Pelvic physiotherapy is of paramount importance for the prevention of genital prolapse in pregnancy, which corresponds to the descent of the uterus and vagina, popularly known as “tummy drooping“, and problems such as urinary incontinence, caused by certain efforts such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercises, among others. The practice also helps with care for urge incontinences – when the urge to urinate is intense and the person may urinate along the way to the toilet.
To have a smooth pregnancy the body goes through a series of transformations that go far beyond the visible changes. There is also the readaptation of the body, because the uterus grows about twenty times compared to its original size, pressing the other organs around it.
To support all of these changes, it is necessary to perform exercises to strengthen the corresponding muscles of the pelvic floor. One such activity is pelvic physiotherapy, also called urogynecological physiotherapy, it prevents and treats pelvic – perineum floor changes, both women and men.
This treatment also helps to prevent or minimize possible sequelae of childbirth, such as the formation of scar adhesions and diastasis (separation) of the rectus abdominal muscles. In the case of vaginal delivery, physical therapy prepares the perineal musculature for the return of pain-free sexual function. It also prevents and treats fecal incontinence, some sexual dysfunctions such as vaginismus, vulvodynia, constipation, vaginal sagging, and perineal muscles.
Application and Treatment:
During the period of pregnancy, pelvic physiotherapy is performed through stretching, strengthening and relaxing exercises of the pelvis and perineal musculature, which is the set of muscles and ligaments that extends from the beginning of the vulva to the coccyx and surrounds the clitoris. the urethra, the vaginal canal, and the anus. The Swiss Pilates Ball helps with hip exercises and perineal awareness, which can also be exercised and lengthened through a gentle, painless vaginal touch.
This physical therapy treatment should be authorized by the obstetrician from twelve weeks of gestation.
Physical therapy exercises, besides promoting numerous benefits to the body, will minimize the consequences of pregnancy and childbirth. However, their performance will not determine whether the mother is more likely to perform a normal or cesarean delivery.
After childbirth, a woman who has had a cesarean section or normal can not only have to undergo pelvic physiotherapy again. Postpartum, in addition to perineal exercises aimed at improving pelvic muscle tone, they also strengthen the abdominal muscles. It is important to make women aware of the importance of the continuity of the exercises initiated during pregnancy, to promote the return of their functions, preventing sequelae of pregnancy or childbirth.
Duration: Each session lasts about 40 min.