Physiokinetotherapy for pregnant women

Special pregnancy physical therapy programs

Physical therapy for pregnant women improves or maintains the well-being of the gravid, helps relieve frequent discomfort, and prepares the body for labor and birth. 

It is well known that controlled exercise, under the careful observation of a specialist, is especially useful for those who are preparing to become mothers, helping them to overcome and even prevent problems that may arise during pregnancy and birth. See below what are the challenges in each trimester of pregnancy and how physical therapy works.

The main benefits of physical therapy in pregnancy

• reducing back pain and bloating
• preventing or even treating gestational diabetes
• prevention of cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, varicose veins, osteoporosis, constipation, anxiety, and depression
• improving posture and well-being
• increase muscle tone, strength, and endurance
• favoring restful sleep
• decreasing risk of miscarriage and postpartum urinary incontinence

Another benefit of exercise is the reduction of low back pain caused by changing the center of gravity. These postural changes can affect the normal development of the movements, leading to inadequate stress of the joints, which causes a decrease in their efficiency. The consequence is the early onset of fatigue, which physical therapy prevents.

Physical therapy during the 3 trimesters of pregnancy

Each trimester comes with different challenges, and the specific physical therapy procedures recommended by the specialist prepare you to pass them with flying colors. Find out what happens at each stage.

Physical therapy in the first 3 months of pregnancy

The physical therapy protocol may include: weight-free exercises, stretching exercises, exercises with low resistance (light dumbbells, elastic bands), exercises with objects (gymnastic balls, sticks); exercises on equipment (exercise bike, trellis, roller board for plantar massage), outdoor walks - do not avoid rainy days that greatly improve the lung humidity necessary for good respiratory function. 

To be avoided: exercises of strength, speed, and endurance, violent, sudden movements (jumps), or those that make breathing difficult by blocking the chest, as well as exercises that overheat the body, so as not to disturb the adaptation mechanism that protects the fetus. 

The most suitable positions: lying on your back, sitting, and on your knees. The movements will be performed in a slow rhythm, with high amplitude, emphasizing the correctness of the execution. Walking should be practiced systematically, one hour every day, accustoming the body to the air and sun.

Physical therapy in the second trimester of pregnancy

After the third month of pregnancy, the unpleasant neurovegetative phenomena have disappeared. Physiological changes now impose a limitation on physical exertion. Thus, progressive movements for the abdominal muscles are introduced, coordinated with breathing, as well as the regional massage of the lower limbs, to activate the circulation, preventing edema and varicose veins.

Stretching exercises are recommended especially those to increase the pelvic diameters, and respiratory self-control exercises.

Physical therapy in the last 3 months of pregnancy

Between the 6th and 9th month of pregnancy, the cardiorespiratory system is overloaded by the fetus, which reaches a significant size. Higher weight and increased joint mobility make physical exertion more difficult to bear. 
During this period, it is necessary to decrease the physical effort towards the 9th month and to prepare the future mother and family for birth. The intensity, volume, and duration of physical exertion are gradually reduced towards the 9th month, light exercises and outdoor walks are maintained; for the dilation phase, superficial thoracic breathing is learned, through the mouth, during contractions. 

Types of exercises for pregnant women 

Below you will find a list of recommended exercises during pregnancy, but also a series of exercises that should be avoided during this time. To maintain muscle tone, a good mood, but also to quickly return to shape after birth, a series of physical exercises are required, performed under the close supervision of a physical therapist or coach. 

What exercises are recommended in pregnancy 

FITBALL

Fitball is a special ball for fitness. Exercises with this special ball allow pregnant women to cope with back pain, to relax the muscles around the spine, to improve the functioning of the respiratory system, to normalize the heart rate. 

STRETCHES

Stretching exercises are helpful during pregnancy because they help prevent or alleviate cramps and swelling of the legs. These exercises also increase blood circulation and help relieve pain. 

KEGEL EXERCISES

This type of exercise helps to contract and relax the pelvic floor muscles for short periods. Kegel exercises can prevent postpartum pelvic floor conditions and make labor easier. 

BACK PAIN PREVENTION

Back pain prevention involves a series of exercises and rules to protect the back that pregnant women need to learn and apply permanently in daily life. The back pain prevention answers specific questions that will help the pregnancy to proceed normally: How do we sleep? How do we sit correctly on the chair? How do we lift objects from the floor? How do we go down the stairs during pregnancy? 

What exercises should be avoided during pregnancy 

During pregnancy, the expectant mother needs to take care of her and keep in mind physical activities that could harm the baby, so she should avoid them. First of all, it is important to avoid exercises aimed at lifting heavy objects. It is also important to avoid exercise in the belly position, so as not to put pressure on the fetus. 

It is necessary to avoid cycling exercises, but also high-impact aerobic exercises, which are too demanding for the body. Contact sports (football, basketball, volleyball) are also on the list of physical activities to avoid during pregnancy, as well as exercises that involve holding your breath, excessive heat, or humidity. 

IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW ABOUT US

Centrokinetic is the place where you will find clear answers and solutions for your motricity problems. The clinic is dedicated to osteoarticular diseases and is divided into the following specialized departments:

• Orthopedics , a department composed of an extremely experienced team of orthopedic doctors, led by Dr. Andrei Ioan Bogdan, primary care physician in orthopedics-traumatology, with surgical activity at Medlife Orthopedic Hospital, specialized in sports traumatology and ankle and foot surgery. .
• Pediatric orthopedics , where children's sports conditions are treated (ligament and meniscus injuries), spinal deformities (scoliosis, kyphosis, hyperlordosis) and those of the feet (hallux valgus, hallux rigidus, equine larynx, flat valgus, hollow foot).
• Neurology , which has an ultra-performing department, where consultations, electroencephalograms (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) are performed. 
• Medical recovery  for adults and  children , department specialized in the recovery of performance athletes, in spinal disorders, in the recovery of children with neurological and traumatic diseases. Our experience is extremely rich, treating over 5000 performance athletes.
• Medical imaging , the clinic being equipped with ultrasound and MRI, high-performance devices dedicated to musculoskeletal disorders, and complemented by an experienced team of radiologists: Dr. Sorin Ghiea and Dr. Cosmin Pantu, specialized in musculoskeletal imaging.

Find the latest news by following the Facebook and YouTube accounts of the Centrokinetic clinic. 

Prices

You can find here a detailed list of the prices of individual services. But any correct recovery process is based on a mixed plan of therapies and procedures, customized according to the condition, stage of the condition, patient profile, and other objective medical factors. As a result, in order to configure a treatment plan, with the therapies involved and the prices related to the plan, please make an appointment here for an initial consultation.