Experienced physiotherapists with a special interest in women’s health assist with various musculoskeletal changes that occur in the child-bearing year. Basic antenatal or postnatal exercise programs are designed for each patient. In addition, further strategies are used to effectively treat:
Antenatally
- Low and mid back pain
- Sacro-Iliac Joint pain (+/- sciatica), Pubic Symphysis pain
- Piriformis muscle spasm
- Difficulty/pain with movement
- Rectus diastasis (abdominal bulging)
- Bladder control problems or constipation/straining
- Carpal tunnel symptoms
Postnatally
- Back, shoulder and neck pain
- SIJ, pubic symphysis or piriformis pai
- Rectus Diastasis
- Abdominal bulging during movement
- Post caesarean pain (after healing)
- Perineal pain and discomfort
- Bladder/bowel control difficulties and constipation/straining
Baby Handling
Early postnatal parent education
The incidence of Plagiocephaly in infants has rapidly increased during the last ten years, after the introduction of SIDS guidelines for positioning babies on their back for sleeping (early 1990’s).
Increasing numbers of babies have developed asymmetry of the cranial bones, resulting in functional, orthodontic and cosmetic problems requiring intense paediatric intervention within the first few years of life.
As a response to the escalating demand for “Plagiocephaly” management (including physiotherapy attendance at clinics), preventative education of mothers in the early postnatal days has commenced. Education includes providing simple advice, demonstration and guidance regarding alternating head position in supine lying and developmental handling suggestions.
Practical group sessions have been introduced to Mater Mothers’ Hospital inpatients via a twice daily interactive 30 minute physiotherapy class (an information leaflet is also provided to each inpatient).
