Pregnancy is a long-term stress on the body and being ready is important

Just like an endurance-based event, pregnancy and childbirth require considerable stability, strength, and stamina. You might feel fine until one day you just don’t.

Pregnant women will undergo a shift of the center of mass, circulatory changes, hormonal increases, postural changes, and weight gain. These changes, coupled with muscle imbalances from past injuries, sedentary behaviors or certain exercise, can lead to increased stress on the joints, organs, and ligaments causing pain and dysfunction in the body. Abdominal muscles get overstretched and gluteal muscles experience adaptive shortening, decreasing the muscular support a woman has. We’re not surprised that 50-70% of pregnant women experience back pain during pregnancy!

Physical therapy can help minimize and often resolve symptoms during pregnancy as well as help prepare you for childbirth and the postpartum period!