Pain relief and core strength after having 2 children back to back
At PhysioVictory, we believe that health and fitness should be accessible to everyone - including Mamas of all ages! This is why our team of dedicated professionals works hard to ensure that each patient gets the best possible care and advice tailored to their individual needs.
We recently worked with a very special patient in our clinic - let's call her Jane. When Jane first came to us, she admitted to feeling unsure of where exactly to seek care. She doubted whether physical therapy could provide a solution for symptoms she felt like she had been dealing with since carrying and delivering her children YEARS prior. Jane was determined to return to high level exercise, but was struggling to feel confident and safe during her workouts. She shared her story of recurrent low back pain, core weakness, and just feeling "out of touch" with her pelvic floor muscles. An initial examination also revealed that Jane was struggling with a diastasis recti (a fancy term for ab separation due to thinning fascia) and had difficulty regulating her intra-abdominal pressure.
Jane committed to a plan of care, and more importantly, to herself. In her initial sessions, Jane learned how to "find" her deep core stabilizers and recruit them consistently to decrease tension at her pelvic floor and low back. Through manual therapy and specific breathing techniques, Jane gained more mobility in her trunk and hips which allowed her to better regulate her intra-abdominal pressure and exercise without compensation. After the foundation was laid, Jane's sessions focused on progressive strengthening of her core, back and hips with higher level exercises and movements that were meaningful to her!
After just a few weeks under the guidance of our pelvic floor physical therapists, Jane made remarkable progress. Her diastasis (which was greater than 2 finger widths when she began for several inches above and below her belly button) essentially closed. She reported an increased stamina, confidence and feeling of stability during her workouts because she not only felt stronger, but also more aware of how to recruit and relax her muscles appropriately. Jane is now able to perform her daily routines and exercise without low back pain! With her new-found knowledge she has even started helping her group exercise classmates modify exercises to make them more effective!
Read what she had to say:
Dr. Lindsay and Dr. Claire have educated me and helped me understand how to reengage and strengthen my core (after having two children back-to-back years ago). I have nearly eliminated my lower back pain and now have a stronger core. Everyone at their practice is very knowledgeable. They breakdown medical terms and workouts into bite sized take-aways, which are easy to remember. Thank you, Physiovictory!
At PhysioVictory, we are proud of the progress that Jane made and excited for all the other women out there who can benefit from functional core physical therapy.
Does Jane’s starting point sound familiar? Tell us your story.
