Virtual Pelvic PT for New Moms

In last month’s blog introducing telehealth physical therapy, we presented the benefits and drawbacks of going virtual for your rehab needs. This month, we want to highlight how virtual pelvic PT can be a valuable resource for new mothers during their postpartum journey.  

Life continues to march on during this pandemic. Babies continue to be born and mothers are left to navigate many new challenges during the 4th trimester. Among them are new barriers for accessing support services. Every mother should have postpartum physical therapy. It ensures safe healing during the immediate recovery phase, preventing dysfunction and promoting long-term wellness for mothers. Unfortunately, there are a variety of obstacles to receiving this critical care, including:

• Childcare or homeschooling children 
• Caring for sick relatives 
• Safety concerns with exposure in community 
• Transportation 

Virtual pelvic PT can ease barriers to accessing care and help women start the recovery process much sooner than their six week postpartum follow-up with their physician. If new mothers understood that they could safely work on restoring their core and pelvic floor muscles before six weeks, THEY WOULD. 

Postpartum PT in the early recovery phase focuses on educating new mothers on preventing pain, dysfunction, and incontinence. Therapists can teach safe movement patterns and body mechanics that improve core activation and prevent injury for women who are caring for a newborn. By focusing on breathwork and emphasizing postural restoration, therapists can help women connect with their core and pelvic floor muscles. Postpartum PT can easily and effectively be delivered through virtual services. 

What does a virtual pelvic PT exam look like? 

In some ways, a virtual session is different from an in-office PT evaluation or treatment session. First of all, you will NOT have to show your pelvic area on camera, or anywhere near your computer. Just as we would for an in-office evaluation, though, your virtual PT exam will consist of the following components:

1. History intake 
2. Postural screen 
3. Orthopedic assessment  
4. Pelvic floor assessment 
5. Movement analysis

Teaching Self-Assessment & Treatment Techniques 

Your therapist will provide extensive education on pelvic floor and core anatomy and guide you through self-assessment techniques. They will instruct you using photos and pelvic models and demonstrate different positions and techniques for correctly identifying muscle activation or muscle dysfunction. Self-assessment techniques include: 

• Abdominal wall assessment for diastasis recti 
• Pelvic floor muscle activation and relaxation 
• Core coordination and activation 

Next Steps

Your therapist will be able to determine if you require further assessment or in-person manual therapy based on your history, report of symptoms, and examination findings from your virtual session. Simply put, some conditions do require a hands-on approach, but that does not mean you cannot work toward recovery goals in the interim. Conditions that require hands-on assessment or treatment include: 

• Pelvic organ prolapse 
• Severe pelvic pain
• Severe pelvic muscle weakness or incontinence  
• Inability to perform self assessment 
• Severe diastasis recti 
• Patient preference for hands-on approach 

Your therapist will help prioritize your recovery needs and determine your next best steps. They can also guide you through safe activity modification until you can safely seek professional services or safely return to your prior level of function. 

Can Virtual Pelvic PT Be Effective?

We believe virtual pelvic PT can be a valuable tool in guiding new mothers through postpartum recovery. We also believe that a skilled hands-on assessment is critical in certain cases. Regardless, pelvic PT should be individualized and can be achieved through either approach. New mothers may find that a hybrid version of virtual and in-office pelvic PT sessions is the best solution, offering the benefits of flexibility and early access to postpartum care. 

We Can Help!

Body Harmony Physical Therapy offers one-on-one treatment sessions and provides individualized treatment programs for each patient.

This blog was created for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a health condition or before beginning a new exercise routine.

Written By: Victoria Garrett, PT, DPT