Support for Pain Before and After Pregnancy
Pregnancy and the postpartum period can bring major changes to your body, and pain or discomfort can make everyday activities more difficult. Pre/post-natal pain may affect your back, hips, pelvis, abdominal muscles, or pelvic floor as your body adapts during pregnancy and recovers after birth. At Ability Physiotherapy & Wellness, we provide physiotherapy for pre/post-natal pain in South East Calgary, AB and North East Calgary, AB, helping you reduce discomfort, improve mobility, and feel more confident as your body changes.
Whether you are preparing for childbirth, managing discomfort during pregnancy, or adjusting to life after delivery, our physiotherapists provide supportive care based on your symptoms, activity level, and goals.
Common Causes of Pre/Post-Natal Pain
Pregnancy and childbirth place changing demands on your muscles, joints, and pelvic floor. Some discomfort is common, but ongoing or limiting pain may benefit from physiotherapy.
These concerns can occur during pregnancy or after delivery. Your physiotherapist can help you understand your symptoms and determine how treatment may support your recovery.
Common concerns include:
- Pelvic Girdle Pain:Pain around the hips, groin, pelvis, or pubic bone that may make walking, standing, or changing positions uncomfortable.
- Low Back Pain: Changes in posture, body weight, and movement patterns can place additional stress on the lower back.
- Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain: Changes in the pelvic joints may contribute to pain or stiffness around the lower back, hips, or pelvis.
- Postural Changes: As your body changes during pregnancy, your posture and movement patterns may shift, contributing to discomfort in the back, shoulders, or neck.
- Sciatica: Irritation of a nerve in the lower back may cause pain, tingling, or discomfort that travels into the hip or leg.
- Diastasis Recti: Separation of the abdominal muscles can affect core strength and how you use your abdominal muscles during movement.
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Changes in pelvic floor strength, coordination, or muscle tension may contribute to bladder, bowel, sexual, or pelvic symptoms.
How Does Ability Physiotherapy & Wellness Treat Pre/Post-Natal Pain?
Your body changes throughout pregnancy and continues to recover after childbirth. Your physiotherapy plan should change with you. At Ability Physiotherapy & Wellness, your physiotherapist will consider your stage of pregnancy or postpartum recovery, symptoms, activity level, and personal goals when developing your treatment plan.
Your treatment will be adjusted as your symptoms, activity level, and goals change.
Treatment may include:
- Therapeutic Exercise: Gentle strengthening and mobility exercises can support the core, pelvic floor, hips, and back while helping you stay active.
- Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques may help reduce muscle tension, improve mobility, and make movement more comfortable.
- Pelvic Floor Training: Exercises may focus on strengthening, relaxing, or coordinating the pelvic floor muscles based on your individual needs.
- Postural and Body Mechanics Training: You may learn ways to move, lift, sit, stand, and change positions more comfortably as your body changes.
- Breathing and Relaxation Techniques: These strategies can support pelvic floor coordination, reduce unnecessary tension, and help you become more comfortable with your changing body.
- Education and Home Exercise: Your physiotherapist can provide practical strategies and exercises that you can safely continue between appointments.
Preparing for Birth and Supporting Recovery
Physiotherapy can be helpful both before and after childbirth. During pregnancy, treatment may focus on maintaining comfortable movement, supporting strength and mobility, and preparing your body for the physical demands of labor and caring for a newborn.
After delivery, your needs may look different. You may be adjusting to lifting and carrying your baby, returning to exercise, managing pelvic or abdominal symptoms, or simply trying to feel comfortable in your body again.
Your physiotherapist can help you progress at a pace that makes sense for your stage of recovery. The goal is not to rush the process, but to help you safely build your strength, mobility, and confidence.
What to Expect During Physiotherapy
Your first appointment will begin with a conversation about your symptoms, pregnancy or delivery history, daily activities, and goals. Your physiotherapist may assess your posture, movement, strength, mobility, and pelvic floor function based on your needs.
You will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the activities you are having difficulty with. Your physiotherapist will explain your treatment options and work with you to develop a plan that feels appropriate for your current stage of pregnancy or recovery.
As you progress, your program can change to support new goals, whether that means staying active during pregnancy, preparing for birth, returning to exercise, or feeling more comfortable caring for your baby.
Care That Supports Your Changing Body
Pregnancy and postpartum recovery do not look the same for everyone. You may have specific symptoms you want to address, or you may simply want guidance as you return to the activities you enjoy. At Ability Physiotherapy & Wellness, our physiotherapists provide supportive care that respects where you are in the process and helps you understand what your body needs.
We are here to help you feel more comfortable, capable, and confident through the changes that come with pregnancy and life after birth in South East Calgary, AB and North East Calgary, AB.
Frequently Asked Questions
Take the Next Step Toward More Comfortable Movement
Pain and physical changes do not have to keep you from enjoying pregnancy, preparing for birth, or adjusting to life with a new baby. Physiotherapy can provide guidance and support as you work toward greater comfort and confidence. Contact Ability Physiotherapy & Wellness to schedule an evaluation and learn how physiotherapy can support you before or after pregnancy.
THE ABILITY WAY
Care That Starts With You
We believe your care should never be one-size-fits-all. Every plan is shaped around your story, your goals, and the way you want to move through life.
- One-on-one personalized care
- A plan built around your goals
- Hands-on treatment and movement support
- Education to support lasting progress
