Diastasis Rectus Abdominus (DRA), or abdominal separation, is very common during pregnancy. In fact, a study found that diastasis rectus abdominus “may affect up to 100% of pregnant women and it may persist in the immediate postpartum period in 35-60% of women.” By being aware of the existence of abdominal separation, which needs to occur to some degree to make room for the baby, you can start to prepare your core for birth and postpartum during pregnancy to reduce the effects of abdominal separation after birth.
The Importance of Rib Cage Mobility and How It Changes During Pregnancy
As the uterus grows during pregnancy, it presses up on the diaphragm and out on the abdominals to make room for the baby. This in turn causes the rib cage to be in a constant state of expansion, decreasing the ability of the rib cage to contract to a “normal” state. When the mobility of the rib cage decreases during pregnancy, you can have difficulty with upper extremity movement, posture, back pain, and lower extremity mobility. These accommodations don’t just “bounce back” after pregnancy. There needs to be a concentrated effort at working on rib cage mobility after pregnancy to get everything moving again.
Who Needs Pelvic PT?
It can be confusing when it comes to pelvic floor physical therapy. Often times it’s thought of as a therapy for women who have given birth. But this is NOT the case. Anyone can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy… even men! Read on to find out more about who can benefit from pelvic floor therapy.
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Find out what is a C-section, How to Recover, and Chances at a VBAC.
Read moreA Pelvic PT’s Top 5 Must-Haves to Support You Through Pregnancy
Pregnancy is hard enough. Find out what 5 must haves a pelvic physical therapist recommends to help get you through pregnancy.
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