps avoid further dysfunction typically caused by standard exercise programs before the musculoskeletal dysfunction has been corrected.

We also work to assess and correct diastasis recti (separation of the rectus abdominus muscle which commonly occurs during healthy pregnancies). Diastasis recti is a leading cause of pelvic floor dysfunction including incontinence, low back and pelvic pain, and prolapsed organs.

Women who have had a cesarean section may experience persistent pain and/or dysfunction post-operatively. The incision from a cesarean section can cause connective tissue restrictions and myofascial trigger points in the abdominal muscles. Our therapists will normalize the tight tissue and eliminate these trigger points with manual therapy techniques. A home exercise program will be prescribed to facilitate recovery and maintain progress. Resolution of the musculoskeletal dysfunction will result in the elimination of the patients symptoms. Unfortunately the stresses of pregnancy, vaginal deliveries, and C-sections may lead to myofascial complications following the birth of the baby. Many women suffer in silence or their concerns are dismissed by well-intentioned physicians because “they just had a baby”. Many of these symptoms can be easily treated by a physical therapist specializing in postpartum care.

Common postpartum complaints that our Physical Therapists treat:

• Pain at the site of the episiotomy or perineal tear

• Decreased sexual satisfaction

• Delayed, decreased or diminished orgasm

• Dyspareunia (pain with intercourse or orgasm)

• Urinary and fecal incontinence

• Uncontrolled flatulence

• Clitoral, vaginal, rectal, pubic or tailbone pain

• Pubic symphysis dehiscence (rupture)

• Upper back and neck pain associated with breast-feeding

• Upper extremity pain and numbness from child care

• Low back and lower extremity pain

• Decreased capacity for exercise

• Suprapubic and/or abdominal pain

• Incision scar pain and/or hypersensitivity

Let us help you recover with pelvic floor physical therapy.

Evaluations include a thorough oral history and physical examination. The physical examination includes an internal and external evaluation of the muscles for trigger points and motor control, evaluation of connective tissue and neural tension, and a structural and biomechanical evaluation. To ensure the best possible results, the therapists at Sarton Physical Therapy always spend an hour with each patient during every appointment.

Let our expert Physical Therapists with advanced board certification in pelvic floor physical therapy help. Please contact Sarton Physical Therapy with any questions or to have your patients schedule an appointment.
 

(1) Kalichman, Leonid. (2008). Perineal massage to prevent perineal trauma in childbirth. The Israel Medical Association Journal : IMAJ. 10. 531-3. 

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