Pregnancy, Pelvic Pain & Safely Returning to Running

PREGNANCY & THE PELVIC FLOOR

In relation to the pelvic floor, the main recommendation part of the most current guidelines state that pelvic floor muscle training is associated with a reduction in prenatal and postnatal urinary incontinence (Mottola MF, et al., 2018). These exercises can be performed daily HOWEVER, it is crucial that women seek instruction from a trained health professional (such as a women’s health physiotherapist) to ensure proper technique in order to obtain the best outcomes/benefits from performing these exercises. This is especially the case for women who have never trained these muscles.

Returning to Running after Pregnancy

More recently (March 2019), three highly experienced physiotherapists – Tom Goom, Gráinne Donnelly & Emma Brockwell combined their areas of expertise to release a paper on returning to running postnatal and the guidelines for this population. The main findings that were included in the paper were that women in the post-natal period benefit from an individualised assessment and guided pelvic floor rehabilitation in order to prevent and manage pelvic organ prolapse (bladder, bowel or uterus descending into the vagina) (Hagen, S et al., 2014), manage urinary continence (Bø, 2003) (Dumoulin, C et al., 2018) (Price, N et al., 2010) and improve sexual function.

Based on expert opinion only, the following suggestions were made:

• Return to running is NOT recommended at all prior to 3 months post-natal OR beyond this time point if any symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction are identified before or after attempting return to running
• Pelvic health, load impact management and strength testing should be assessed in order to establish if a patient is ready to return to running in the post-natal period
• Additional factors that should be considered in the postnatal evaluation are weight, fitness, breathing, psychological wellbeing/status, abdominal separation, breast support and feeding, running with a buggy and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S)

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU AT PHYSIOTEC:

It is imperative to see your physiotherapist before commencing physical activity, especially if planning a pregnancy, already pregnant or in the post-natal period.

Here at Physiotec, your women’s health physiotherapist can:
1. assess your pelvic floor muscles to ensure you are using them correctly
2. assess and address other areas of concern such as low back pain or pelvic pain
3. advise you on the safest exercises during pregnancy as well as into the post-natal period
4. perform a physical assessment to determine whether you are ready to return to running or other exercise after pregnancy 
5. perform a running assessment to ensure that your technique places minimal loads on your pelvic floor and joints following pregnancy

You might also like to join one of our Pilates classes to stay strong or build strength and control before, during or after your pregnancy.