Pilates for Pregnancy and beyond
Innovative Physio/Pilates founded by Gillian Smith post-graduate Musculoskeletal and Women’s Health Physiotherapist and Debbi Fretus Pilates Instructor, have a keen focus on preparing women for pregnancy and rehabilitating to ideal function after the birth of their child.
Gillian and Debbi understand the conflicting pressures of motherhood both being working mums.
Gillian lectures to the fitness industry and at professional conferences on Pelvic Floor Muscle Health and the risk of prolapse and incontinence in the strength based fitness environment.
Back pain and incontinence (evidence supports this link) for a new or expectant mum is a great bother, Innovative Physio/Pilates aims to educate, treat and empower women to be free of back pain and be dry.
We initially make sure the pelvic floor muscles are correctly recruited along with the abdominal cylinder, back and scapula muscles, encouraging ideal movement patterns. We may use mirrors, real-time ultrasound biofeedback, internal vaginal examination and or cognitive functional therapy. We want you to initially understand the correct motor control pattern of the pelvic floor muscles and how they interplay with the ‘core’ muscles of the abdomen, back and diaphragm. This session or sessions is referred to as Prep for Pilates.
Women can then partake in pelvic floor safe Pilates in our exercise studio either one on one or in groups. Our vision is all women enjoy pelvic floor fitness and optimal recruitment of spinal stability muscles for bladder, bowel and back health.
A new trend we have observed in the clinic is young women are preparing themselves for pregnancy. They find their sedentary computer based day job is having a negative impact on their postural muscles and feel disconnected to these deep muscles of which the pelvic floor muscle is one. They are concerned with this decreased mind body connection and ‘core’ tone could negatively impact on their physical health during pregnancy and beyond.
Did you know?
It is important to remember that you are not alone if you have incontinence issues.
- 4.8 million Australians suffer from incontinence
- 65% of women and 30% of men sitting in a GP waiting room have some form of incontinence
- 70% of people with urinary leakage do not seek advice and treatment for their problem
- 1 in 3 Australian women suffer from urinary incontinence
- 43% of subjects with incontinence and prolapse depressed their pelvic floor on ultrasound when instructed to lift (straining strategy)
- A recent study from the Continence Foundation of Australia “Young mums risking pelvic floor health” looked at 1000 mums and mums- to –be found that despite being in a high risk category for developing incontinence, 98% failed to do the daily recommended level of pelvic floor exercises, 42% of women felt their doctor or nurse did not adequately inform them during their pregnancy about pelvic floor muscle exercises
Please make a time to see us whether you are preparing for pregnancy, pregnant or post-natally and need to be rehabilitated to get your ‘CORE AND PELVIC FLOOR’ back to ideal function.
Your first visit will be with our Women’s Health Physiotherapist to commence your Pregnancy and Beyond Pilates journey.