by Kirsty Duncan, Chartered Physiotherapist

Almost all women experience musculoskeletal discomfort during pregnancy and as many as 25% of all pregnant women experience temporarily disabling once. This is due to the tremendous changes undergone by the body during a healthy pregnancy.

Physiotherapy techniques can help relieve the following conditions:

• Lower back pain
• Groin and hip pain
• Neck pain and headaches
• Tightness and pain in the hamstrings
• Arm pain or tingling caused by nerve compressions
• Bladder leakage during pregnancy and after delivery

Physiotherapy programmes are designed to treat the specific needs of a pregnant woman. Once a woman is familiar with the specific recommendations made by her Physiotherapist, she can incorporate them into her exercise routine to maintain wellness and stay healthy during and after pregnancy.

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Techniques can help with:

• Pain relief
• Exercise to improve strength and mobility
• Exercises to help postural alignment