During pregnancy, the body goes through many musculoskeletal and hormonal changes that can alter core and pelvic floor function. These changes help support the growing baby, but they can also lead to pain and dysfunction for the mom.

Studies show that about 50% of women will experience lower back pain during their pregnancy and this pain can continue to persist postpartum. Due to the increased pressure on the pelvic floor, it is also common to have difficulty with bowel, bladder, and sexual function.

While these symptoms are common, they are not normal and could be a sign of having pelvic floor dysfunction. This is defined as an impaired ability to control (tighten and relax) your pelvic floor muscles. If this sounds like you, click here to get help now.

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Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

The pelvic floor is made up of muscles and fascia that form a sling spanning across the bottom of your pelvis. It consists of 14 muscles for women. All of these muscles, in combination with other “core” muscles, must be functioning properly to ensure a healthy pelvis. Together they support your organs, reinforce upright posture, and help control bladder, bowel, and sexual function.

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Just like any other muscle in the body, the pelvic floor muscles can succumb to injury and dysfunction. Also, similar to a torn ACL or a rotator cuff injury, the pelvic floor typically responds very well to strength training or vice versa, to downtraining and relaxation.

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Pregnancy

There are many changes that happen to the body to accommodate the growing baby during pregnancy — the diaphragm is pushed up, the ribs are spread out to the sides, the abdominal wall is stretched and weakened, and there is increased downward pressure on the pelvic floor.

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Childbirth then results in additional stress and/or injury to the pelvic floor and abdominal wall. During a vaginal delivery, the pelvic floor muscles stretch a lot and can be injured with tearing. With a C-section, an incision is made through the abdominal muscles and uterus to remove the baby.

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These physical changes that happen during pregnancy and delivery can disrupt your brain's capacity to switch on your core and pelvic floor muscles, at the right time, and with the right amount of strength. Known as neuromuscular deactivation, this process tends to pull you out of balance and into a vicious cycle of pain, weakness and dysfunction.

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Physical therapists can play a vital role in managing pain and pelvic floor dysfunction during pregnancy, and preventing these issues from continuing after childbirth. Following childbirth, all women should have a pelvic floor assessment by a physical therapist, after being cleared by their physician. This assessment can help determine readiness to return to exercise and address any pain or pelvic floor dysfunction.

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It is common to have symptoms such as pain, urinary leakage, or a sensation of “heaviness” in the pelvis after childbirth, but these symptoms don’t have to be your new normal. That means no matter how many kids you have had, you don’t have to live your life leaking every time you sneeze or jump. A pelvic health physical therapist can perform an assessment of your core and pelvic floor function, posture, and movement patterns to determine the cause of your symptoms and help you return to the activities you love to do.

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How can Activcore help?

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Pelvic health is typically not a big part of a physical therapist’s education. It is a specialization requiring much further study, training and practice following graduation.

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Activcore physical therapists are uniquely qualified to assess and treat pelvic floor dysfunction. They go beyond the pelvic floor and look at the whole body. Equipped with the Redcord suspension system and other industry leading tools, they are specially trained to optimize how your mind and pelvis work together so that you can regain control of your body.

• Reduce/resolve pain
• Develop core strength
• Improve sexual function
• Restore bladder & bowel control

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You’re never just a number at Activcore. You will have your own dedicated pelvic health physical therapist (not an aide) by your side throughout every session. In a private office setting, your physical therapist will perform a comprehensive physical exam and movement screen to help determine the underlying root cause of your pelvic health condition. Together, you and your provider will then develop and commit to a plan of care tailored to your individual needs, lifestyle and goals.

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You will feel the Activcore difference from your first visit. This is a highly personalized experience applying the latest breakthrough techniques in pelvic health, such as pelvic floor muscle retraining, trigger point dry needling, manual therapy (myofascial release), neuromuscular activation, and biofeedback. You will also receive a home exercise program customized just for you. Once your pain has been addressed, you will have the opportunity to continue honing your movement through Activcore's Low Pressure Fitness program.

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