For many women, pregnancy is a wonderful time where they feel fulfilled and joyous. Of course, it’s also wise to be honest, and when it comes to the physical effects of pregnancy, many women also experience a pretty wide range of issues. While some of these conditions are certainly temporary, others may be more permanent.
It is also not uncommon for many pregnant women to feel as if they should shun all physical activity, especially during the third trimester, but the truth is that many physical symptoms can be alleviated. Physiotherapy in pregnancy, for example, is certainly not harmful when performed by a qualified professional, and can help to ease some of the discomfort associated with pregnancy.
Do You Have Pregnancy-Induced Issues?
As wonderful a time as pregnancy is for many women, there is no doubt that it puts a lot of extra pressure on the body. As the baby grows and the pregnancy advances, more weight and pressure is placed on different parts of the woman’s body, including the pelvic floor, bladder, legs, knees, ankles, hips, and back. Some of the most common conditions include the following:
- Late pregnancy varicose vein formation as physical pressure is placed on veins and arteries, and as they need to do more work to pump blood around the body efficiently
- Back and pelvic pain due to the increased pressure of the baby and the way that one’s centre of gravity changes dramatically during pregnancy
- Leg cramping as the quadriceps and calf muscles cope with the additional weight during pregnancy
For many women in the third trimester in particular, many of these physical problems build to the point that they have trouble with chronic or even acute pain. This can cause real distress for many women who suddenly feel as if pregnancy was one of the worst decisions of their life! In cases like this, it is a good idea to explore the option of physiotherapy.
What Can Physiotherapy Do?
A professional and qualified physiotherapist can help to alleviate a lot of the pain and discomfort experienced during pregnancy. If you decide to see a physiotherapist, you can expect the following:
- An assessment of the areas of pain and discomfort you are experiencing
- A treatment plan that may involve massage therapy, special stretching exercises, Pilates, aqua-therapy, or even acupuncture in some cases
When a physiotherapist-devised treatment plan is working, it not only alleviates a lot of pain and discomfort, but can also lift one’s mood, and may even help to prevent further complications post pregnancy, such as pelvic floor weakness.
As wonderful as pregnancy is, there is no doubt that it places an awful lot of additional pressure on a woman’s body. It is common for many women to experience conditions like back pain, pelvis pain, aching and cramped legs, and varicose veins. A qualified physiotherapist can help to alleviate many pregnancy-related physical conditions and may even be able to help prevent certain long-term complications.
