Mamas, Get Moving! Pilates for Expectant Mothers
Are you a pregnant woman struggling to get enough exercise? Many pregnant woman experience a decrease in physical activity as a result of their overall discomfort, in addition to juggling their seemingly endless daily responsibilities of working hard and preparing for new life.
A lack of physical activity can make pregnancies more difficult and leave a mother’s body unprepared for the exhausting birthing journey ahead.
Fortunately, Pilates is a simple and enjoyable way to get the exercise you need while preparing for the arrival of your new baby. To find out more, call Beyond Physical Therapy today!
What is Pilates?
Many people believe Pilates is a new age exercise class for busy moms to take a few times a week. Pilates has actually been around for a long time! It originated as a form of rehabilitation in the early 20th century.
Joseph Pilates created this form of exercise during World War I as a way to help rehabilitate wounded soldiers. How crazy is that? Since then, Pilates has been used for a vast arrangement of exercise, treatment, and strength training.
Each exercise in Pilates begins with controlled breathing techniques to begin the contraction of the core muscles. Exercises can take place on a mat, similar to yoga, or on specialized equipment that uses springs, levers, and your weight to provide resistance.
How can Pilates improve my health?
Pilates aids in the improvement of strength and movement throughout the body. It has also been used as a stress management technique and a way to strengthen the joints and muscles. It aids in the improvement of muscle performance, motor control, and the reinforcement of postural alignment.
Pilates, by focusing on the core, can increase your center of balance and promote an even musculature throughout the body.
This is especially important during a pregnancy because the body undergoes many drastic changes while pregnant. This includes postural changes, increased pelvic floor load, hormone increases, and ligament stretching and thickening.
Because of changes in their center of gravity, 50-70 percent of pregnant woman experience chronic back pain (defined as pain that lasts more than 2-3 months) during their pregnancies. Muscle weakness can also cause incontinence and difficulty activating core muscles.
Pilates can help your body cope with the stresses it is currently experiencing and better prepare it for birth. It improves posture, flexibility, muscle strength, joint alignment, and nerve involvement. When all of these factors are operating at peak efficiency, your stress, fatigue, and achiness will begin to fade.
What can I expect after my delivery?
It is likely that your body may experience a general weakness after delivery as well, due to the stress and significant change that is placed on your body during the process. Pilates exercises can focus specifically on the core and pelvic regions of the body, in order to help you bounce back as quickly as possible.
In some cases, women may experience diastasis recti with their delivery, also known as abdominal separation. Diastasis recti can interfere with the strengthening of the abdomen muscles and cause the belly to “pooch.”
Fortunately, Pilates can help reverse this condition through targeted core strengthening, allowing you to get back to what really matters: caring for your new family member!
Are you ready to get moving?
Are you interested in incorporating Pilates into your physical therapy treatment plan to facilitate a smoother, more comfortable delivery? Do you want to get rid of the aches and pains that come with pregnancy? Are you prepared to reclaim your body after giving birth? If so, please contact Beyond Physical Therapy right away!
Pilates exercises will help you relax during your pregnancy. Furthermore, our licensed physical therapists can assist you with:
- Helping to manage or avoid certain issues that may arise during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes.
- Relieving lower back pain and joint pain.
- Regaining your strength after pregnancy, by working on the core and pelvic muscles.
- Targeted stretches and strengthening exercises.
- Treatment plans for both before and after your baby is born.
- Increased health while pregnant.
- Preparing the body for an easier delivery process.
Contact Beyond Physical Therapy today!
Pregnancy is a lot of work – and it’s okay to ask for help. We at Beyond Physical Therapy are here to assist you in any way we can. Contact us today to set up an appointment with one of our caring and compassionate physical therapists. Our team will get you moving again!