C-Section Recovery and Pelvic Floor Health
Coming Soon
The rate of Cesarean births continues to increase throughout the United States, despite vaginal births being preferred and safer for both mom and baby.
A c-section is major abdominal surgery, involving 7 layers of tissue being cut. Despite being major abdominal surgery many women are not given proper post-op instructions and follow-up care and unfortunately are not referred to pelvic floor physical therapy. Without proper post-op care adhesions and scar tissue can build up at the incision site affecting pelvic health and even fertility over time.
Common symptoms to look out for:
Difficulty/ inability to empty bladder
Constipation
Pelvic and abdominal pain
Pulling sensation at the scar
Painful sex
Scar sensitivity
Low back pain
How can pelvic floor physical therapy help?
With consent, an internal and external examination will be performed of the pelvic floor and musculoskeletal system.
The examination may include:
Postural and gait observation
Breathe assessment
Trunk and hip flexibility
Abdominal and hip strength testing
DRA assessment
Scar and rib mobility
Treatment will address restrictions and weakness in the muscles, as well as improve coordination and movement patterns in order to minimize functional deficits and pelvic dysfunction.
Treatment may include:
Abdominal/ lumbar/ hip flexibility training
Scar mobilization
Abdominal Massage
Abdominal/ Hip strength training and TRA activation
Postural re-education
Gait training
Rib flare management
Pelvic floor down-training
Education on toilet posture