Pre and Postnatal Physiotherapy
We are passionate about screening for early signs of orthopedic and pelvic health dysfunction, helping you to prepare for labour and birthing, and facilitating your postpartum recovery!
Prenatal Physiotherapy Services
Education & exercises for pregnancy, labor, birthing, and post-natal recovery
Orthopedic and pelvic health physiotherapy
Individualized exercise programs
Urban poling
Hypopressives
Return to run guidelines
Physioyoga
Yoga ball therapy
Cupping for abdominal scar tissue
Prenatal Physiotherapy Assessment
Our prenatal physiotherapy assessment includes screening for the following conditions:
- Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, lower back and hip pain, neck, thoracic and shoulder pain
- Diastasis rectus abdominus
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Urinary incontinence
- Pelvic floor muscle tension and weakness
- The presence of scar tissue from previous perineal tears and episiotomies
Our prenatal assessment also aims to provide insights into:
- How you breathe and regulate pressures
- Your abdominal wall tone and function
- The ability of your pelvic floor muscles to function in a coordinated way with your abdominals and diaphragm, and the ability of your pelvic floor muscles to support your pelvic organs against gravity
- How well you transfer functional loads
- Your postural alignment
The initial prenatal physiotherapy assessment can be offered virtually through Telehealth, or at the clinic, any time during your pregnancy. Depending on your needs, prenatal assessments that are done at the clinic may include an internal pelvic floor assessment.
Prenatal Physiotherapy Treatment
Prenatal physiotherapy treatment may include:
- Education regarding healthy bladder and bowel habits
- Pelvic floor muscle re-education (manual release of scar tissue and pelvic floor muscle tension and tightness, and exercises to promote improved coordination, relaxation, proprioception, and strength)
- Breathing and postural re-education
- Abdominal toning and strengthening
- Specific muscle release exercises (manual, through breath and visualization, therawand, vaginal inserts, yoga balls)
- The best cues that help you to connect to your core
- Specific exercises to coordinate the muscles of your core (diaphragm, pelvic floor, transversus abdominis, multifidus)
- Progressive functional loading and strengthening for tasks that are meaningful to you
- Education for labour and birthing (breathing, positions for labour, vocal toning, birthing resources)
Postnatal Physiotherapy Services
Our postnatal physiotherapy services include screening for common pre and postnatal conditions, including pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, diastasis rectus abdominis, perineal or episiotomy or C-section scar tissue, and pelvic health conditions, including incontinence and prolapse.
Postnatal Physiotherapy Assessment
Our postnatal physiotherapy assessment includes screening for the following conditions:
- Pelvic girdle or lower back pain
- Diastasis rectus abdominis
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Urinary incontinence
- Pelvic floor and abdominal muscle tension and weakness
- The presence of scar tissue from perineal tears, episiotomies, or C-section scars
- The presence of epidural-related scar tissue, or tightness
- The presence of neck, shoulder, and thoracic pain, or weakness, associated with breastfeeding, lifting and carrying your baby
- Breast/chestfeeding conditions, including blocked ducts
Our postnatal assessment also aims to provide insights into:
- How you breathe and regulate pressures
- Your abdominal wall tone and function
- The ability of your pelvic floor muscles to function in a coordinated way with your abdominals and diaphragm, and the ability of your pelvic floor muscles to support your pelvic organs against gravity
- How well you transfer functional loads
- Your postural alignment
Postnatal Physiotherapy Treatment
Postnatal physiotherapy treatments may include:
- Education regarding healthy bladder and bowel habits
- Manual release of scar tissue and areas of pelvic floor muscle tension and tightness
- Pelvic floor muscle exercises to promote improved coordination, relaxation, proprioception and strength
- Breathing re-education
- Postural re-education, tips for babywearing, body mechanics and breastfeeding positioning
- Abdominal toning and strengthening
- Specific muscle release exercises
- The best cues that help you to connect to your core
- Specific exercises to coordinate the muscles of your core (diaphragm, pelvic floor, transversus abdominis, multifidus)
- Progressive functional loading and strengthening
- Education regarding safe return to sports
- Ultrasound therapy for blocked ducts*
- Pessary fitting
*Please note that all physiotherapists in Ontario require a prescription from a physician or nurse care practitioner to perform ultrasound for a blocked duct.
We look forward to seeing you get back to doing the things you love!
