We are, compassionate, caring women, who have had birthing experiences as Physical Therapists – it is our honor to treat other women
- Sport and Spine Womens’ Health team
Pregnancy and parenting are two of the greatest and most stressful times of a woman’s life. During pregnancy, your body undergoes significant changes to help your little one grow and develop. There are many musculoskeletal issues that can arise during pregnancy due to increased laxity in your ligaments, hormonal changes, postural changes due to your growing baby, as well as due to changes in your activity level. Many women experience pain during pregnancy but that doesn’t have to be true for you! Our Women’s Health team at Corvallis and Albany Sport and Spine have additional training to help safely assess and provide appropriate treatment to provide pain relief during all stages of pregnancy.
After the birth of your baby everything has changed! Your whole life revolves around your new addition and the learning curve of parenting a newborn is steep! Hormonal changes and lack of sleep make self care challenging. Your abdominal wall is extremely lengthened and lacks tone (strength) after having a baby. These changes all can affect your response to activity and return to exercise. Most women get clearance from their doctor to return to exercise and normal activities around 6 weeks but often your body is not ready to return to your full exercise routine at that time - especially if you love to run or participate in higher impact or higher resistance activities.
We specialize in:
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Prenatal care
- Back and neck pain
- Sciatica
- Safe exercise through all trimesters
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Postpartum care
- Diastasis recti
- Lower back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Neck pain and headaches
- Return to exercise
If you feel strain or discomfort with your activities of daily living, caring for your baby, or are having trouble getting back to exercise, physical therapy can help. You are also a great candidate for physical therapy if you have a diastasis recti (separation of your abdominal muscles after pregnancy). Low back pain that lingers after pregnancy should not be your new normal - your lengthened and weak abdominal muscles take time to return to their usual strength and sometimes you need a little help to train them appropriately. Urinary or fecal incontinence is not normal after pregnancy! Specialized pelvic floor physical therapy is indicated in this case (please see our Pelvic Floor page for more detailed information).
Make sure you take some time out of your busy day to prioritize yourself and your body. Pain or leaking that lasts for months or years after pregnancy is not something you have to live with. Physical therapy can help decrease your pain and help give you the tools you need to work, live, and play again...with your baby in tow!
