Pregnancy and Postnatal Physiotherapy
Christchurch
Pregnancy and Postnatal Care with Active Health
Physiotherapy during pregnancy and following childbirth supports your body as it changes, and assists with recovery. Through education and exercise, we help you optimise muscular support during each trimester, connect with your pelvic floor, prepare for labour and delivery, and rehabilitate your pelvic floor and core postpartum.
Our physiotherapists are trained in both musculoskeletal and pelvic health physiotherapy, making them well equipped to address any symptoms or concerns that arise during pregnancy. It is highly recommended to have a pelvic floor check around six weeks postpartum to screen for potential birth injuries, and to help guide a safe return to exercise or sports. Active Health works with ACC to treat women under the Maternal Birth Injuries (MBI) coverage and are able to submit claims for this.
We also offer a guided postnatal Return to Running programme, created in collaboration with running coach Dave Hunter.
Common pregnancy and postnatal symptoms and conditions we treat:
Back, pelvic, or hip pain
Pain in these areas can be due to a variety of issues, including muscle strains or joint dysfunction. This discomfort may result from poor posture, injury, or chronic conditions. Physiotherapy often includes manual therapy, targeted exercises to strengthen and stabilise muscles, posture correction, and education on proper body mechanics.
Bladder symptoms
Symptoms may include urinary urgency, frequency, or incontinence. These issues can stem from pelvic floor dysfunction, prolapse, or overactive bladder conditions. Treatments often involve pelvic floor exercises, bladder training, behavioural modifications, and sometimes biofeedback. Your physiotherapist might also provide education on fluid intake and pelvic muscle relaxation techniques.
Pelvic organ prolapse
This occurs when pelvic organs, such as the bladder, uterus, or rectum, descend into or out of the vaginal canal due to weakened pelvic support structures. Common treatments include pelvic floor strengthening exercises, lifestyle modifications, and use of pessaries. Your physiotherapist may also provide education on proper lifting techniques and body mechanics.
Pain with sexual activity
Pain during intercourse, known as dyspareunia, can be caused by pelvic floor dysfunction, muscle tightness, or conditions like endometriosis or vaginismus. Treatments may involve pelvic floor relaxation techniques, dilator therapy, manual therapy to address trigger points, and education on sexual health. Your physiotherapist might also work on addressing any underlying conditions contributing to the pain.
Pelvic floor weakness or tightness
Weakness or tightness in the pelvic floor muscles can lead to issues like incontinence, prolapse, or pelvic pain. It can result from childbirth, chronic straining, or muscle imbalances. For weakness, strengthening exercises, biofeedback, and functional training are common. For tightness, techniques like pelvic floor relaxation exercises, stretching, and manual therapy to release muscle tension are used.
Osteitis pubis
This condition involves inflammation of the pubic symphysis, the joint connecting the left and right sides of the pelvis. It often results from overuse, injury, childbirth, or pregnancy. Physiotherapy typically includes exercises to improve hip and pelvic stability, stretching of surrounding muscles, and techniques to manage pain and inflammation. Core strengthening and education on activity modification are also key components.
Bowel symptoms
Symptoms might include constipation, fecal incontinence, or pain during bowel movements, often related to pelvic floor dysfunction or dyssynergic defecation. Treatment involved pelvic floor exercises, bowel retraining programmes, dietry advice, and manual therapy to address any dysfunction. Your physiotherapist may also use biofeedback to help manage bowel control.
Separation of abdominal muscles
Otherwise known as rectus diastasis. This condition involves the seperation of the rectus abdominis muscles along the midline of the abdomen, often seen during or after pregnancy. Management typically includes targeted abdominal exercises to restore muscle strength and improve core stability, postural training, and education on proper lifting techniques to prevent worsening of the separation.
Perinal tears
These are tears in the perineum (the area between the vaginal opening and anus) that can occur during childbirth. They vary in severity from minor to severe. Treatment focuses on healing the tears, managing pain, and restoring pelvic floor function. This may include pelvic floor exercises, manual therapy, and education on perineal care during the recovery process.
Coccyx/tailbone pain
Pain in the coccyx, or tailbone, can result from trauma such as a fall, childbirth, or muscle tension in the area. Common treatments include manual therapy to address muscle tension and joint dysfunction, sitting modifications (like using a coccyx cushion), and exercises to strengthen and stabilise the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles.