During pregnancy the whole body of a woman changes. The circulatory system, metabolism, hormone levels and also the statics and posture of the woman change. This poses a number of challenges.
Women often suffer from headaches or back pain during pregnancy. In addition, nausea, abdominal pain or pelvic pain can occur. In some cases, physiotherapy can provide good support for the pregnant woman and give her exercises to help her in everyday life.
Introduction
During pregnancy, pelvic floor training is highly recommended and can also be part of physiotherapy. It should not only be part of the sports plan after the birth of the child, but also at the beginning of the pregnancy a preparatory training for the pelvic floor muscles should be carried out in order to keep the stress of the pregnancy on the pelvic floor as low as possible. Massages or heat applications can also be relaxing for the woman and thus alleviate some of the discomfort. However, some techniques and remedies cannot be used or cannot be used throughout the pregnancy, as they can, for example, trigger premature contractions.
Is physiotherapy compatible with pregnancy?
In principle, physiotherapy is allowed during pregnancy and is also excellent for alleviating some common ailments associated with pregnancy. These include posture-related back pain, pelvic pain and symphysis pain, some types of headaches and even stress and tension can be reduced by specific relaxation and breathing exercises. Pre-natal pelvic floor exercises can also be performed by physiotherapists during pregnancy.
However, pregnancy should of course be taken into account in the treatment. For example, the prone position should be avoided from an advanced stage – massages or similar can then be applied, e.g. in a sitting position. Electrotherapy or heat applications should also be applied in doses or avoided. Lymph drainage in the abdominal cavity is contraindicated during pregnancy and certain mobilizing manual therapeutic techniques should not be used during pregnancy. In case of doubt, always consult your doctor.
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