Experiencing motherhood for the first time is one of the most beautiful things that can happen to anyone. At the same time, it entails certain risks and problems of its own. One of the often forgotten aspects of postpartum recovery is the condition of the pelvic floor.
The pelvic muscles work a lot during pregnancy and the childbirth, and in many cases, after the delivery, there are complaints such as pain in the pelvic area, problems associated with urinary retention, or the patients’ feeling a weakness within the pelvis region.
At Physio Rehab Centre, we understand the importance of pelvic floor health for new mothers. This is a unique treatment type that aims at rehabilitation and reinforcements of these essential muscles and structures for one’s health as they go through the postpartum period.
In this blog, we will look at the importance of pelvic floor therapy for postpartum women, its influence on the recovery process as well as how to commence on pelvic floor muscles exercises.
What is the Pelvic Floor and Why is it Important?
Why it helps:
The pelvic floor refers to a complex of muscles and connective tissue that forms the base of your pelvis. These muscles support the bladder, uterus and bowel and are important for the control of urine, stool and sexual activity. The pelvic floor may stress, weaken, or suffer trauma during pregnancy and delivery, bringing forth some concerns that can upset the physical and mental wellness of a new mother.
How it helps:
Pelvic floor support: Sustaining control of the urination and defecation process is made possible by the pelvic floor, which also provides support for the organs within the abdomen. After delivery, for instance, a woman’s health can be adversely affected if the pelvic is not adequately strengthened.
Postpartum recovery: During pregnancy and childbirth, the pelvic floor changes dramatically. Recovery and strengthening of these muscles are essential to regain control over bodily functions and improve your quality of life post-delivery.
Benefit: Pelvic floor rehabilitation eases the strength, function, and coordination of these muscles, which help in minimizing the problems of the bladder and bowel control, pelvic pain and sexual dissatisfaction.
Common Postpartum Pelvic Floor Issues
Why it helps:
In the postpartum period, a majority of women experience some pelvic floor problems. These problems not only greatly discomfort a woman’s body, but may also affect her psychological well-being, worrying her about getting better.
How it helps:
Urinary incontinence: Due to weakened pelvic floor, urinary incontinence may occur, in which women often suffer from involuntary loss of urine while coughing, sneezing or laughing.
Pelvic organ prolapse: This is where the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, or rectal sac) drop down from their usual location into the vaginal wall because there is a deficiency in the pelvic support muscles.
Pelvic pain: Some women who have recently given birth may feel some pain or discomfort in their pelvis, especially when walking or doing any other strenuous activity.
Reduced sexual function: Core or pelvic muscles are also important for sexual well-being, and their inability to function normally may cause pain or reduced sensation during intimate performance.
Benefit: Pelvic floor rehabilitation complements these problems by returning into the normal range muscle strength, function, and coordination allowing new moms to take control of their bodies and alleviating pain.
How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Aid Postpartum Recovery
Pelvic Floor Therapy helps Postpartum
Why it helps:
The body undergoes a lot of changes during pregnancy and childbirth, which means that there will be a period of time after giving birth when a woman is not considered fit to go back to normal life. This is where pelvic floor therapy can be very effective in hastening the period of healing. These techniques are thought to relieve pain resulting from pregnancy and delivery and protect the health of the pelvis in the long run.
How it helps:
Strengthening the pelvic muscles: Pelvic floor exercises, often referred to as Kegel exercises, focus on contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles to strengthen them. This is done to strengthen them. It restores muscle tone and functions that could have been lost postpartum.
Manual therapy: In some pelvic floor therapy techniques, manual therapy plays a role wherein a physiotherapist uses his or her physical touch to relieve muscle tension, improve only the range of motion, and relieve pain in the pelvic region or any pelvic dysfunction.
Biofeedback and electrical stimulation: These methods help you become more aware of your pelvic floor muscles and encourage proper muscle contraction. Whereas biofeedback will help you to do the exercises properly, electrical stimulation will do the work of the pelvic muscles for you to strengthen them.
Benefit: Most importantly, pelvic floor therapy facilitates healing, increasing pain tolerance, and strengthening and coordinating pelvic muscles which in turn aids in recovery as well as improving the control of one’s body.
How to Start Pelvic Floor Therapy Postpartum
Why it helps:
It’s never too early to start pelvic floor therapy after childbirth, but it’s important to know when and how to begin. The first step towards returning the functions and strength of the pelvic region is therefore looking for a physiotherapist who specializes in pelvic health.
How it helps:
Postpartum assessment: After giving birth, a woman should assess her physical therapy outcomes. The assessment will be done by the pelvic floor therapist which is aimed at checking the condition of the pelvic muscles. The evaluation may also cover the aspects of muscle strength, muscle coordination, any presence of pelvic organ prolapse or bladder incontinence, and any other factors.
Personalized treatment plan: In accordance with the results of the assessment, an individual management strategy is formulated. This will comprise pelvic floor exercises, manual therapy and other measures tailored to your specific needs.
