No one has to tell a mother-to-be that pregnancy can take its toll on muscles and joints. It’s not just the physical stress of carrying a child; it’s also the pregnancy hormone relaxin, which relaxes the ligaments attached to the pubic bone – and all other ligaments. That’s not even counting delivery, which can sprain or sometimes break the coccyx (tailbone). In addition, epidural anesthesia – blessing though it may be – blocks helpful pain signals that say, “This position hurts my back. I need to shift.”
Not surprisingly, physical therapist Raquel Perlis sees many new mothers with neck, back, hip and even carpel tunnel (wrist) pain. She turns to many of the same treatments that help non-moms: stretching and strengthening exercises, posture retraining, hands-on techniques, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat and ice.
Of course, there are a few twists: exercises must be modified for a postpartum body, and posture retraining also focuses on ergonomic nursing, burping and baby holding.
Not surprisingly, physical therapist Raquel Perlis sees many new mothers with neck, back, hip and even carpel tunnel (wrist) pain. She turns to many of the same treatments that help non-moms: stretching and strengthening exercises, posture retraining, hands-on techniques, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat and ice.
Of course, there are a few twists: exercises must be modified for a postpartum body, and posture retraining also focuses on ergonomic nursing, burping and baby holding.
No comments:
Post a Comment