A physiotherapist is a health care provider who uses non-invasive techniques to prevent and treat injury or dysfunction. When you see a physiotherapist, he or she will take your health history and evaluate strength, range of motion and pain levels. In treating patients a physiotherapist can also educate them on manual therapy, ultrasound, therapeutic exercises, proprioception, sport injury treatment, rehabilitation exercises, RICE regime, TENS machines, heat therapy and prenatal physiotherapy.

You must receive a medical clearance to exercise both alone and with a personal trainer in a high-risk pregnancy. This includes such things as high blood pressure with pregnancy, multiples, any vaginal bleeding, placenta previa – which can express itself at greater than 26 weeks – an incompetent cervix or any medical condition such as heart or lung disease.

Termination of exercise upon conception may include absolute contraindications to exercise, which can be heart disease or lung disease, an incompetent cervix, a risk of premature labor, second and third trimester bleeding, or ruptured membranes or preeclampsia. These can all be discussed with your doctor.

This can be things such as severe anemia, an irregular heart beat, chronic bronchitis, type 1 diabetes, obesity, extreme underweight, intrauterine growth retardation, poorly controlled hypertension, any orthopedic limitations, seizures, hyperthyroidism or for smokers. Again, if any of these issues arise, it’s important to discuss with your doctor what and how you can exercise, and if it’s going to put your baby at risk or yourself at risk. Local Physiotherapist 

If you have questions about safe pregnancy exercise, contact a local family physician, obstetrician, or midwife. For more information on safe pregnancy exercise or high-risk pregnancy, see your local family  physician.

Presenter: Tamarah Nerreter, Physiotherapist, Surrey, BC

Local Physiotherapist  Practitioners: Physiotherapist

In the postpartum period, you want to make sure that you consult your local family physician previous to engaging in exercise, at about the six- to eight-week mark.

There are some very good indicators that you may want to keep an eye on while you’re exercising, such as pelvic pressure or pelvic pain. Any type of incontinence you may experience after the six-to-eight week mark, that is losing urine while you’re exercising. In treating this condition, often seeing a local massage therapist for muscle tension, a local personal trainer for muscle strength and a physiotherapist for release and conditioning is a good option.  

Further, you want to make sure that you are not having any vaginal bleeding or discomfort, you don’t want to have any breast discomfort or irregular discharge. And it is best to also make sure that you are well hydrated, and that you are also eating adequately because your choleric intact increases with breast feeding. Local Physiotherapist

The risk of not following postpartum guidelines can be detrimental. It is best that you visit with your physician six to eight weeks postpartum to determine what the best exercise program may be for you at that point, because there is an extensive list of guidelines to follow in the postpartum period. Often seeing a local family physician or a physiotherapist in conjunction with a registered dietitian and athletic therapist is a great option to take control of this condition. Smart Food Now and exercise is also optominal for overall health.    

Presenter: Tamarah Nerreter, Physiotherapist, Surrey, BC

Now Health Network Local Practitioners: Physiotherapist