Women have a lot of physical changes to contend with during pregnancy. One of the ways pregnancy can affect your body is by causing pain in the pelvic area.
The pelvis includes all of the muscles, soft tissue, bones and joints below your abdomen and above your thighs. Since this is the area where the womb is located, the pelvis goes through a lot during pregnancy.
Pelvic pain that develops during pregnancy is referred to as pelvic girdle pain (PGP). There are other conditions that can occur in the pelvic region during pregnancy, but general pain in the pelvic area during pregnancy is usually related to PGP.
PGP affects all moms differently. Some people experience more pain than others. However, what they all share in common is that they can visit a physical therapist for treatment.
Treating pelvic pain during pregnancy with physical therapy
If you’re experiencing pelvic pain during pregnancy, you should visit your doctor for an assessment. It can be easy to mistake general pain for nothing serious when it may be the symptom of something that requires immediate attention. However, long-lasting, dull pain in the pelvic area is usually related to PGP.
Physical therapists are licensed health care professionals who specialize in treating pain in all kinds of people from many different backgrounds. Part of our experience at Advent Physical Therapy in Rockford, Michigan, is treating PGP in pregnant women.
Our team examines the condition of each of our patients to develop a personalized treatment routine for PGP. Many of our PGP treatments include:
- Stretches and exercises — Improving the strength and flexibility of your abdomen during pregnancy reduces some pressure off your pelvis, which can help reduce and prevent PGP pain. It’s best to start core exercises as soon as you find out you’re pregnant, but physical therapists can help you at any stage of your pregnancy.
- Soft tissue mobilization — Soft tissue mobilization is a type of hands-on therapy that focuses on reducing pain and tension in your muscles, ligaments and tendons. This can help improve circulation in your pelvis to reduce pain and tension and improve your flexibility.
- Joint mobilization — Stiffness in the joints is common during PGP. Joint mobilization is a hands-on technique that gently mobilizes your pelvic joints into different positions to help release pressure and improve your range of motion.
Visit Advent Physical Therapy in Rockford, MI, for pelvic pain treatment
Is your pregnancy causing long-lasting pain in your pelvic region? You don’t need to suffer. If you live near Rockford, come visit Advent Physical Therapy for treatment. Contact our team today for more information about pelvic pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.