Pregnancy is one of the most significant and special moments in a woman’s life and involves sudden and significant changes, both physical and emotional, to be managed in the best way possible to ensure the psychophysical health of the mother and the baby.
How can physiotherapy help?
Physiotherapy, when performed by professional therapists, is an excellent risk-free treatment for all those small problems and painful conditions that may occur in a woman’s body during the 40 weeks of pregnancy.
It’s essential to understand the purpose of the treatment, which in this case will not be aimed at resolving the primary cause of the problem, but will help the woman’s body adapt as best as possible to the new and temporary condition.
The most common problems during pregnancy
- Swelling in the lower limbs due to venous stasis, resulting from the compression of structures due to the continuous growth of the fetus;
- Low back pain, sometimes associated with sciatica, due to the progressive readjustment and repositioning of the spine caused by the growth of the baby and the inevitable weight gain. The physiological curve at the lumbar level increases, causing stretching and hypertonicity of the affected muscles;
- Pelvic floor disorders, with progressive relaxation of the muscles that support the internal organs and, during pregnancy, the baby. During this stage, it’s important that the tissue is strong enough to support the increasing weight but also elastic enough to prevent injury during childbirth;
- Respiratory difficulties arising from increased abdominal volume, pushing the diaphragm upward and reducing pulmonary volume capacity.
How can the physiotherapist help the expectant mother adapt to this new condition and manage these issues?
It should be noted that professional treatment during pregnancy is mainly manual, calibrated and adjusted according to the mother’s clinical condition and the month of pregnancy.
Throughout the 40 weeks of pregnancy, to avoid interfering with fetal development, rehabilitation treatments using electromedical equipment such as Tecar therapy, Ultrasound, and Electrical Stimulation must be avoided.
Which treatments are suitable during pregnancy?
- Manual lymphatic drainage: thanks to its draining and relieving action, it helps improve both superficial and deep lymphatic circulation, giving a pleasant sense of lightness;
- Gentle joint mobilization: applied to the spine and pelvis, and associated with massage therapy and stretching exercises targeting the muscular component, along with postural and proper breathing exercises, it promotes relaxation and relieves sciatica and back pain;
- Application of Kinesio Tape: these colorful and non-medicated elastic tapes, when specifically applied, provide support at the spine and belly level, and also bring relief to the lower limbs when applied for draining purposes;
- Pelvic floor rehabilitation: specific exercises that strengthen the perineal muscles to prevent common disorders for new mothers and facilitate postpartum recovery.
The goal of physiotherapeutic treatment during pregnancy is therefore to allow the future mother to face the various stages of pregnancy with awareness and peace of mind, relying on a specialized figure who can provide help and support both in the preparation for childbirth and in the postpartum phase.
