Rebecca Martin offers a unique and specialised physiotherapy service for women in the Newcastle area.
Treatments, classes and workshops available.
Supporting your body through pregnancy, birth and beyond.
Newcastle NSW • Women's Health Physio Specialist • Supporting your body through pregnancy, birth & beyond
Post natal Assessment
Congratulations you are amazing! Pregnancy and birth is a life changing experience. Your body has done something incredible and has gone through many changes.
These changes can impact you in different ways and to different degrees. For optimal postpartum recovery, it is critical to understand how the process has affected you. This enables you to rehabilitate your body properly, especially your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles. This is particularly important before returning to higher impact exercise.
To assist with this process Women’s Health Physiotherapy offers a physiotherapy post-natal assessment. In this assessment any key issues that need to be addressed to make a full recovery from your pregnancy/birth will be identified.
Your PHYSIOTHERAPY POST NATAL ASSESSMENT will include the following:
an assessment of the pelvis & lower back
The pelvic joints soften in preparation for birth and this can create a feeling of instability often contributing to back and pelvic pain. These joints can also be injured during delivery. An assessment of the external pelvis, including sacroiliac joint (SIJ) and pubic symphysis is made.
Diastasis recti (abdominal separation) assessment
As your baby grows the abdominal muscles stretch to accommodate this change. For many women, this change causes a ‘gap’ or separation. An assessment of the width and depth of this change is taken.
Pelvic floor muscle assessment
The muscles of the pelvic floor have a large role in continence, pelvic strength and stability and sexual function. An assessment of the strength, endurance of these muscles is measured.
Prolapse assessment
A prolapse occurs when the organs inside your pelvis, bulge or protrude into the vaginal space. Many women experience prolapse as a result of a vaginal delivery.
From the assessment it is then possible to bring together appropriate individual management strategies for you which are directly tailored toward your short and long term goals.
A physiotherapy post natal assessment is highly recommended at around 6-8 weeks post-delivery but can still be relevant for up to 12 months