Can Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Help Prevent Postpartum Issues

Pregnancy and childbirth transform your body in remarkable ways, but those changes can also bring challenges that many women quietly face. From bladder leaks to pelvic pressure and nagging back pain, postpartum symptoms are far more common than most people realize. The good news? You don’t have to wait until problems show up to take action.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy offers a proactive, empowering way to strengthen your body, support recovery, and reduce the risk of these issues before they begin. At Back in Motion Health, our specialized pelvic floor care is designed to help women feel strong, confident, and supported through pregnancy and long after baby arrives.

Understanding the Pelvic Floor and Its Importance

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissues forming a supportive hammock at the base of your pelvis. During pregnancy and childbirth, these muscles undergo significant stress as they support the growing baby, bladder, bowel, and uterus. A strong pelvic floor is essential not only for maintaining bladder and bowel control but also for core stability and sexual health.

When the pelvic floor muscles weaken or become imbalanced, common postpartum issues can arise. That’s why assessing and strengthening the pelvic floor at key stages, from pregnancy to postpartum, is vital for long-term health.

Common Postpartum Issues Pelvic Floor Physio Can Address

Several challenges new mothers face can be prevented or improved with early pelvic floor physiotherapy interventions:

• Urinary Incontinence: Leakage when coughing, sneezing, or exercising is common postpartum but not something women have to accept.
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Weakness in pelvic support can cause organs like the bladder or uterus to drop or press into the vaginal walls.
• Back and Hip Pain: Pelvic floor dysfunction often contributes to lower back and hip discomfort.
• Painful Intercourse: Pelvic muscle tightness or scar tissue after delivery can cause pain during sexual activity.

Early physiotherapy can reduce symptoms, promote healing, and increase confidence by restoring pelvic floor strength and coordination.

How Does Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Support Your Recovery?

With a mix of hands-on techniques and guided exercises, our pelvic floor physiotherapists create a program tailored to your specific stage in your recovery journey. Here’s what that means for you:

• Comprehensive Assessment: Our physiotherapists evaluate pelvic muscle strength, tension, and function in a safe, confidential environment.
• Targeted Exercises: Gentle strengthening and relaxation exercises improve muscle tone, support core stability, and normalize bladder and bowel function.
• Biofeedback and Breathing: Technology-assisted biofeedback helps you identify and engage the right muscles, while breathing techniques promote relaxation and reduce muscle tension.
• Scar Tissue Management: Specialized manual therapy helps mobilize scar tissue from episiotomies or cesarean sections, reducing pain and improving flexibility.
• Postural Guidance: Correcting posture and movement patterns eases pressure on the pelvic floor, minimizing discomfort and preventing future issues.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy not only speeds healing but also empowers you with tools and knowledge for long-term pelvic health.

Prevention vs. Treatment: When to Start Physiotherapy?

Waiting until symptoms appear, or worsen, can prolong and complicate recovery. Starting pelvic floor physiotherapy during pregnancy or soon after childbirth gives you the best chance to strengthen, heal, and prevent problems before they begin. Early care can significantly reduce the risk of incontinence, prolapse, and pain, helping you feel more confident and supported through every stage.

Pelvic floor physio isn’t just for women with symptoms; it’s also for anyone who wants to be proactive about protecting their pelvic health.

At Back in Motion Health Centres, our pelvic floor programs are enhanced with complementary services like active rehabilitation and kinesiology, acupuncture, dry needling, and registered massage therapy, all designed to support recovery and long-term wellbeing postpartum.

Book a consultation with Back in Motion’s pelvic floor physiotherapists today and take a decisive step toward lasting health and confidence. Our pelvic floor physio serve patients from our clinics in BC; Coquitlam, Abbotsford and Ontario; London.

Harshita has experience treating a wide range of conditions, from common concerns such as back pain, neck stiffness, shoulder injuries, and knee issues, to more complex diagnoses including sciatica, arthritis, and post-surgical rehabilitation. She takes a personalized approach to care, taking time to understand each patient’s unique lifestyle, goals, and challenges to develop effective, individualized treatment plans. Her therapy sessions may include a combination of hands-on techniques, targeted exercises, posture and movement education, and injury prevention strategies. 

Book online with Harshita in Pickering here.