
At Becky Aston Physiotherapy clinic, we offer effective assessment and treatment of Musculo-skeletal problems during and after pregnancy.
Pregnancy, birthing and the demands of being a Mum can put considerable strain on the body.
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1 in 2 women report back or pelvic girdle pain
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1 in 3 women will report bladder, bowel or pelvic organ prolapse symptoms
Conditions Explained
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Pelvic girdle pain / Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction
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Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) or Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction affects a surprisingly large number of pregnant and post natal women.
Pregnant women can develop PGP at any stage during pregnancy or after delivery in the postnatal period. There are a wide range of symptoms and severity. Whatever your symptoms and severity, in most cases PGP is a treatable condition and can be treated safely in pregnancy.
Treatment options include:
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Manual therapy
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Soft tissue release
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Stability exercises
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Pelvic support belt
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Advice on activities of daily living
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It is important to seek treatment early, but never too late to help.
Useful information about symptoms and treatment
https://thepogp.co.uk/patient_information/womens_health/pregnancy_pgp_lbp.aspx​
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Shoulder and wrist pain
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Shoulder and wrist pain occurs during and after pregnancy due to an alteration in the upper spinal posture, increases in circulation body fluids and upwards movement of the rib cage to allow room for your growing baby.
A thorough assessment will allow your Physiotherapist to identify the contributing causes and plan your treatment. Treatment may involve manual therapy to the spine and ribs, exercise, massage, hot/cold therapy or use of wrist splints and kinesiology taping.
Bladder and bowel control problems in pregnancy
It is not surprising that your bladder and bowel function is challenged during pregnancy due to the physiological changes of pregnancy taking effect and the weight of your growing baby challenging your pelvic floor muscles and other support structures.
Evidence shows that women who do pelvic floor exercises regularly during pregnancy are less likely to have bladder and bowel problems after delivery. However it is often very difficult to know whether you are doing the right thing with your pelvic floor.
We can discuss any problems you are having and make sure you are following the right steps to treat any current problems or prevent development of them in the future.
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Pelvic floor issues post birth
The pelvic floor muscles are significantly changed during vaginal deliveries and some women will feel discomfort or pain in this area after birth. Specialist Pelvic health Physiotherapy is recommended specifically for women who have sustained a third or fourth degree tear, a forceps delivery of their baby, a baby more than 4kg in weight and deliveries that have involved an active pushing stage of more than 1 hour. However we would suggest that all women deserve to see a specialist Physiotherapist and receive bespoke assessment and care.
We can help with bladder and bowel issues, pain from perineal stitches and treatment for prolapse symptoms and more.
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Post C-section recovery
A third of deliveries are abdominal and there are specific needs and treatments that we can help with as far as achieving a full recovery after an abdominal delivery. Many women will benefit from Scar therapy, use of Silicone and advice about return to exercise.
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