The Power of Combining Pelvic Floor Therapy and Massage During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an incredible journey, but it can also be accompanied by physical challenges and discomforts. Two powerful therapeutic interventions — massage and pelvic floor therapy — work beautifully together to support pregnant individuals through these changes, ensuring a more comfortable pregnancy and a smoother recovery post-delivery.
In this blog post, we'll explore how massage and pelvic floor therapy complement one another during pregnancy and why this combination could be key to maintaining overall well-being during this important time.
How pregnancy changes the female body
The female body undergoes profound changes during a pregnancy, including postural, anatomical, biomechanical, and hormonal changes. As the body undergoes rapid changes to accommodate the growing baby, it is common for pregnant individuals to experience aches and pains. These adaptations often lead to pain in the lumbar and pelvic regions. Common conditions women experience during pregnancy include
Low back pain
Sciatic nerve pain
Hip pain
SIJ (SI joint) pain
Pubic symphysis dysfunction
Tailbone pain
Round ligament pain
Due to the growing weight of a baby stretching the abdominals and places increased stress onto the pelvic floor muscles, muscle weakness in these areas is a common finding in pregnancy women. Our body is extremely intelligent, however, and what happens when we have muscle weakness in one place, is that other muscles tighten to compensate for this. This is why women often report feeling “tight” during pregnancy.
Hormonal impact during pregnancy
From the time of conception, the hormones relaxin and progesterone increase which causes relaxation of the ligaments in the body to facilitate childbirth. This allows the pelvis to loosen and become mobile so that a baby can continue to grow and eventually can exit through bottom of the pelvis. Consequently, the body searches for stability somewhere else. This can lead to muscles overworking and therefore becoming tight.
The role of the pelvic floor during pregnancy
Pelvic floor therapy is often seen as a postpartum intervention, but the benefits of this therapy extend throughout pregnancy as well. Pelvic floor physical therapists, are experts at assessing and addressing the muscles, ligaments, and tissues in and around the pelvic region. During pregnancy muscles and ligaments can become either weak or tight, and therefore contributing to pain during pregnancy. Pelvic floor therapists strive to regain balance around the pelvis and back to help eliminate common pain complaints during pregnancy through an individualized treatment plan. Massage therapy is oftentimes one piece of this plan.
Role of massage therapy during pregnancy
Massage therapy during pregnancy is a wonderful way to relieve some of the physical strain on the body. Prenatal massage therapists are specially trained to use techniques that are safe and effective during pregnancy, helping to:
Ease muscle tension and pain, particularly in areas like the back, hips, and shoulders, which bear the brunt of pregnancy-related postural changes.
Reduce swelling by promoting lymphatic drainage and improving circulation.
Relieve stress and promote relaxation, both of which are crucial for overall health and well-being during pregnancy.
Enhance flexibility and comfort, particularly as the body grows and shifts to accommodate the baby.
Massage therapy is also a helpful tool for improving mood and mental well-being, offering a safe space for relaxation in an otherwise busy and physically demanding time.
How Massage and Pelvic Floor Therapy Work Together
Combining pelvic floor therapy with massage during pregnancy offers a comprehensive approach to managing the physical challenges of pregnancy.
Tension Relief and Muscle Balance: As the body shifts, imbalances often arise in the musculoskeletal system. Tight muscles in one area may put undue stress on the pelvic floor, which is why addressing tension in the back, hips, and legs through massage can complement pelvic floor therapy. The relaxation and loosening of tight muscles from massage create an ideal foundation for pelvic floor therapists to work on improving muscle function and core strength.
Relaxation for Optimal Pelvic Floor Function: The ability of the pelvic floor muscles to relax is just as important as their ability to contract — especially in preparation for labor. Massage helps reduce stress levels and induce relaxation, making it easier for the pelvic floor muscles to function properly. This is essential for both the birthing process and recovery afterward.
Pain Management: For many pregnant women experiencing pelvic girdle pain or discomfort in the lower back, hips, and thighs, massage offers immediate relief. Combined with pelvic floor therapy, which addresses the root causes of these discomforts by strengthening and stabilizing the muscles, the duo provides lasting results.
Finding the right providers
It is important to choose experienced professionals when seeking both massage and pelvic floor therapy during pregnancy. Prenatal massage requires a provider trained in the nuances of pregnancy, while pelvic floor therapy is a specialized area within physical therapy that requires a deep understanding of the pelvic region.
The physical therapists at Pelvic Wellness Physical Therapy are Board-Certified Pelvic Health Therapists and have extensive continuing education on treatment of the perinatal population. If you’re pregnant and experiencing discomfort, or simply want to be proactive about your pelvic health, reach out to the providers at Pelvic Wellness today to learn more about how we can help support you through your pregnancy journey.
About Sakoon The Spa
Sakoon the Spa is a unique destination for Omaha. The spa adopts its name from the Urdu word for peace and tranquility. With a pervasive desire to provide guests with personalized services designed to promote wellness, self-care and communal bonding, Sakoon was created with you and your needs in mind.
The massage therapists as Sakoon The Spa have advanced training specific to pregnancy. They understand the unique needs of a pregnant woman and how this needs to be integrated into the massage therapy experience.
