Pre and Post Natal Pilates and Womens Health

Clinical Pilates and the pregnant pelvis

Exercise is so important during pregnancy for many reasons, it’s a time to focus on your posture and developing body, using specific exercises to gently stretch, relax and tone. But most importantly to strengthen the core stability muscles that help strengthen the back and pelvis and prevent back pain post labour. Research also shows us that developing the core stability muscles can help for a quicker labour. The core stability muscles are highlighted by Hodges Model (1999) based on all previous research as a ‘cylinder of stability’ he proposes that the transverse abdominus (part of the tummy muscle) multisided (part of the low back muscles), the diaphragm and the pelvic floor muscles form a enclosed abdominal ring which has shown should be strong to help prevent back pain during and after pregnancy.

Sometimes during and after pregnancy back or pelvic pain can develop because certain hormonal levels are high which can make ligaments and muscles looser and more relaxed which can in turn effect the joints of the pelvis such and the sacra iliac joint and pubic symphisis and make then more ‘loose’ which in turn can lead to pain in the back groin or even down the leg due to the instability of the joints.

Clinical Pilates focuses on this strengthening and core stability as well as posture it can help tighten around those joints easing pain and helping prevent the instability developing into further problems such as a disc bulge or chronic pain.

Clinical palates is becoming more and more popular for pregnant and post natal ladies, as it can help you get the most out of your pregnancy and to actually enjoy the feelings of your developing body.

Clinical Pilates as well as strengthening is also very helpful in breathing control and relaxation which we know is very important in circulation and opening of the lower ribs and diaphragm, often compromised in pregnancy, and a general feeling of well being.

So hearing how Clinical Pilates can help you, you may want to know how clinical pilates differs from normal pilates classes you may see advertised.

With clinical pilates all classes have been modified and developed to individual needs for example we know that after the first trimester you need to avoid exercising flat on your back so a prop cushion is used in classes so less pressure in put on the vena cava by the uterus.

We know that in the groups’ excessive yoga stretches are to be avoided as already said the hormones are acting to stretch the muscles and joints naturally and we do not want to over stretch them.

In clinical pilates classes are small so your instructor can constantly monitor your positions and posture so you do your exercises correctly and avoid any injury.

At Emma James Physiotherapy we offer small pre and post natal Clinical Pilate’s classes as well as advice and treatment on how to manage back and pelvic pain during and after pregnancy we can even order Sacro iliac belts and supports if needed.

We are also at hand using clinical Pilate’s and various other tools to help with more delicate female issues such as stress in continence and other pelvic control issues that often develop after pregnancy or surgery in a tactful sensitive way.