Exercise education: Your physiotherapist will give you instructions for the proper performance of pelvic floor exercises. Attention should be paid to the technique so as not to cause any strain or injury.
Benefit: Beginning any pelvic floor therapy, let it be exercises, under the supervision of a specialist allows you to do everything the right way, without barriers to the healing process, obviating the occurrence of further complications.
The Role of Kegel Exercises in Pelvic Floor Therapy
Role of Kegel Exercises in Pelvic Floor Therapy
Why it helps:
Kegel workouts are among the widely practiced techniques in almost every pelvic floor rehabilitation program. They target the pelvic floor muscles and help strengthen them, improving control over bladder and bowel functions.
How it helps:
Performing Kegels: To perform Kegel exercises, contract and hold the pelvic floor muscles (the muscles you use to stop urination) for a few seconds, then release. Repeat several times a day. Do this for colicky several times a day. Your physiotherapist may help you decide on the proper intensity and timing of the exercises.
Progressive strengthening: In the course of your pelvic floor rehabilitation, your therapist may increase the intensity and complexity of the exercises as you continue to strengthen your pelvic floor.
Prevention: Performing Kegel exercises as part of postpartum care is aimed at reducing the risk of experiencing complications associated with the pelvic floor and enhancing its health in the future.
Benefit: Simple yet beneficial Kegel exercises are effective for strengthening pelvic muscles, improve control over the bladder, decrease the pain in the pelvis, and increase sexual satisfaction.
Pain Relief and Pelvic Floor Therapy
Why it helps:
After delivery, no doubt, pelvic discomfort is felt by countless women – sometimes caused by weaker muscles post-childbirth, in other cases, due to excessive stretching or even some form of trauma during the process of giving birth. Hence, pelvic floor therapy is helpful to alleviate the specific pain.
How it helps:
Manual therapy: Treatments applied using hands are aimed at easing the pelvic floor spasm and eliminating pain. This may involve the use of soft tissue techniques, such as deep tissue massage or myofascial release, in order to relieve the pain and tightness.
Trigger point therapy: At times, trigger points (painful knots) may occur within the pelvic floor muscles causing persistent pain. A physiotherapist can detect those regions and eliminate the pain.
Stretching and strengthening: Pelvic floor exercises not only relax tight muscles but also build up weak ones to alleviate pain and enhance pelvic health.
Benefit: Targeted therapy helps in alleviating pelvic discomfort enabling a new mother to continue her daily chores with less or no pain.
Pelvic Floor Therapy For Postpartum Incontinence
Pelvic Floor Therapy For Postpartum Incontinence
Why it helps:
After most mothers give birth, they encounter one or another strain of urinary incontinence. This can cause an involuntary loss of urine when the subject coughs, sneezes, laughs, or performs physical activity. By far one of the best cures for the postpartum illness is pelvic floor therapy.
How it helps:
Strengthening the pelvic floor: Pelvic floor exercises, including Kegels, help strengthen the muscles responsible for controlling urine flow. This can eliminate or minimize involuntary leakage.
Bladder training: As a part of your rehabilitation programs, your physiotherapist may instruct you on specific bladder training principles to help you control urination. This includes exercises aimed at increasing the maximum bladder volume and controlling urge incontinence.
Posture and body awareness: The correction of posture and body awareness maintenance are also elements of pelvic floor rehabilitation. Proper posture can relieve some pressure from the bladder and pelvic floor helping to avoid urinary leakage.
Benefit: Focusing on the pelvic floor with specialized treatment will help lessen or completely eradicate urinary leakage and enhance the well-being of new mothers.
Long-term Benefits of Pelvic Floor Therapy
Why it helps:
Pelvic floor therapy is not only concerned with the period of recovery following childbirth, but aims at promoting health, strength, and wellness for the long term. The benefits of pelvic floor therapy extend well beyond the immediate postpartum period.
How it helps:
Preventing future issues: Engaging in pelvic floor exercises and therapies on a regular basis eliminates chances of occurrence of problems such as pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and pelvic pain later on.
Support for future pregnancies: Having a healthy pelvic floor helps in attaining and maintaining the strength and elasticity of the muscles for any future pregnancies and childbirths.
Benefit: Long-term pelvic floor health has positive effects not only on quality of life but also health and the chances of developing pelvic problems in the future are minimized.
The significance of pelvic floor therapy in postpartum recovery cannot be over emphasized. At Physio Rehab Centre in Brampton, we provide pelvic floor therapy for new mothers to aid in recovering the strength and health of the pelvic region. Treatment for incontinence or pelvic pain, or improving strength and stability altogether, pelvic floor therapy will be vital to your healing process and the state of your health far into the future.
If you are ready to take charge of your pelvic health and enhance your recovery, contact Physio Rehab Centre and book an appointment to kick off your journey to a better and stronger pelvic floor.
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